Southcoast Health employees recognized with President’s Award for Excellence

FALL RIVER, NEW BEDFORD, FAIRHAVEN and WAREHAM, Mass — Portraits of the 2025 Southcoast Health President’s Award for Excellence honorees were revealed Friday in all three Southcoast Health hospitals including Charlton Memorial, St. Luke’s and Tobey, and in the health system’s Fairhaven Business Center.

“The President’s Award for Excellence is our highest honor for staff, nurses, providers and physicians nominated by their coworkers for outstanding performance, integrity and overall quality of service,” said David O. McCready, President and CEO of Southcoast Health. “With nearly 8,600 hardworking, dedicated employees across the system it isn’t easy to narrow down the honorees each year. I want to extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation to all who were nominated for consistently going above and beyond for our patients and community.”

This year, 12 individuals and one five-member team were celebrated for their extraordinary work supporting Southcoast Health’s patients, visitors and staff.

2025 President’s Award for Excellence Honorees:

• Christian Pope, DO, FACOG, Chief of Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Beth Welborn, Employee Experience & Wellbeing Manager
• Denise Dupuis, Team Leader, Care Navigation
• Deborah Nery, Clinical Pharmacist, Charlton Memorial Hospital
• Jose “Joe” Lima, Carpenter & Locksmith, Facilities
• Jamsheed Vakharia, MD, Director of General Surgery, Charlton Memorial Hospital
• Maria Benoit, RN, Cardiac Testing, Nuclear Medicine
• Kimberley Coon, MHA, Executive Director and Chief of Staff to COO
• Carlos Marques, RN, Nurse Educator, Professional Development
• Marie Couto, Director of Operations, Surgery Care Center – Women and Children
• Suzete Pacheco, Team Lead, Environmental Services
• Rebecca Martin, PA-C, Physician Assistant, Cardiology – Advanced Heart Failure

Team Recipient: Charlton Memorial Hospital Emergency Department Behavioral Health Team

• Elizabeth Cormier, RN
• Kimbally Reimels, RN
• Susan Mitchell, RN
• Natalia Araujo, Clinical Technician
• Eleanor Taylor, MSN, FNP-C, CMH ED Manager

Each year, more than a hundred colleagues are nominated across the health system, with a lengthy list of accomplishments displaying outstanding care and service. Honorees are chosen based on how well they meet the selection criteria of excellent performance and demonstration of Southcoast Health’s values.

To learn more about the 2025 President’s Awards, please visit: [www.southcoast.org/presidents-award]www.southcoast.org/presidents-award.