NEPA Vital Signs - Winter Spring 2019 - 18

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Feature

NEPA nurse volunteers to help those in
need in Central America
Submitted by Anthony Matrisciano

any people travel abroad for vacations,
The Jefferson Awards recognize individsight-seeing or even for business.
uals who reflect the awards' value that each
citizen is responsible for working to improve
But for some, especially those in the life in their communities through economic
health care field, traveling abroad means giv- participation, public service, volunteerism
ing back and working to improve the health and other efforts.
and lives of those living in areas affected by
severe weather, poverty or other hardships.
One such local health
care professional is Toni
Hill, a registered nurse and
a clinical quality management analyst at Highmark
Inc. in Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA). She
practiced in the intensive care unit, emergency
room, in home health and in office nursing
before "finding her niche" at Blue Cross of
Northeastern Pennsylvania, now Highmark
Blue Cross Blue Shield, almost 19 years ago.

Highmark Health is one of 28 U.S. organizations that serve as Jefferson Awards
Champions, bringing to the workplace the
highest honor for public service, established
more than four decades ago by Jacqueline
Kennedy Onassis and other public figures.

Helping you
to live your life

Hill began volunteering with Operation
Honduras in October 1998. On the day she
was leaving for her first trip, Hurricane Mitch
had hit and devastated Honduras. Seeing the
poverty there was overwhelming for Hill.
"Average income in the area is $30 per month.
I couldn't believe that people who had nothing
to begin with, could lose everything. Since
then, it has held a special place in my heart."
Operation Honduras includes several
aspects of aid including oral surgery, construction of schools or churches, Gift of
Hearing sponsored by Starkey Foundation,
and Gift of Sight sponsored by Essilor Vision
Foundation and Capri Optics.
Hill was born and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania and now lives in the Pocono Mountains
in Cresco, Pennsylvania. She is married to Rick
Hill, and has two sons, two stepsons, one
stepdaughter, and three grandsons.
In recognition of her volunteer service,
Hill was presented with the Jefferson
Awards for Public Service and a monetary
contribution for Operation Honduras
earlier this year.

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NEPA Vital Signs - Winter Spring 2019

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