Local Girl Scout Cadette and Brownie troops are recognizing two Reading Hospital departments as “Hometown Heroes” to celebrate their hard work, passion for medicine, and high-quality patient care.
This is the second consecutive year Girl Scout Cadette Troop 1385 from Daniel Boone School District selected the hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) as their “Hometown Heroes” recipient. Last year, they selected the team to thank the employees for their ongoing efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and for the treatment of their Troop Leader, Kathryn Tilley, who received care at Reading Hospital after suffering anaphylactic shock in October 2021.
At this year’s celebration on July 6, the Troop presented a “contract” stating that as long as Cadette Troop 1385 is in existence, they will continue to recognize the ED team as their “Hometown Heroes” every year.
“Every contract has a stipulation,” Mrs. Tilley jokingly shared with the ED team at a recent recognition event. “And this contract will be valid as long as you all continue to save lives.”
The Pediatric Department will be recognized on Thursday, September 7 at 4 p.m. by Brownie Troop 1052, with Troop Leaders Mrs. Tilley and Ashley Gill, from Daniel Boone School District. The event will be held in the 5th Avenue Conference Center at the hospital.
The Hometown Hero Program is a nationwide community service project where troops decide on a charitable organization or service group they would like to support with cookie donations. These organizations include healthcare facilities, shelters, food banks, and military organizations.
“We are honored that the Girl Scouts and Brownies have selected our Emergency and Pediatrics teams as their ‘Hometown Heroes’,” said Charles F. Barbera, MD, Reading Hospital president and CEO. “Our team members pride themselves on the care they provide. “To be recognized by this group of young people in our community serves as an important reminder that the work they do impacts far more people than just their patients. Each patient is an important member of a family and in our community.”
Olubunmi Ojikutu, MD, Chair, Department of Pediatrics at Reading Hospital and Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania Board Member, is an advocate for community education and partnerships.
“These events are so special to me because they bring together two organizations I’m very passionate about – the Girl Scouts and Reading Hospital,” she said. “I’m a former Girl Scout myself and this is a wonderful opportunity to host the troops. I hope there are additional opportunities for the hospital and the Troops to partner together in the future. It would be our honor to help them earn one of their badges.”
About Reading Hospital
Reading Hospital is the flagship, Magnet Recognized, acute care hospital of Tower Health. Located in West Reading, Pa., Reading Hospital is a 697-bed hospital that is home to many top-tier specialty care centers, including Reading HealthPlex, McGlinn Cancer Institute, Miller Regional Heart Center, Emergency Department, Level I Trauma Center and Beginnings Maternity Center, which houses the region's only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With more than 1,000 physicians, specialists, and advanced practice providers across 49 locations, Reading Hospital has been recognized for its quality outcomes and clinical expertise across services lines. It is listed as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for four consecutive years and has been named one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals in 2022 and 2023. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.