The entire Maryland/DC Division of 1199SEIU offered congratulations to long term care member Pat Walker, who in early September was named a Healthcare Hero by the Health Facilities Association of Maryland.

Walker is a delegate and resident care specialist at Sava Bethesda Health and Rehabilitation Center in North Bethesda, MD, where she has worked for 17 years. Walker was nominated for the prize by MD/DC Organizer Nichelle McGirt and Political Action Director Ricarra Jones.

“She went out of her way to make sure that her colleagues had PPE in the building. Pat would come to work before her shift to talk to the overnight staff and would stay late after her shift to talk with the 3 to 11 staff to make sure everybody felt comfortable and had everything they needed to do their job,” said McGirt.

Walker remained a stalwart Union delegate, even after being diagnosed with the coronavirus. She didn’t let being out of work for 14 days in quarantine stop her from being accessible to her co-workers when they needed her. Once she returned to work, Walker took extra precautions to make sure she did not put herself in harm’s way and continues to support her fellow staff in every way possible.

- 1199 Magazine - September / October 2020