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Hershey Medical Center nurse manager honored by Department of Defense for patriotic support

Kirstin Holjes, nurse manager in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center won a Patriot Award from the U.S. Department of Defense for extraordinary support of employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve.

The award is presented by the Pennsylvania Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an office of the Department of Defense, which regularly honors employers with a Patriot Award for their strong support of their employees serving U.S. military reserve forces.

Holjes was nominated for the award by 1st Lt. Caitrin Cosgrove,  a staff nurse in the Surgical Intensive Care Unite who is a member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s Medical Detachment stationed at Fort Indiantown Gap in Annville.

“Kristin is extremely supportive of me since I rejoined the military,” Cosgrove wrote in her nomination. “She wrote a great letter of recommendation for my Army nursing packet, made herself familiar with the medical center’s military leave policy and sent me instructions on how manage my leave account. Kristin is always very approachable; she immediately adjusts the work schedule when I have a drill conflict, and never makes me feel guilty for missing work. She always wishes me well when I have training.”

For more information about ESGR Outreach Programs, or ESGR volunteer opportunities, call 1-800-336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil/PA

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