6 HEALTH COMPASS Late Summer 2026 Peers nominate nearly 60 caregivers Every year during National Hospital Week in May, CMH recognizes caregivers and providers who were nominated by their peers for Spirit of Care Awards. “This is my favorite part of the week,” says Erik Thorsen, CEO, “because we get to hear stories about the excellent caregivers who are part of our organization.” This year’s winners were Karma Hirning, lab aide, and Allison Martin, MD, pediatrician. The winners were chosen from nearly 60 nominations, decided on by CMH’s Person-Centered Care Steering Committee, Patient Family Advisory Council (PFAC) and PFAC Hispano. Here are their nominations, written by fellow caregivers. CMH celebrates Spirit of Care Award winners Karma Hirning, lab aide “Karma Hirning consistently exhibits a commitment to personcentered care. I have personally heard patients state they will come to the Warrenton Clinic specifically for blood draws and lab work because she works there. Her demeanor and skills put them at ease and keep them comfortable. “A specific instance was with a patient who was a veteran and was so afraid of needles, he struggled not to panic even just sitting in the chair. Karma established a rapport with him and had him laughing and joking, and drew his blood so quickly and with such ease, the patient did not even realize she was done. “[That is just one example,] but that is her, every single day. She always does what is best for the patient. Whether it’s tracking down buried standing lab orders, making someone comfortable From left are Nicole Williams, COO and assistant CEO; Karma Hirning; Allison Martin, MD; and Erik Thorsen, CEO of Columbia Memorial Hospital. when they’re afraid of needles or taking care of her lab space, Karma is the epitome of a professional lab technician.” Allison Martin, MD “Dr. Martin routinely goes out of her way to go the extra mile for her patients. She has added siblings onto her already-full schedule to ensure they received well exams or evaluations they were behind on, to make it easier on families and reduce the need for them to return to the clinic. “She has organized care for a mother in mental health crisis who did not have a primary or obstetric care provider to advocate for them. It doesn’t matter how far behind she may be running in her day, she makes it a point to ensure her patients get their full visit and never feel shorted because her day may be crazy. “Families coming in for nurse visits look for her in the hallway because they are hoping for the chance to say ‘hi’ to her before they leave. She really just cares for her patients and their genuine well-being, and it’s so refreshing to see how much she enjoys her profession and the kiddos she takes care of. We are so lucky to have her, and she is so deserving of the Spirit of Care Award.” “Congratulations, Karma and Dr. Martin. We are truly grateful for the spirit of care you bring to our organization,” Thorsen says. “And congratulations to all of the nominees. You represent what CMH is all about.”
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