Hospital Healthcare Workers

Our deepest thanks to all the hospital workers who have gone the extra mile to care for Arizona’s COVID patients as well as others in medical need.

Grand Prize Winner

Amy Burke

Partner Charity

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Southern Arizona Chapter

Amy left Arizona to go to New York when the virus was hitting the residents of that state harder than anywhere else in America. She has been on the front line of COVID-19 since the beginning, often going from the gut-wrenching honor of holding a patient’s hand as they die all alone to holding the hands of the inconsolable family members as they grieve. Her heroics are humble, handling everyone she encounters with respect, empathy, and grace.

Cystic fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time. It can affect everything from life expectancy to the ability to have a family. The Southern Arizona Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has helped protect the health and well-being of the cystic fibrosis community during the COVID-19 outbreak. There are four accredited Cystic Fibrosis Care Center Programs in Arizona that help care for approximately five hundred and fifty Arizonans with cystic fibrosis. Learn more about cystic fibrosis, as well as its treatment and how YOU can help here!

Hospital Healthcare Workers

Other Winners

Check out other Hospital Healthcare Front Line Heroes who put their heart and lives on the line day after day – just to give Arizona a fighting chance.

Janis Pahona
As a member of the Hopi nation, Ms. Pahona’s cultural heritage, teachings, and knowledge strengthen her care skills as a registered nurse. During the pandemic’s surge, Ms. Pahona cared for countless COVID patients, often making the 10-hour round-trip journey to ensure they had the supplies they needed. Even off the clock, Ms. Pahona took to social media to actively educate community members about the importance of social distancing, hand washing, and the science behind how the COVID virus spreads.

Angela Muzzy
Because of the contagiousness of COVID-19, loved ones are often not allowed to see or be close to family members who are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This inspired ICU nurse Ms. Muzzy to take providing exceptional care to critically ill patients even further by advocating for allowing family into the ICU, giving critically ill and dying patients the opportunity to spend time together at the end of life safely. Ms. Muzzy’s calling extends far beyond the bedside, creating connections with everyone she encounters.

Kaleena Holmes
Going above and beyond her ‘regular’ nursing duties, Banner Health RN Ms. Holmes took it upon herself to map out a plan for proper care for COVID patients. She also began a relief fund on Facebook and raised over $4,000 on her own for PPE. On top of that, she created a “Compassion Cabinet,” a place where bedside COVID workers could grab a quick snack and drink free of charge during their busy days–motivating her peers and co-workers just by leading by example every day.

Savas Petrides – In Memoriam
As CEO of Innovative Care Partners (ICP) and long-time advocate for value-based care, Dr. Savas Petrides helped bring that vision to physicians and patients statewide. During the COVID crisis, Dr. Petrides quickly shifted ICP physicians to virtual services and created COVID respiratory clinics to ensure patients could get the medical care they needed without overwhelming hospitals and emergency rooms. His quick thinking, responsiveness, and leadership helped ensure access to care for patients throughout the Valley.

Dr. Petrides died unexpectedly Friday, November 13, 2020. He would say he was not a hero, that he was just doing his job. Though by all accounts, he always did that job with care, excellence, pride, and compassion.