Two Banner Associates honored by Phoenix Business Journal

PHOENIX (Aug. 23) – Two Banner Health associates have been honored by The Phoenix Business Journal as “Health Care Heroes” for their outstanding work and contributions to the community.

Deborah Lehker, a nurse at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, was named the winner in the Health Care Provider – Nurse category of the annual award. Lehker, who supervises Inpatient Wound/Ostomy care at the hospital, is also a major in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. In February 2007, she completed a second tour of duty in the Middle East, providing medical care to U.S. and coalition troops and injured Iraqi citizens. During her four-month tour of duty at a base outside of Baghdad, Lehker and her unit were under daily mortar and gunfire attack yet still treated more than 2,500 casualties.

At Banner Good Samaritan, she has worked to expand care for ostomy and wound care patients, including working with statewide hospitals and wound care clinics to develop resources for ostomy patients when discharged.

Banner Health Foundation Board Member John Kressaty was also named as a finalist in the Health Care Volunteer category. He has supported Banner Heart Hospital and Banner Baywood Medical Center since 2002 through his philanthropy and by volunteering for hundreds of hours. From the heart murmur discovered when he was 13 to the valve repairs he received at 45; Kressaty is no stranger to hospital rooms. His experience as a patient is what motivated him to get involved. He also started a scholarship in honor of his daughter Jennifer, who died eight years ago after suffering from electrical heart problems.

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About Banner Health

Headquartered in Phoenix, Banner Health is one of the largest, nonprofit health care systems in the country. The system owns or manages 20 acute-care hospitals, long-term care centers, outpatient surgery centers and an array of other services including family clinics, home care and hospice services, and a nursing registry. Banner Health is in seven states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. To learn more about Banner health, go to http://www.bannerhealth.com.