Joliet’s Saint Joseph Medical Center Nurse of the Year has 50 years on the job

Joliet — Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet hosted a “Salute to Nurses” event Wednesday in recognition of Nurses Week and Hospital Week 2025.

Nurses week is May 6 to 12, while Hospital Week takes place from May 18 to 24.

Saint Joseph, which has been under the ownership of Prime Healthcare since March, hosted an event with members of its medical staff and local emergency medical services personnel, firefighters and police, which featured a performance from the Joliet Fire Department Drum & Bagpiping Corp.

Police and fire chiefs from Joliet, Troy, Lockport and Plainfield fire protection districts and other nearby communities provided remarks during the event, alongside hospital leaders, to “highlight the deep collaboration between Saint Joseph Medical Center and our dedicated first responders,” according to the hospital announcement.

“We celebrate our communities’ first responders and our first receivers – our nurses – flanking me here today,” Saint Joseph Medical Center CEO Barb Martin said at the event. “Your collaboration and partnership is critical to keeping our communities safe, and we’re grateful to you all.”

“Regardless of who we deliver for treatment to this emergency team, we know they’ll be cared for with respect and compassion by professionals committed to serving others,” Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans said.

The Nurse of the Year award also was given to emergency room nurse Joanne Forsythe, who this year marks 50 years on the job.

“Thank you to our communities who have trusted us with your care here since 1882, when the hospital first opened,” Chief Nursing Officer Terrell Neal said. “Thanks to Prime Healthcare for investing in us to ensure we’ll be able to continue providing quality care today and for years to come, and thanks most to our relentlessly dedicated first responders and our nurses, who provide exceptional care for our patients.”

During the event, the hospital also recognized the Dr. Daewon Kim, medical director of the emergency department, naming him Physician of the Year.

Kim is the first emergency department doctor to receive that recognition, according to the hospital.