Gary Pazienza, perioperative registered nurse at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, has been named employee of the month for August by Day Kimball Healthcare (DKH).

Pazienza began his career as a perioperative registered nurse at Day Kimball Hospital in 2016 shortly after graduating with a bachelor’s of science in nursing from the University of Connecticut in 2015. In his role, Panzienza’s primary responsibilities center on patient care, including assisting surgeons and surgical teams to care for a patient before, during, and after surgery.

According to Panzienza’s supervisor, Cheryl Petrarca, MSN, RN, CNOR, executive director of nursing, surgical services, cancer services, and maternal child health, Day Kimball Healthcare, “Gary is an outstanding nurse who strives for excellence and is committed to the perioperative nursing practice. He is a role model for his team as demonstrated by his empathetic approach when interacting with his patients and his colleagues. His dedication to teamwork and excellent patient care shines through in his support of his peers and advocacy for his patients."

In response to being named employee of the month, Pazienza said, “I am both gratified and humbled. One unique aspect of working in the operating room is that a majority of what we do is completed by a team, including but not limited to anesthesia, PACU/recovery, surgeons, surgical technologists, and central sterile. I am grateful to be part of this team and my skills reflect that if you love what you do and are fortunate to be surrounded by a group of incredible, dedicated, and talented individuals, good things happen on a daily basis.”

When asked what he likes most about his job, he shared, “I love the fact that each case presents the opportunity to measurably change and improve the quality of the patient’s life. Sometimes the change is huge, other times a bit smaller. And on a daily basis, I have the chance to be part of a team of caring and very talented professionals.”

Pazienza was born and raised in Rhode Island, and currently resides in Pomfret Center, Connecticut with his wife and veterinarian, Stacey, and two children Melanie, and Kyle. A true New Englander, he enjoys horseback riding, ice hockey, and target shooting when outside of the operating room. Pazienza is CNOR certified in the state of Connecticut, which means that he has demonstrated the knowledge and skills that denote competency in the specialized field of perioperative nursing

Day Kimball Healthcare’s employee of the month program is sponsored by Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. “The Mashantucket (Western) Pequot Tribal Nation and Foxwoods Resort Casino has been focused on taking care of the people that serve within our community, and we appreciate everything Day Kimball Healthcare does,” said Foxwood’s Director of Sponsorships and Partnerships Roy Colebut-Ingram. “Supporting meaningful employee recognition programs like that at DKH is just one way that we feel we can express our appreciation.”

PHOTO CAPTION: Day Kimball Healthcare’s Employee of the Month for August 2021, Gary Pazienza, BSN, RN, CNOR, perioperative registered nurse at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, Connecticut.