On November 4, we’re honouring our long-service employees at our annual Day of Celebration event. Hear from some of our award recipients about what makes HHS so special.

Meet a few of the record number of HHS staff celebrating 40 years of service or more

Imagine being part of one of Canada’s largest health-care teams. And now imagine working here for 40, 45, or even 50 years.

That’s the type of workplace Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) is. The place where people build careers they love, and choose to stay until retirement.

This year, a record 34 staff are reaching their 40-year service milestones, eight staff are reaching their 45-year milestones, and two staff are reaching 50 years. These long-service award recipients are being honoured at the HHS Day of Celebration on November 4.

Hear from some of our longest-serving employees about what makes HHS so special.

Joyce Alexander

Joyce Alexander, RN, Interventional Nursing
Celebrating 50 years

“I started at McMaster in 1974, working in emergency until 1989 with adults and children of all ages. It was a great background for my many years in interventional radiology.

I have always loved the close knit group of technologists and radiologists in an exciting field. In the 1990s, endoscopy was part of radiology and these skills helped in the world in interventional. I participated in the first transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure in 1992. I felt a great responsibility in assisting the radiologist many times in lifesaving situations. A sense of responsibility to patients, colleagues and radiologists is important to me.

“I would tell young people to be curious and eager to learn through their career choices. Do something you like.”

I have had a very supportive husband and two daughters in this long career. I would tell young people to be curious and eager to learn through their career choices. Do something you like.”

Mike Capuano

Mike Capuano, Manager, Biomedical Technology
Celebrating 45 years

“For a trained electronics specialist, there is no better line of work than to provide expertise towards improved patient care and patient safety in a hospital. The support provided to our staff in order to keep the technology operational and safe is crucial. They depend on our teams especially when things go wrong.

“I was in the Biomed shop when the surgeon walked in and said, ‘Thanks for what you did up there. You saved the patient’s life.”

Back when I was a tech at Hamilton General Hospital, I was called to the operating room because a laser wasn’t working. I gowned up, entered the patient zone and sked what the problem was. The laser stopped firing mid-procedure which brought the surgical team to a stand-still. After I adjusted a couple of things, the laser fired up and they continued the procedure. I thought, ‘Okay great. It’s just my job.’ About two hours later I was in the Biomed shop when the surgeon walked in and said, ‘Thanks for what you did up there. You saved the patient’s life.’”

Doris Konow, Business Clerk
Celebrating 45 years

“Wow! 45 years have passed in what seems like the blink of an eye. In 1979, I was just barely 19 years old. I was so excited that I’d passed my exams and become a registered nursing assistant, RNA in those days. Nursing caps, slips, panty hose, hair above the collar were all part of the uniform. Slips and pantyhose were horrible accessories since we had no air conditioning on the ward in those days.

“Thank you HHS for giving me the opportunity of being part of this remarkable community for so long.”

I remember being in awe of the staff on Ward 22. They were so smart and savvy. Those women taught me so much: how to support each other, how to work as a team and also how to forge some lifelong friendships. Dealing with death was tough. It wasn’t something you could leave at work at the end of the day. Only your crew could relate. I still remember some of the patients to this day.

HHS enabled me to move on when I wanted something new. I worked in ortho/trauma, then as a lab assistant and then I moved back to a ward as a business clerk. It was great to see patients again. I moved several more times over the following years: preop, admitting, M2 and M3 at the Juravinski. After an early retirement, I returned part time at the Special Immunology Services clinic, Burn Trauma Unit, and finally my current home at Main West Urgent Care.

I am both thankful and humbled by the opportunity of serving so many people over the years and for the many people I’ve come to know. Thank you HHS for giving me the opportunity of being part of this remarkable community for so long.”

Betty-Ann Mammoletti

Betty-Ann Mammoletti, Registered Nurse
Celebrating 45 years

“I have been with HHS my entire career, working in medicine, cancer care and labour and delivery from my start date of 1978 to 2024. I retired July 2024 but I remain working occasionally because I am not ready to hang it up yet.

I started working at the Henderson Hospital in 1978. We lined up every two weeks for our pays and the starting wage was 6 dollars per hour. My nursing registration was 12 dollars. Things have come a long way since then.

Find the place to work that makes you happy.

I came as a single young nurse and now I am older, with three amazing children and a great husband and one grandchild. I am blessed for sure. My youngest daughter Mariah, is also a nurse at HHS which makes me very proud.

I have worked at HHS so long because I have been surrounded by incredible nurses and allied health staff that made me always feel appreciated and welcomed. It’s like a family with all its drama only it actually works. We support each other in the good and bad. Past the compassion and the caring and the chaos of long shifts are the friendships and the relationships we build in our everyday work life. Our leaders set the tone for the organization. We are provided with growth opportunities for learning and development. Our opinions and concerns are heard and valued. They empower and recognize employees for their worth and accomplishments.

My advice to anyone starting out is to create your own path and journey. Find the place to work that makes you happy. Be the change you want to see. Keep an open mind and never stop learning and always remember life is humbling.”

Cindy Pei, Health Records Technician
Celebrating 45 years

“When I began working at McMaster University Medical Centre (MUMC) back in 1979, it was as a file clerk in Medical Records. Everything was on paper back then and we could have never foreseen being able to work from home at that time. There was a big Rolodex type machine called a cardveyor in the office, where registration cards on all the patients who had ever been into that site were filed in alphabetical order. Wards, clinics and the emergency room would have to call down to have patients registered by a central registration clerk. This was before computers were introduced and also long before HHS was even conceived.

“I like that HHS is always striving to improve and to be a leader in health care. I feel like in some small way I have been a part of that.”

Through the years, I have worked at MUMC, Chedoke and the General sites as a file clerk, registration clerk and signature clerk, finally taking the coding course back in 2002-2004. I have seen HHS evolve from separate hospitals to the organization we know today.

HHS is always changing and growing and I have learned to appreciate that change is always necessary in order to move forward and to improve. I think that is why I have enjoyed working here so long. I like that HHS is always striving to improve and to be a leader in health care. I feel like in some small way I have been a part of that. It has been an interesting journey and I have met so many wonderful, caring people over the years. I hope that anyone who joins HHS will recognize what a fantastic group of people work here and will help to move HHS forward in order to meet the challenges of the future.”

Cindy Sacco

Cynthia Sacco, Business Clerk
Celebrating 45 years

“I started at HHS at the age of 15 and have worked in housekeeping, accounting, diagnostic imaging, nutrition, and other roles throughout my 45 years. HHS has provided a steady and secure place of employment for me. One of the lessons I have learned is nothing will stay the same forever. There will always be changes. So, learn to ride the winds of change and you will be just fine.

“If you choose to start your career with HHS, you will have many opportunities to expand your career in so many different directions.”

There have been many changes over 45 years. Computers did not even exist when I started working for the Henderson Hospital! Time passes by so fast. The older we get the faster time goes. If you choose to start your career with HHS, you will have many opportunities to expand your career in so many different directions. It is notable that HHS fosters continuing education and growth like it does.

The best advice I can give a young person entering the workplace is that this is the best investment you will ever make in your lifetime. Bettering your education will open so many new doors in the future. You will thank yourself in your retirement. You will always make investments of different types in life, but investing in yourself and your professional development will produce the best returns.”

Millie Walker

Millie Walker, Patient Safety Specialist
Celebrating 45 years

“I have worked as an interventional nurse in radiology, educator for radiology, and a general staff nurse in the emergency department and cardiac surgery. I have always enjoyed the work that I do. I felt like my work was important and made a difference for patients and families.

I have always worked with exceptional teams which makes it a good place to work. The biggest lesson I have learned is to trust the people you work with and use their expertise to enable your best work.

“I felt like my work was important and made a difference for patients and families.”

Find a colleague who will mentor you, support you, who you can learn from, someone who help you move your career in whatever trajectory you desire. I mentored someone early in my career and I was surprised many years later to hear from her how I impacted her career. Find that feeling that you enjoy coming to work, it isn’t a chore, even those days when things may not go your way.”

Congratulations to all of our long service award recipients:

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