Behind every warm welcome and helping hand at Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital are volunteers who generously give their time to support others and that includes an incredible group of teen volunteers.
During Volunteer Appreciation Week, we were proud to celebrate the teens who have spent countless hours making a difference throughout our hospital community. From decorating the Volunteer Appreciation bulletin board to sharing memories from their experiences, the celebration reflected the impact they have made all year long.
A special congratulations to our 11th grade volunteers who will be “graduating” from the program later this year. Coordinators Robyn Morgan and Kelly Duffy presented certificates to honor their dedication before the group enjoyed pizza, cookie cake, games, and time together.
To all of our teen volunteers, thank you for your time, compassion, and positivity. We are so grateful for the difference you make at Chester County Hospital every day.
Often, the most meaningful moments in healthcare happen in the small, quiet interactions that bring comfort during uncertainty, offer reassurance in difficult moments, and help both patients and caregivers feel supported when it matters most.
At Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital, Bethany Sterling helps create those moments every day.
As the inpatient oncology and end-of-life clinical educator, Beth works closely alongside nurses caring for patients receiving anticancer therapies and those facing serious illness. Whether she is assisting with chemotherapy oversight, helping manage complex treatment complications, or offering real-time support and education at the bedside, Beth leads with both clinical expertise and compassion.
Her impact extends far beyond daily patient care. Beth is a mentor, advocate, and educator who encourages nurses to grow professionally while helping strengthen compassionate, evidence-based care throughout the organization. As an ELNEC-certified instructor, she also helped bring specialized end-of-life nursing education to Chester County Hospital, equipping nurses with the skills and confidence to support patients and families with dignity and empathy.
Through her leadership, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to compassionate oncology care, Bethany Sterling has made a lasting impact on patients, families, and colleagues alike. We are proud to recognize her as a recipient of @thedaisyfoundation Educator Award.
Whether you’re a professional athlete, weekend golfer, student athlete, or simply trying to stay active, injuries and orthopaedic conditions can impact everyday life in a big way. Dr. Heck understands that firsthand through more than 10 years of experience caring for athletes and non-athletes of all ages, including professional, collegiate, and high school athletes.
At Penn Ortho Exton, Dr. Heck is passionate about helping patients better understand sports-related injuries and non-surgical treatment options that can reduce pain, restore function, and keep people doing what they love.
For many patients, a blood draw can feel like just another appointment on the calendar. But for those who meet Brittany Baker, one of our dedicated phlebotomists, it becomes something more.
With a calm presence, expert care, and a gift for connection, Brittany transforms routine moments into meaningful ones. She doesn’t just perform her role with excellence, she creates an experience where patients feel seen, informed, and genuinely cared for.
Time and again, patients share stories of how Brittany’s professionalism, knowledge, and even her sense of humor helped ease their nerves and brighten their day. What could have been an ordinary visit becomes a moment of comfort, confidence, and compassion.
Brittany’s impact goes far beyond drawing blood. She represents the kind of care people remember long after they leave, the kind that lifts spirits, answers questions, and reminds patients they are in exceptional hands.
Today, we are proud to celebrate Brittany, a recent Employee of the Month recipient. Congratulations, Brittany, and thank you for the incredible difference you make every day.
Dr. Karen Pinsky, CEO of Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital, recently joined local leaders and community members at Community Connections, a small-group networking event hosted by Camphill Village Kimberton Hills in Phoenixville, in partnership with the Start Local Podcast.
Hosted and moderated by Liam Dempsey, the event created an engaging space for meaningful conversation and connection. In the intimate setting, Dr. Pinsky shared reflections on her role as CEO, discussed the evolving healthcare landscape, and participated in a thoughtful roundtable discussion with fellow attendees.
We’re grateful for opportunities like this to connect, collaborate, and exchange ideas with community partners throughout our region.
This weekend, we celebrated so many beautiful beginnings at Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital.
A special Happy Mother’s Day to Samantha and Zachary Davis, who welcomed baby girl Davis on May 10 at 1:01 a.m. and spent their very first Mother’s Day together as a family of three. There is something incredibly meaningful about becoming a mother on the very day dedicated to celebrating moms everywhere.
We were honored to spend part of Mother’s Day weekend with so many amazing mothers and growing families as they began their newest chapters together.
At Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital, volunteering is about so much more than giving time. We recently gathered to celebrate the incredible volunteers who make our hospital community stronger every single day.
For our patients, volunteers are often the friendly face in a difficult moment, the listening ear when it is needed most, or the calm presence in the chaos. They bring comfort, connection, and compassion when it matters most.
For our staff, volunteers are true partners. They offer support, lighten the load, and help create something even more meaningful: a sense of belonging, friendship, and community.
We were honored to hear from Dr. Bill Surkis, Chief Medical Officer, who shared his personal journey of volunteering and his heartfelt commitment to knowing each volunteer personally.
From heartfelt tributes and service awards to special moments of celebration, the day honored the countless ways our volunteers make Chester County Hospital a better place.
To our volunteers: Thank you for sharing your time, kindness, and heart with our patients, staff, and community. You make this place brighter every day.
When life feels nonstop, health often becomes just another thing on the to-do list.
Many women are balancing busy schedules, family responsibilities, and endless demands, which can make it easy to slip into habits like skipping meals, emotional eating, or relying on convenient processed foods that seem like healthy choices.
That’s where Kim Beazley is making a difference.
As a registered dietitian at Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital with extensive experience in community education and personalized medical nutrition therapy, Kim is passionate about helping people of all ages better understand their health and make informed, lasting choices. Through her work, she continues to empower individuals to move past common obstacles and take meaningful steps toward healthier living.
At her upcoming event, Kim will help women navigate these everyday challenges and explore practical ways to overcome the barriers that can stand in the way of health goals.
"I am excited about this topic! I look forward to being able to talk together about how to get past some common barriers that get in the way of our health goals."
Some of the most meaningful care happens in moments of crisis through a calm voice, compassionate teamwork, and the ability to help patients feel safe and respected during vulnerable moments.
Since fall 2023, Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital’s Crisis Prevention and Intervention (CPI) and Workplace Violence Prevention Team has worked together to better prepare staff to respond to challenging situations with compassion, confidence, and care. This nurse-led, interdisciplinary team developed a comprehensive training program focused on de-escalation, safety, and preserving dignity for patients and families.
The impact has already been felt across the organization, with staff sharing that they feel more prepared to recognize warning signs, de-escalate high-stress situations, and maintain a safe environment for everyone involved.
Through collaboration, leadership, and a deep commitment to compassionate care, this outstanding team has helped create a safer and more supportive environment at Chester County Hospital. We are proud to recognize the CPI and Workplace Violence Prevention Team as recipients of @thedaisyfoundation Team Award.
For more than 35 years, Jeanne Seidell has been the kind of nurse people never forget.
She has been a steady hand in life’s hardest moments, a source of comfort for patients and families, a mentor for young nurses finding their way, and the reassuring presence colleagues could always count on. From her early days as a CNA to her work as a nurse leader, hospice and oncology nurse, and for more than two decades as a cornerstone of the CCH Wound Care Center, Jeanne’s career has been defined not simply by what she did, but by how deeply she cared.
To so many, Jeanne became more than a nurse. She became a guide, a teacher, and the heart of her workplace. Affectionately known as the “mom” of her team, her compassion, integrity, and selflessness shaped countless patient experiences while also leaving a lasting mark on generations of nurses who learned from her example.
As Jeanne approaches retirement, the story of her career is written in the lives she touched, the comfort she gave, and the legacy of kindness and excellence she leaves behind.
Some careers are measured in years. Jeanne’s is measured in lives changed.
The CCH Professional Development Council is proud to honor Jeanne with @thedaisyfoundation Lifetime Award. Congratulations, Jeanne, and thank you for a lifetime of extraordinary nursing care.
This week, we proudly celebrate the heart of Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital: our incredible nurses.
Nurses Week is a time to recognize the compassion, strength, skill, and dedication our nurses bring to every patient, every family, and every moment that matters most. They are the steady hands during uncertainty, the comforting voices during difficult days, and the extraordinary caregivers who make a lasting difference far beyond medicine.
From life’s first breaths to its toughest challenges, our nurses show up with expertise, empathy, and unwavering commitment.
To our amazing nursing team, thank you for the countless ways you care, lead, advocate, and inspire. This week and every week, we are so grateful for you. Happy Nurses Week!
Maura Frignito, a nurse in Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital's Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, spends her days caring for patients recovering from surgery. Outside of work, she’s a mother to four boys, and recently, the driving force behind a sneaker recycling effort that’s making a difference both inside and outside of the hospital.
After her son's class partnered with Got Sneakers Maura placed collection bins near the OR and Endo PACU locker rooms and soon saw them fill with donated shoes—each pair kept out of landfills and given new life through recycling or upcycling. What started as a small fundraiser quickly grew into something more. In addition to collecting the shoes, Maura took the time to educate her colleagues on the importance of recycling, as most discarded sneakers can take 30 to 40 years to break down.
Behind the scenes, she managed every step: gathering overflowing boxes, tying each pair together, packaging them at home, and sharing why the effort mattered. “By collecting and repurposing sneakers, we’re helping reduce environmental harm while teaching kids the power of collaboration,” Maura said. “It’s a small but powerful way to improve the world, one sneaker at a time.”
