Smart Talk - August 2026

Future Priests Immersed In SJ/C’s Pastoral Care

St. Joseph’s/Candler has partnered with the Diocese of Savannah and Hospice Savannah to give future priests the opportunity to learn about ministry to patients and families facing severe or terminal illness. This was the second Summer Pastoral Experience at SJ/C after a successful launch of the program last year.

A seminarian is someone who is studying and training to become a Catholic priest. Instead of a regular university, these students go to a special school called a seminary. In the summer, seminarians will intern with various organizations to learn how to practice ministry in real-world situations.

“The program not only introduced seminarians to our local healthcare ministries, but it also helped them feel welcome, confident and prepared to make their own pastoral visits in the future,” said Brendan Moss, Vice President of Mission Services. “They served two days a week at either St. Joseph’s Hospital or Candler Hospital and two days a week with Hospice Savannah and the Steward Center for Palliative Care. They also attended lectures from professionals in the field, with topics such as active listening and end-of-life questions.”

The three seminarians who interned this summer were Benjamin Aler, Matthew Nyikwagh, and Samuel Terkura

“Much of our ministry is going to be visiting with the dying or being with those in crisis,” Benjamin Aler said. “We’ve had a chance to learn from Father Matthew and Sister Maureen how they go about it and what works best for them. I noticed that dealing with illness can often draw up other worries, such as family tensions or financial issues.

moving forward

St. Joseph's/Candler’s Nursing Residency Program has been re-accredited by the prestigious American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)’s Commission on Accreditation in Practice Transition Programs. SJ/C is one of only 340 ANCC-accredited institutions across the globe.

Re-accreditation affirms the high-quality training and support new RNs receive through SJ/C, especially during the critical first years. The year-long program runs three cohorts a year, with the most recent comprised of 74 recent nursing school graduates. SJ/C’s Nursing Resident alums have a first-year retention rate of 99 percent and a second-year retention rate of 89 percent.

So, even though it can be a heavy task, being able to be there for a person and talk them through that has been a privilege.”

Matthew Nyikwagh appreciated the opportunity to not only observe but to put what he learned into practice.

“There are some things that we cannot learn from books,” Nyikwagh said. “Sometimes the best way to learn is by doing. This summer I have been able to put myself in the shoes of others, and I’ve come to understand how important it is to be able to just be there with them.”

Samuel Terkura felt the same way while working at Candler Hospital with Reverend Columbus Burns and Sister Veronica Kovach

“Compassionate presence is the most important thing,” Terkura said. “This is a wonderful place to learn that, because St. Joseph’s/Candler has been so hospitable. This is a wonderful community.”

Aler and Nyikwagh agreed that the sense of community was an impactful part of their experience.

“We’ve seen that Pastoral Care isn’t just for patients,” Aler said. “We can extend a listening ear to families, doctors, nurses and staff. Pastoral Care is here for everybody.”

mission critical

Second Harvest Gets Help From Angels Of Mercy

The Angels of Mercy beat the July heat and beat the clock while volunteering at America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia. They helped sort and pack food for 1,400 senior citizens in record time. Good nutrition for senior citizens can be particularly at risk near the end of the month, when funds are depleted by medication and housing costs. This is especially true in the summer when airconditioning and electrical power is higher in demand.

Give Smart Ice Cream Socials

SJ/C leadership joined up with the Foundations team to hold ice cream socials at both main campuses, the Pooler Campus and the Bluffton Campus. The sweet, cool treats were given to co-workers to thank them for participating in the Give Smart program. Give Smart donations not only support patient care and technology investments, but also internal programs such as the Danny Brown Co-Worker Assistance Fund. Co-workers who are interested in becoming a Give Smart member or who need to confirm their membership can reach out to Foundations at pearceg@sjchs.org or call (912) 819-8683.

(magnet nurses in touch)

Congratulations to our latest DAISY Award winner, Carly Clark. Carly is a nurse in the Telfair BirthPlace at Candler Hospital. She was nominated by a mother she help get through a difficult birth, who wrote:

“I cannot speak highly enough of Carly and the care she provided to me and my family during the birth of our baby. From the moment she walked into the room and introduced herself, Carly created an immediate sense of calm. Her warm presence, confidence and compassion made me feel safe and cared for during one of the most vulnerable moments of my life. When my baby required CPAP support at birth, Carly remained a steady presence, seamlessly working with the healthcare team while never losing sight of me as a patient and a new mother. Her professionalism was evident in every interaction, yet what stood out most was her humanity. She offered reassurance when my fear felt overwhelming and comfort when I needed it most.”

a life in service

The profound impact of Sister Mary Faith McKean on St. Joseph’s Hospital was poignantly underscored last month at the news of her passing. As a Sister of Mercy, she served first in Baltimore and then Savannah, eventually becoming CEO of St. Joseph's Hospital in 1982. She was the last Sister of Mercy to serve in this role.

During her tenure she oversaw significant expansion of services, including the addition of a 10-bed Coronary Care Unit and a Radiology renovation that included several state-of-the-art features.

In 1990, she helped break ground on a $7 million expansion project that would bring a 7,800-square-foot ED to the campus. Her forward-thinking vision also fostered the extension of services into Savannah’s neighboring towns like Pooler and Richmond Hill.

By Alicia Motley, DNP, MBA, RN, NE-BC Director, Professional Practice, Specialty Services & Infection Control, Magnet Program Director

The new mother also mentioned that during her most difficult moments in delivery, Carly felt more like a “trusted friend and guiding light” than just a nurse. This is a wonderful testimonial to what I believe is a system-wide quality at St. Joseph’s/Candler—the ability to go above and beyond for our patients. Congratulations Carly!

After a decade at the helm, Sister Mary Faith retired as CEO in 1992. She was succeeded by St. Joseph's/ Candler’s current President & CEO Paul P. Hinchey.

“Sister Mary Faith led an extraordinary life in service to God and this community, generously giving of herself to care for her students and co-workers at St. Joseph’s/Candler,” Mr. Hinchey said. “She put this health system on a path to where it is today.”

meet morgan sosa a

co-worker profile

Morgan Sosa considers herself to be a “numbers girl.” And that’s a good thing for both patients and co-workers at St. Joseph’s/Candler. For more than six years, Sosa has been on the oncology side of Specialty Physician Revenue Cycle. She is now the Oncology Project Manager for her department. From the beginning, her mission has been twofold—removing financial obstacles for cancer patients while safeguarding the hospital’s revenue.

“I work with the clinical and operational staff to track a patient’s cancer treatment from their initial appointment to final reimbursement. At the same time, I work

with insurance companies to make sure patients don’t have any barriers to treatment and to solve issues such as claims not being processed correctly.”

Sosa and her team handle all of the details necessary to ensure that the health system is accurately paid for complex services while minimizing financial stress for the patient.

“We try everything we can to alleviate the financial burden for patients so they can focus on getting better. Turning a huge bill into something that can bring relief to a patient, while also helping the hospital’s revenue, is really satisfying and rewarding.”

The SJ/C value of Teamwork is incredibly important to Sosa.

“I feel like we are all working for a purpose that is bigger than any one department. Not only our team, but the clinical and operational teams that we work with to help the community access care. Everyone does their part and we all have a good sense, at the end of the day, of why we’re here.”

youth volunteers help out while

learning from the best

Every summer, St. Joseph’s/Candler’s youth volunteer program helps bridge the gap between today’s students and tomorrow’s healthcare experts. Through hands-on service, these teens develop vital life skills and career insights, while SJ/C co-workers receive support from eager and enthusiastic learners.

“We received twice as many applicants this summer as we had available spaces for,” said Holly Weiss, Director of Volunteer Services.

“Many of those were students who returned this year after having such a positive experience last year.”

One of those returning students was Catherine Kristoff, who is interested in pursuing a career in healthcare, specifically in women’s health.

“I like being able to see all of the different aspects of nursing and healthcare, and also getting to meet patients,” Kristoff said. “As volunteers, we get to observe and interact with patients without the pressure of being their nurse.”

During her volunteer shifts, Kristoff noticed how SJ/C co-workers weren’t just nice to people, but also did their best to provide education.

“I watched nurses explain to patients about how

they were going to take care of them, but also what it meant,” Kristoff said. ‘That is the part of nursing that I like—being able to explain to people what things mean. Taking care of people but also getting the chance to teach them at the same time.”

Patient interaction was also a highlight for Gabrealla Nguyen

“I liked being able to meet people and getting a glimpse of their everyday life,” Nguyen said. “That’s something I wouldn’t have been able to experience if I had just stayed at home all summer.”

Nguyen added that volunteering at SJ/C really brought home the idea of “it takes a village.”

“The hospital is a great example of people coming together to help other people,” she said. “It also let me see how many ways there are to do that. The hospital is so big and broad and has so many different careers, and all the places where I volunteered had their own charm.”

in memoriam

St. Joseph’s/Candler extends its deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and colleagues of Sabrina McKnight Sabrina most recently served in Nutritional Services, but also worked in Environmental Services and Surgical Services during her career at St. Joseph’s/Candler. Sabrina passed away on July 4.

Our prayers are with the loved ones of Sabrina. She will be deeply missed.

Please join us in welcoming the following new co-workers to the St. Joseph’s/Candler family:

Joanna Abeja | Bluffton Campus

Mark Abejo | OR, St. Joseph's

Brandon Adams | Inf. Svcs.

Quinn Allmon | RT, St. Joseph's

Ana Alvarado Forero | Amb. Surg. Svcs., Candler

Stacy Amos | Pat. Placement Central

Kassandra Anguiano | Telfair BirthPlace

Jasia Aron |  6N, St. Joseph's

Kelsey Atkins | CT Scan, St. Joseph's

Anna Ayers | Ultrasound, St. Joseph's

Rashika Bacon | CCU

Elizabeth Baker | ICU, St. Joseph's

Jakiyah Baker | Envr. Svcs., Candler

Sandra Barfield | Ins./Pymt. Verif

Pamela Bates | Amb. Surg. Svcs., Candler

Victoria Bates | PT, Candler

Antesha Battise | SPD, Candler

Jordan Beach | PCU, Candler

Cheyenne Beals | LCRP

Reese Beeby | Pharm., St. Joseph's

Rachell Beltran Fernandez | Cardiac Cath Lab

Ashley Betancourth-Rodas | Surg. Onc.

Breya Bowen | Revenue Integrity

Kennedy Brice | RT, St. Joseph's

Eliza Anne Bulalacao | 4N, St. Joseph's

Michael Burless | Envr. Svcs., St. Joseph's

Heather Cain | Bluffton Campus

Kayla Camarra | OR, Candler

Sharee Campbell | St. Joseph's Cardio

Elizabeth Campher | St. Joseph's Cardio

Shannon Carmody | Bluffton Campus

Alexander Chiesi | Laundry & Linen, St. Joseph's

Kimberly Coe | Path Lab, St. Joseph's

Annalee Croft | PCU, St. Joseph's

Maryellen Czegledi | Bluffton Campus

Cortney Davis | OB/GYN

Danielle Davis | Dietary Svcs., Candler

Sareka Davis | 4N, St. Joseph's

Gissel Dela Cruz | Specialty Phys. Rev. Cycle

Marquis Dillard | Security, Candler

Krista Dubose | Primary Care in Pembroke

Dewey Durden III | Imaging

Dorothy Eason | Oncology Laboratory

Morgan Edwards | 6N, Candler

Courtney Esalomi | Surg. Onc.

Eva Ferguson-Williams | Podiatry

Kamora Ford | PCU, Candler

Shelby Garcia | PT, St. Joseph's

Angela Grant | Primary Care in Richmond Hill

Eric Grant | Laundry & Linen, Candler

Symone Grant | Amb. Surg. Svcs., Candler

Ashlee Greene | Pharm., Candler

Tammy Hafer | Amb. Surg. Svcs., Candler

Ma'Lasia Harden | 7 North, St. Joseph's

Billy Harriel | Safety/Security, Candler

Michael Harrison | Safety/Security, Candler

Annemarie Herbst | LCRP

Chloee Hickman | Ultrasound, Candler

Katherine Hines | Interv. Rad.

Ariel Hoang | Oncology Savannah

Tiesha Holland | IS

Catherine Huddleston | Dietary Svcs., Candler

Zachary Jackson | Dietary Svcs., Candler

Billie Johnson | Hyperbarics & Wound Care

Kassie Johnson | OR, St. Joseph's

Rachel Jones | Specialty Phys. Rev. Cycle

Melissa King | Envr. Svcs., Candler

Tramaine King | Envr. Svcs., Candler

august birthdays

1 Akierra Amburgey

Melvin Kinlaw | Envr. Svcs., St. Joseph's

Blair Langel | ED, St. Joseph's

Alexis Law | 5N, St. Joseph's

Michael Locklear | Safety/Security, Candler

Evan Lowrimore | CVICU

Joniyah Madison | 6N, Candler

Antonio Magwood | Dietary Svcs., Candler

Alexa Martinez | Candler Prescription Cnt

Hannah Matthewson | Pharm., St. Joseph's

Zha'Mya Maxwell | Primary Care on the Islands

Alexis Mccorvey | RT, St. Joseph's

Kemira Mccullen | 6N, Candler

Eileen Miller | Urgent Care - Hinesville

Kristine Mock | Patient Care Services

Lexi Mohammed | Pharm., Candler

Mollie Molton | Surg. Onc.

Marquis Morgan | CRO

Tosca Morgan | Specialty Phys. Rev. Cycle

Courtney Mosley-Ince | ED, Candler

Janeiria Murray | IS

Madeline Nannis | Pharm., Candler

Alexander Needs | ED, Candler

Jalisa Olujide | TCU, Candler

Olivia Ortiz | Telfair Pavilion

Christy Pace | OR, Candler

Trinity Palmer | Primary Care in Pooler

Tyneisha Parker | 7 South, St. Joseph's

Katie Pollard | SPD, Candler

Tara Polli | Revenue Integrity

Abigail Powell | Pharm., Candler

Lucas Renick | Dietary Svcs., Candler

Aliyah Robinson-Kelly | Urgent Care - Pooler

Kyndell Rodriguez | OR, Candler

Ruth Rogers | Pharm., St. Joseph's

Justine Roovers | Special Care Nursery

Tranasia Ross | Dietary Svcs., Candler

Patricia Rotureau | Patient Care Services

Mary Sauvageau |  ENT

Mary Schlosser | Primary Care on the Islands

Kathryn Schreck | PT, St. Joseph's

Madeline Sharp | Path Lab, St. Joseph's

Rasheda Short | 6 South, Candler

Jordon Sinclair | Diagn. Radiology, Candler

Zia Small | Envr. Svcs., Candler

Salon Smalls | Dietary Svcs., Candler

Alayna Smith | Urgent Care - Pooler

Hannah Smith | Ultrasound, St. Joseph's

Kayon Smith | Clin. Care Coord.

Laretta Spence | 4N, St. Joseph's

Antonio Stidham | 4N, St. Joseph's

Eleanor Strickland | PC Islands

Corbett Swain, Jr. | Plant Ops, Candler

Da'Renee Swan | Patient Reg., St. Joseph's

Amaris Taylor | MRI, Candler

Charles Thain, Jr. | Pharm., Candler

Anthony Thompson | Laundry & Linen, St. Joseph's

Christti Tran | Pharm., Candler

Anastacia Vargas | Rehab Unit, Candler

Irma Vera | Primary Care in Bluffton

Maria Louise Victa | LCRP

Kourtney West | PT, Candler

La Dwayna Wilcher-Nealy | SPD, Candler

Cherilyn Williams | Diagn. Rad., Candler

Johnaysia Williams | Patient Reg., Candler

Rania Williams | Urgent Care - Black Creek Raven Wilson