At Tower Health, nurses are the backbone of caring for patients and the community—in hospitals, outpatient settings, physician offices, and patients' homes. Our nurses are strong and, no matter the challenge, are at the patient's side when they need care, comfort, health guidance, or just a kind word of solace or sympathy.
Tower Health thanks and celebrates the more than 3,000 nursing professionals throughout our health system with profound gratitude and admiration for their strength, their skill, and their perseverance in the face of a once-in-a-lifetime public health crisis.
"Nurses are vital to the health of our communities," said Mary Agnew, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, Sr. Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer, Tower Health. "The last two years have been challenging for all of us, and through it all, our nursing team pulled together to care for patients and their families.
"When COVID-19 first arrived, many members of our team bravely volunteered to care for these individuals, even when we knew so little about the virus. I was honored to lead this group of dedicated and passionate individuals who are committed to providing the highest-quality care, while keeping their patients safe and healthy. Our communities are so fortunate to have nurses of this caliber caring for their family, friends, and neighbors."
In recognition of the extraordinary commitment of its entire staff of nursing professionals, Tower Health is featuring those nurses with the longest tenures at each of our hospitals. The longest-serving nurses are:
- Sue Bailey, RN, CAPA, who began her career at Reading Hospital in 1975.
- Christina Drass, RN, who began her career at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in 1971.
- Diane Kochinsky, BSN, RN, who began her career at Phoenixville Hospital in 1978.
- Pamela Laurent, BSN, RN, who began her career at Chestnut Hill Hospital in 1981.
- Peggy Neese, BSN, RN, OCN, who began her career at Pottstown Hospital in 1979.
"These nurses represent 226 years of service to patients and the community," said P. Sue Perrotty, President and CEO at Tower Health. "The decades-long commitment from Sue, Christina, Diane, Pamela, and Peggy is admirable and they are one of the many reasons Tower Health is such a special organization. They, like all the nurses at Tower Health, have truly made it their life's mission to help and heal. Today, and every day, I encourage everyone to recognize and thank a nurse for all they do."
Visit towerhealth.org/NursesWeek to read more about the longest-serving nurses and their careers at Tower Health.
About Tower Health
Tower Health is a regional integrated healthcare system that offers leading-edge, compassionate healthcare and wellness services to communities in Berks, Chester, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties. With nearly 12,000 team members, Tower Health consists of Reading Hospital in West Reading; Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia; Phoenixville Hospital in Phoenixville; Pottstown Hospital in Pottstown; and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, a partnership of Tower Health and Drexel University in Philadelphia. It also includes Reading Hospital Rehabilitation at Wyomissing; Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences in West Reading; home healthcare provided by Tower Health at Home; TowerDirect ambulance and emergency response; Tower Health Medical Group; and a network of 25 urgent care facilities across the Tower Health service area. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.