ANDI
Ace is a PrEP specialist at Evergreen. Their job entails educating our patients about HIV prevention and risk reduction as well as connecting them with PrEP services. They
also assist with any barriers the patient may have. "My friend and emotional support human, Teresa Lane, knew I was looking to move back to Buffalo," recalled Andi. "Teresa suggested applying for a job opening in Evergreen's PrEP program. I'd only been aware of the Pride Center, so finding out that a place like Evergreen existed was mind blowing. I enthusiastically applied and was hired! That was a little over five years ago and time has flown by since then." Andi says they usually start the workday with a list of priorities that need to be taken care of, but also try to be flexible enough to take on the unexpected tasks that come up. "My days vary depending on what needs to be done for patients. This can include reaching out to referrals, scheduling patients who are due for a followup, meeting with patients who would like more information or need insurance assistance, completing prior authorizations, etc. Every day is a little bit different. Unexpected calls, emails and patient needs keep me on my toes. There are definitely days where I get my step goal in walking back and forth between the Mezzanine and PSC on the second floor." The rewards of helping our patients make those steps worthwhile. "Knowing that I'm helping people access resources and medication that can prevent them from acquiring a disease is the most rewarding aspect of my job," Andi said. "Helping with something like signing up for an insurance assistance program to cover the cost of visits and labwork which they otherwise would not be able to afford, those are the bits of light that keep me going." With constant changes in the healthcare world, as well as Evergreen's rapid growth and expansion, staying on top of things can be difficult. "It can be challenging to keep up with who is who, what services are provided where, etc.," said Andi. Despite the hard work and the challenges of their job, Andi is glad to be at Evergreen. "Working at Evergreen
We are all on the same page and working toward the same goals.
- Andi Ace
has been a privilege that I’m constantly reminded of and grateful for," they said. "As a queer nonbinary person I don’t feel like I need to hide or change any part of my identity to be accepted and valued. The Evergreen culture is what keeps me coming in every day. Most of the coworkers I interact with are compassionate and friendly, and it shows in the ways we all interact with one another as well as with the patients and clients we serve. From the security guard greeting me in the morning to random coworkers who smile and say hello in the hallway, the general vibe working at Evergreen feels like a respectful and safe place for everyone who walks through our doors. The people I’ve worked with in the PrEP program are stellar. Even with all of us working in different offices, floors or even buildings, we are all on the same page and working towards the same goals." Andi grew up in Buffalo, and moved away after high school for a number of years. "I was travelling for work and going to school," they said. "I found myself living in a cabin in the woods and working at a nonprofit in a national park before moving back to Buffalo." Andi has a Master’s degree in Education and the majority of their experience before Evergreen is in educational and outdoor programming and special event coordination. Outside of work, Andi and their partner Allison have been together for 15 years. They have a dog named Bella. "Bella is goofy, loving and deserves a million treats," said Andi. "When I’m not at work I’m usually playing roller derby. It was an unexpected passion that I was drawn to because it has a similar culture to Evergreen – enthusiastically welcoming and inclusive. I also enjoy going to the gym, listening to podcasts, and rotating through different crafty hobbies, which at the moment is bookbinding."
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Congratulations Team Evergreen on being a finalist in the Buffalo Business First Best Places to Work for 2022! Thank you to everyone that took the time to take this survey and provide valuable feedback on the company’s culture. We will find out how we ranked among the other top places to work in the next few weeks. Keep an eye out for additional communications!
Victor ia Medley
Evergreen received a letter recently from Brian of Neighborhood Legal Services. Brian relayed some great things that a patient had to say about care coordinator Victoria Medley. Great job, Torrie!
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The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program forgives the remaining balance on your direct loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. Qualifications | As part of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, individuals can have the remaining balance of their direct loans forgiven if they meet the following requirements: v
Work full-time for a federal, state, local or tribal government or not-for-profit organization
v
Have direct loans or consolidate other federal student loans into a direct loan
v
Repay loans under an income-driven repayment plan
v
Have already made 120 qualifying payments
v
Complete the PSLF application (available on Blink's PSLF page - see the link below)
The form allows you to request that the U.S. Department of Education discharge any qualifying loans that you have, determine how many qualifying payments you have made towards PSLF and TEPSLF or request a forbearance while your loan application is being processed (note: periods of forbearance do not count towards forgiveness). Completing the Form | After you have downloaded and completed the PSLF application, email it to evergreenhumanresources@evergreenhs.org. We will then complete the employer portion and fax to the Department of Education on your behalf. You will be contacted by them directly regarding status and approval. Resources | For more information on PSLF, visit StudentAid.gov/publicservice. To apply online, visit StudentAid.gov/PSLF. Click HERE to visit the PSLF page on Blink.
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If you have any questions about COVID-19, please send an email to COVID19questions@evergreenhs.org. Mark your calendar! The submission
For questions about Evergreen’s COVID-19 vaccination program, you can email COVID19vaccinequestions @evergreenhs.org. Or, visit ADP or evergreenhs.org for more information.
deadline for the April 2022 issue of Connections is Tuesday, March 15. Be sure to get your content in before the deadline to guarantee placement. Kids, pets, recipes -we want to share them all! Send to EvergreenConnections via Outlook.
T
ransgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) was started by activist Rachel Crandall in 2009. The already-existing Transgender Day of
Rememberance honored individuals who have lost their lives, and Crandall wanted the opportunity to celebrate the living transgender community and raise awareness
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of the challenges they face worldwide. By 2014, TDOV
John Carocci
was observed by communities throughout Ireland and
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Scotland. In 2015, the event expanded through a social
Contributors
media campaign where participants shared selfies and their personal stories. Now, each year on March 31,
Jocelyn Leising Nina Smith Kimberly Clarke
we recognize and honor the contributions, successes
Connections is the monthly newsletter
and relentless resilience of transgender people who
for employees and board members of Evergreen Health and its affilliates, the Pride Center of Western New York and
are standing strong in the face of adversity. Locally,
Community Access Services. You can
the Pride Center has several events planned for late
via Outlook at Evergreen Connections.
March to mark TDOV including a makeup and skincare workshop along with an art and talent show. Watch for more details coming soon.
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submit photos, comments or a "hello"
March Birthdays Marcus White.................................. March 4 Melinda Kingsbury......................... March 6 Richard Ridenour............................ March 6 Jacquelyn Dixon............................. March 6 Theodore Wilson............................ March 10 Harold Colburn............................... March 10 Nakeie Carpenter........................... March 10 Christoffel Edwards....................... March 10 Veronica Velazquez....................... March 11 Theresa Shankland........................ March 12 Erin Pepicello.................................. March 13 Mimi Dennard................................. March 13 Heather Munro................................ March 14 Latina Abram.................................. March 15 Nichole Frank.................................. March 15 Jasmine Padilla.............................. March 15 Susan Vanderwerf......................... March 17 Joseph Ryan................................... March 17 Elizabeth Pijanowski...................... March 17 Mindi Levine.................................... March 18 Jessica Ziemba Malave................ March 18 Melissa Rothenbueger.................. March 20 Kaitlyn Gately.................................. March 20 Mohammad Hashimy................... March 21 Vanessa Santos.............................. March 22 Kate Gallivan................................... March 22 Leslie Fineberg............................... March 22 Tiffani Williams............................... March 22 Elizabeth Gattman......................... March 23 Melissa Tice.................................... March 23 Johanna Aponte............................. March 26 Byron McKinney............................. March 26 Brittany Price.................................. March 26 Brandon Battaglia.......................... March 26 Joshua McClain............................. March 27 Michael Roche................................ March 27 Joshlynn Parker.............................. March 28 Michael Haase, Jr........................... March 28 Kimberly Johnson Brown.............. March 31 JaQuoria Oliver............................... March 31 Tiffany Collins................................. March 31
March Anniversaries
Top Benefits
of Evergreen Health University •
Organizes training content in one location
•
One centralized training transcript/record
•
Provides unlimited access to hundreds of courses
•
Free access to Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
•
Easily tracks staffs learning progress
•
Easy access to your learning portal on any mobile device
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And much more!
If you have any questions or comments about the system please contact Jocelyn Leising, employee experience coordinator!
Joshlynn Parker..................................... 1 Year Kirsten Smith......................................... 1 Year Taylor Dewitt.......................................... 1 Year Gino Pinzone.......................................... 1 Year Amina Shaibi.......................................... 1 Year Nicole Jones.......................................... 1 Year Jessica Baker......................................... 1 Year Chelest Ponzo........................................ 1 Year Adriane Argo.......................................... 2 Years Sara Fagyas........................................... 2 Years Kaysha Cruz........................................... 2 Years Kelsey Hanks......................................... 2 Years Khristopher Decker............................... 3 Years Alexis Pena............................................. 3 Years Matthew Faltisco.................................. 3 Years Mimi Dennard........................................ 4 Years Teresa Lee.............................................. 4 Years Charles Smith........................................ 5 Years Renee VanAernam................................ 6 Years Dana McHale......................................... 6 Years Steven Jagord........................................ 6 Years Abby Depczynski................................... 6 Years James DeGarmo................................... 9 Years Justin Azzarella..................................... 10 Years Kelly Craig............................................... 12 Years Angela Palmer....................................... 21 Years
That vacant factory/warehouse space on the left was transformed into the Evergreen Lofts, which now houses secure, affordable housing for our patients.