South Shore Health Honored with Guard and Reserve Patriot Award
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The United States Department of Defense, through its Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) program, recently presented South Shore Health with an award for its commitment to service members in the National Guard and U.S. Military Reserves.
On Monday, November 22, retired U.S. Army First Sergeant John Bourne of Rockland presented South Shore Health’s Jason Tracy, MD, Chair of Emergency Medicine, with the Patriot Award – a proud recognition given by the ESGR to employers who support military women and men.
According to Bourne, the citation reflects South Shore Health’s strong commitment to those who are deployed through a wide-range of measures, including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families, and granting leaves of absence if needed.
“Employer support enhances retention rates in the Armed Forces and, in the end, strengthens our national security,” said Bourne. “This award reflects South Shore Health’s deep commitment to our service members.”
Each year, Guard and Reserve members have the opportunity to nominate their employer for the Patriot Award. Colonel Ricky Kue, MD, an Emergency Medicine physician at South Shore Hospital, nominated South Shore Health after returning from deployment in Saudi Arabia.
“It truly takes a village for members of the Guard and Reserves to get ready for deployment and serve our country,” explained Kue, who is a member of the Vermont Army National Guard. “If it weren’t for my family and the support of employers like South Shore Health, the process would be extremely difficult. I am grateful to Dr. Tracy, my colleagues in the Emergency Department, and the entire South Shore Health organization for going above and beyond while I prepared for my service in Saudi Arabia.”
Established in 1972, the ESGR is a Department of Defense program created to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers, as well as assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment.
