A total of $16,500 will be awarded to healthcare heroes for representing the best in patient experience
HeroesFIRST 2024 Nationwide Voting Launch
King of Prussia, PA, Sept. 18, 2024 – ImageFIRST® proudly announces the launch of nationwide voting for its 4th Annual HeroesFIRST Contest, celebrating exceptional healthcare heroes who go above and beyond to enhance the patient experience. After receiving an overwhelming number of nomination submissions and heartwarming stories, the HeroesFIRST panel has faced the challenging task of selecting just 20 finalists. Voting is now open to the public from September 18 – October 4, 2024, at heroes.imagefirst.com.
As an industry leader with a commitment to enhancing the patient experience, ImageFIRST is honoring those in the healthcare field who have gone above and beyond, even in the face of adversity, to positively impact the lives of their patients.
“Healthcare professionals show us what true dedication looks like every day,” says ImageFIRST CEO, Edward H. Orzetti. “Through HeroesFIRST, we have the opportunity to shine a light on these unsung heroes and celebrate their remarkable contributions. We are honored to recognize their tireless efforts and the positive impact they have on their patients and communities.”
ImageFIRST’s Service Team submitted inspiring stories about exceptional healthcare heroes at the facilities they serve. After receiving hundreds of nominations, it was narrowed down to a top 20. These 20 individuals are now featured on ImageFIRST’s contest website for a nationwide vote.
The finalists include:
- Nayeli Acosta, Dr. Andrew Smith in Irvine, CA
- Dawn Compres, Ronald McDonald House in Miami, FL
- Dr. Juan Carlos Correa, Kansas City Vascular Institute in Overland Park, KS
- Paula Cote, Huggins Hospital in Wolfeboro, NH
- Elizabeth Graf, Ft. Lauderdale Heart & Rhythm Surgery Center in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- Rita Hartman, North Shore Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Center in Westlake, OH
- Julie Hauk, ClearSky Rehabilitation Hospital of Kenosha in Kenosha, WI
- Deborah Hunter, Bailey Square Surgery Center in Austin, TX
- Karol Iser, American Cancer Society Hope Lodge KC in Kansas City, MO
- Jennifer Levi, Alive Hospice in Nashville, TN
- Tahisha McLemore, Crescent Regional Hospital in Lancaster, TX
- Claudia Melendez, Newport Coast Surgical Institute in Newport Beach, CA
- Erica Murphy, Regional SurgiCenter in Moline, IL
- David Neal, Roseland Hospital in Chicago, IL
- Karla Ochoa, Alpha Male Plastic Surgery in New York, NY
- Natalie Powers, The University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City, KS
- Elaine Sherfy, Riverwalk Ambulatory Surgery Center in Bradenton, FL
- Ashley Swenson, HonorHealth in Phoenix, AZ
- Amy Taylor, Christus Physician Surgery Center in New Braunfels, TX
- Keitha Brown Zittle, Medquest-Novant Health Breast Center in Charlotte, NC
Now through October 4th, the public can cast their vote for the local Healthcare Hero that inspires them the most. Following the nationwide vote, the top eight heroes (four on the East and West Coasts) with the most votes will be awarded prizes, totaling $16,500 for representing the best in patient experience.
To learn more about each finalist and cast a vote, visit heroes.imagefirst.com. Voting closes on October 4th at 11:59 p.m. EST. Limit one vote per person. 
