July 2009 UVMC Employee of the Month

Linda Ritter, a registered nurse with Occupational Health and 37 years of experience in the hospital system, is the July employee of the month.

She worked on the Med/Surg floors at Piqua Memorial Medical Center for 28 years, in the emergency department for one year and on the surgical floor at Dettmer Hospital for a year. She occasionally worked in same day surgery and worked about six months at the Upper Valley Medical Center when it first opened.

For the past decade, she has been with Occupational Health at the UVMC South building, where she conducts workplace physicals and deals with those with workers compensation injuries.

“I always wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl. I wanted to help people, to be able to make them feel better, encourage them,” Linda said.

She graduated in 1970 from the Good Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing.

Co-workers praised Linda for her work ethic and her compassion for patients.

“She is a quiet, steady presence who brings peace and stability to the department,” one co-worker wrote.

Another said, “Nursing is her calling. She is kind to everyone and makes everyone feel special.”

Linda thanked fellow UVMC employees for their support through the years and her coworkers at occupational health, saying, “You are the best.”

Linda enjoys spending time with her husband, Tony; children, Wes and Stacey; and grandchildren, Cole, Savannah and Autumn. She also enjoys time with her “buddy,” German shepherd, Queen.