Island Health proudly announced the 2021 recipients of the Employee of the Year and Management Leadership awards at its annual Employee Recognition event last Friday. Anthony “Tony” Penney, CMA was chosen by Senior Leadership, managers and supervisors to receive Employee of the Year, while the Management Leadership award was awarded to Jodi Yeager, RN, BSN, CCRN.

Penney, a medical assistant, was chosen from the year’s 12 employees of the month for stepping forward to care for and test COVID-19 patients throughout the pandemic. He began his career with Island Health in 2019 as a medical assistant in Island Primary Care – 24th Street, where he acquired skills in family medicine and lactation services. He then took on a new role of providing direct patient care at the Island Walk-In Clinic – M Avenue.

Coworkers say that “Tony treats all patients with dignity and respect and sets a wonderful example for others with his work ethic, accountability, productivity and overall compassion.”

Yeager, Manager of Acute Care and ICU, has been with Island Health for 15 years. She started in the Acute Care Unit (ACU) and shortly after joined the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as a critical care nurse. Two years ago, she filled in as Supervisor of ACU/ICU and this year became Manager. Yeager worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to ensure staff safety and to provide quality, compassionate care to the sickest of the sick.

The Senior Leadership Team touts Yeager as a “natural born leader with great critical thinking skills who is warm and compassionate.” She rises to new challenges and instinctually moves her team in the right direction to give great quality and safe patient care, the team said. Yeager’s team say they are lucky to have her leadership, her kind and supportive words, and her support and dedication.

Congratulations to the 2021 Employee of the Year and Management Leadership awardees.