CCMH staff, board members, and volunteers gathered at Boulders in Denison, IA for their Patient Experience Recognition Dinner on Saturday, January 17, 2026. It was an evening dedicated to recognizing the extraordinary dedication of providers, staff, and volunteers who elevated the standard of patient care during 2025.
There was a social hour and dinner, followed by a presentation from Chris Sund, President and COO of Uniti Med and GQR Healthcare, an executive coach with a decade of leadership in healthcare staffing. Sund spoke about the importance of culture, relationships, and personal growth within hospital care teams.
The night’s highlight was the awards presentation by Erin Muck, CCMH President and CEO, which featured ten different patient experience categories, honoring individuals and departments for their exceptional patient experiences.
Award Recipients and Nominees:
Customer Focused Provider: Awarded to Dr. Andy Rinek. Nominees included Dr. Libby Ranniger and Julie Graeve, ARNP.
Empowering Manager: Awarded to Tahlia Nelson. Nominees included Trama Vetter and Kelly Wieman.
Exceptional Employee (Clinical): Awarded to Makenzie Reis. Nominees included Lana Petersen and Jamie Gross.
Exceptional Employee (Nonclinical): Awarded to Tanesha Salinas. Nominees included Kade Ohlmeier and Becky Kunze.
Outstanding Newcomer: Awarded to Dr. Andy Rinek. Nominees included Jamesia Williams and Tammy Hulsing.
Volunteer of the Year: Awarded to Dana Neemann. Nominees included Trama Vetter and Jerry Jors.
Distinguished Preceptor (Clinical): The award went to Julie Meseck. Nominees included Nicole Dehner and Lee Berkley.
Distinguished Preceptor (Nonclinical): The award went to Kristine Summerfield. Nominees included Katlyn Gosch and Rick Carlson.
Customer First Department: Awarded to EVS / Plant Operations. Nominees included Rehab Services and Financial Counselors.
Star of the Year: Awarded to Dustin Durbin. Nominees included Becky Kunze and Cami Keller.
“Our organizations are built around culture and community impact,” Sund noted during his address, echoing the sentiment of the evening. The Patient Experience Night serves as a vital reminder of the teamwork and individual commitment required to provide compassionate healthcare every day.
Muck recapped the evening with a quote from Sund’s presentation to close the evening. “Great patient experiences is not about doing more. It’s about intentionally designing the moments people remember.”
Pictured above are award winners being presented by Erin Muck, President and CEO. Left: Kristine Summerfield; Center: Tanesha Salinas; Right: Tahlia Nelson
Pictured above is the CCMH EVS / Plant Operations team receiving their Customer First Department award.
