LEWISTON – In a ceremony Oct. 14, Sisters of Charity Health System honored its mission as well as some exemplary employees.

Lewiston’s largest employer announced its Ninth Annual Marguerite d’Youville awardees, honoring individuals who represent the organization’s core values of compassion, respect, excellence and stewardship.

This year’s honorees are Clint Hayward for Excellence, Sonya Nadeau for Respect, Dr. Roger Austin for Compassion and Lorraine Langlois for Stewardship.

The awards are named in honor of St. Marguerite d’Youville, founder of the Grey Nuns, the religious order that established Lewiston/Auburn’s first hospital and Maine’s first Catholic hospital in 1888.

“Ever since the Grey Nuns began offering care to Lewiston’s mill workers in 1888, we have been much more than buildings and beds,” said Sisters of Charity Health System president and Chief Executive Officer James E. Cassidy. “At the heart of everything we do is the gentle, caring spirit of our foundress, Marguerite d’Youville.

“Her qualities are very much alive today in our d’Youville award honorees.”

Hayward serves as director of security. In his 17 years of service, he has elevated the Security Department from a small lesser-known entity to a statewide example of excellence.

Hayward is active in many professional organizations and teaches healthcare security techniques on a state level. In addition to his professional duties, Hayward has also coordinated an annual silent auction and raffle, raising over $25,000 each year for local citizens in need.

Nadeau, a case manager at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, is a graduate of St. Mary’s School of Nursing. She joined St. Mary’s Case Management after 11 years at Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice. She has coordinated St. Mary’s AIDS case management program and currently assists patients with discharge plans, insurance negotiations and home care planning.

Her colleagues cite her extraordinary listening skills and remarkable patience as model characteristics.

Austin of Lewiston Medical Associates was honored for his many years of compassionate care to residents of Lewiston/Auburn. He has been a leader in local health care with expertise in diabetes and senior health.

Austin still maintains a busy schedule of daily house calls for his patients with mobility difficulties in addition to his office hours.

His colleagues laud his dedication, enthusiasm, and compassion.

Langlois, a licensed practical nurse, was recognized for the value of stewardship. As staffing coordinator at Maine’s largest nursing home, Langlois manages the work of 350 employees, facilitating the crucial mix of staff to care for 280 residents.

She has worked tirelessly over the past few years in an effort to reduce the use of agency staffing, saving the local nursing home considerable funds. Langlois was recently honored with an Excellence in Resident Care award from the Maine Long Term Ombudsman program.