December 2022

Listen

B.J. Knefley

Listen! How well do you do that? Are you a good listener? How would you know? What would others say? Can you listen and not hear? 

I’ve learned over the years that listening and hearing are not the same. How are they different? Listening involves understanding while hearing does not. A child hears that the stove is hot but touches it anyway because they don’t hear with understanding. When we are listening there is a sense of understanding information that is being presented.

In relationships, mine included, listening, or not listening can be a real problem. I can hear my wife say something and forget it as soon as I heard it. I can be accused of not listening and argue back that I’ve heard every word that was said. Although true, I’ve probably not understood a thing that was said. If you’re married, I’m sure you’ll understand what I’m saying. So, what’s the solution? How do I move from hearing to listening?

I’ve learned that part of listening is the ability to mirror back what was heard. It also might include asking clarifying questions like, “This is what I heard you say.”. I also like to ask the question, “If I were listening, how would you know?”. To this last question my wife might say, “Put down the phone, stop playing with the dog and give me eye contact.”. In other words, give me your full attention. For someone who is always fidgeting with something, getting quiet to actively listen is no small task.

Our listening skills effect every part of our life including the spiritual side. The writer of Hebrews stated this about his hearers. “There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.” (Hebrews 5:11) It has caused me to ask myself is this is true with me? How well do I listen spiritually? Do I hear with no action or change? Do you? Think about it.

The Little Nippers will hold its monthly youth sports meeting on Sunday, December 4, 2022, at 6:00pm at Fox’s Pizza in Eldred, Pa. This meeting is open to the general public.

Upper Allegheny Health System (UAHS), the local healthcare network in the region, parent company of Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) and Olean General Hospital (OGH) is recognizing employees for their years of service within the organization. 

Every year UAHS recognizes employees who have met years of service milestones at five-year increments starting at an employee’s fifth anniversary.  Each employee is awarded a special gift, commemorative years of service booklet, and certificate of recognition.

“It has been a rough couple of years. We’ve dealt with and continue to deal with many obstacles,” said Jill Owens, MD, president, BRMC, OGH.  “Through the COVID-19 pandemic, the great resignation leading to staffing shortages and among other factors, our team continues to choose to be a part of the UAHS family.”

Even through these obstacles, this year UAHS recognizes 142 employees totaling 1920 years of service!   The organization would like to recognize employees ranging from their fifth anniversary up through an employee celebrating their 45^th anniversary at UAHS.

Five Years: Tracy Andrus, PA, BRMC; Amanda Brinker, BRMC; Kimberly Burdick, OGH; Michele Burke, OGH; Kay Canaan, BRMC; Lindsey Carter, BRMC; Rachel Dennis, BRMC; Wendy Dennis, PA-C, BRMC; Teresa Emerson, OGH; Christine Filbert, OGH; Gabrielle Floyd, BRMC; Katie Ford, OGH; Sri Nidhi Ganji, MD, BRMC; Tina Gardner, LIMESTONE; Barbara Haas, OGH; Angela Harvey, OGH; Donald Hay, MD, BRMC; Amy Hayman, OGH; Daniel Iszkiewicz, OGH; Steven Jackson, OGH; Walter Keim, OGH; Christina Kempf, OGH; Katelynn King, BRMC; Kimberly Komidar, LIMESTONE; Brenda Laird, BRMC; Adrienne Latham, OGH; Cheryl McFadden, OGH; Zane Mosher, BRMC; Brenda Murphy, OGH; Kristina Murray, OGH; Scott Papp, OGH; Michelle Parris, OGH; Aditi Patel, DDS, OGH; Frances Perez, OGH; Tara Plath, OGH; John Pleakis, OGH; Daniel Robinson, OGH; Rosalie Rogers, LIMESTONE; Jenell Saulter, OGH; Allyson Seamans, OGH; Mark Secrist, OGH; Kyra Spadaro, BRMC; Andrew Tedesco, DDS, OGH; Amanda Wehler, BRMC; Angela White, BRMC; Bradley Wright, BRMC

Ten Years: Amber Barnard, OGH; Kelli Bartlein, LIMESTONE; Stefanie Buley, BRMC; Cheryl Buringrud, OGH; Kassi Danforth, BRMC; Dawn Doane, OGH; Sarah Eaton, OGH; Stephen Edel, OGH; Megan Farwell, OGH; Shelby Gangloff, OGH; Molly Hadden, BRMC; Kassi Haven, BRMC; Victoria Hedlund, OGH; Christine Jones, OGH; Lynn Kahle, BRMC; Moira Khettry, OGH; David Lee, OGH; Storm Maynard, OGH; Amy McKinley, OGH; Desirae Miller, OGH; Stacey Mollander, BRMC; Justin Moyer, OGH; Sara Oneil, OGH; Dawn Owens, BRMC; Timothy Petitt, BRMC; Kristian Pfeiffer, OGH; Elizabeth Printup, DNP, OGH; Nicholas Sherwood, OGH; Michael Strotman, BRMC; Melissa Sullivan, OGH; Sara Van Vlack, OGH; Joseph Warner, BRMC; Gail Wilson, BRMC; Aaron Witruke, OGH

Fifteen Years: Mary Amacher, BRMC; Jamie Benner, BRMC; Jennifer Drew, OGH; Michael Erickson, BRMC; Julie Galbraith, BRMC; Shawn Galbraith, BRMC; Joseph Goro, MD, BRMC; Kerry Grisewood, OGH; Tammie Hannon, BRMC; Tina Higley, OGH; Barbara Jedrosko, OGH; April Langworthy, OGH; Judith Lefford, OGH; Karen Mack, BRMC; Michael Mangan, OGH; Rebecca Miller, MD, BRMC; Mathew Miller, BRMC; Mariusz Morawski, OGH; Penny Payne, OGH; Michelle Platt, OGH; Nathan Powley, OGH; Stephanie Richards, OGH; Mark Ruggles, OGH; Meranda Schleicher, LIMESTONE; Michele Snyder, BRMC; Kristy Spaich, OGH; Katie Weaver, OGH; Benjamin Wright, OGH; Mindy Yeager, BRMC

Twenty Years: Eugene Cawley, BRMC; Debra Clark, BRMC; Nicole Cosper, BRMC; Jennifer Edminster, BRMC; Casey Ellman, OGH; Pamela Little, LIMESTONE; Rebecca Matthews, BRMC; Rhonda Miketish, BRMC; Shirley O’Dell, BRMC; Michele Orcutt, OGH; Brenda Pascarella, LIMESTONE

Twenty-five Years: Heidi Danielson, LIMESTONE; Deborah Evans, OGH; Robert Kriner, OGH; Rachel Lovell, OGH; Thomas Wartella, BRMC; Amanda Witt, BRMC

Thirty Years: Tricia Anastasia, LIMESTONE; Mary Gardner, LIMESTONE; Debra Honhart, BRMC; Cheryl O’Connell, BRMC; Melissa Webb, OGH; Stacy Williams, BRMC; Karla Zielinski, OGH

Thirty-five Years: Daniel Drake, OGH; Sharon Gardner, OGH; Susan Myers, BRMC; Todd Oliver, OGH; Lisa Sworts, OGH; Kristina Wallace, OGH

Forty Years: Joseph Livoto, OGH; Theresa O’Brien, BRMC

Forty-five Years: Patricia Luna, BRMC

“It’s the efforts of our team that is dedicated to the mission, vision and values of UAHS that

continue to make a difference in the lives of our patients every day,” said Dr. Jill Owens.  “Nothing would be possible without the hard work, perseverance, and loyalty from each of our valued team members.”