May 2026 Honoree
Zachary Sotiriou, RN
Zach was an amazing nurse who showed compassion, understanding, and caring. I had brought my son to the emergency department on a Saturday evening after getting hurt during a hockey game. It was late enough that Urgent Care centers were closed. We were in Massachusetts for the hockey game, but we decided to travel to New Hampshire to be seen. My son had just turned 18 and needed to speak for himself, even though I was present with him. The staff made the process seamless when my son requested that I be included in conversations and medical decisions. The emergency room staff at St. Joseph Hospital were all wonderful, but Zach stood out during our visit.
Zach took us into triage almost immediately. Zach treated my son with respect. Zach introduced himself, asked about his medical needs, explained what he was doing before doing it, answered any questions, made it feel like my son was the only patient present, and listened to our concerns. This was the first time my son had to learn how to navigate his own medical needs, and Zach helped talk him through the process. Zach made it easy for my son to talk with him. Zach brought my son into the emergency department himself and got him settled on a stretcher in the hallway, but it was not the last time we saw him. The emergency room was clearly busy. Staff were in and out of rooms, other patients were being moved, and overhead announcements were being made. Zach was clearly being pulled between many other patients, tasks, and situations. We were not his assigned patient, but after about an hour, while we were waiting for radiology results, Zach came over to make sure everything was set, ask if we needed anything, and check in on my son's comfort level.
After we got the results and discharge instructions, Zach was in the triage area as we walked out. Zach acknowledged my son by name and said goodbye. Zach clearly went above and beyond. Zach turned what could have been a disastrous visit into a positive experience. Zach remembering my son's name really meant more than he may ever know. In a busy emergency room setting with multiple patients, Zach not only saw my son as a person but also treated him as a person. Thank you, Zach, for providing amazing care.
Zach took us into triage almost immediately. Zach treated my son with respect. Zach introduced himself, asked about his medical needs, explained what he was doing before doing it, answered any questions, made it feel like my son was the only patient present, and listened to our concerns. This was the first time my son had to learn how to navigate his own medical needs, and Zach helped talk him through the process. Zach made it easy for my son to talk with him. Zach brought my son into the emergency department himself and got him settled on a stretcher in the hallway, but it was not the last time we saw him. The emergency room was clearly busy. Staff were in and out of rooms, other patients were being moved, and overhead announcements were being made. Zach was clearly being pulled between many other patients, tasks, and situations. We were not his assigned patient, but after about an hour, while we were waiting for radiology results, Zach came over to make sure everything was set, ask if we needed anything, and check in on my son's comfort level.
After we got the results and discharge instructions, Zach was in the triage area as we walked out. Zach acknowledged my son by name and said goodbye. Zach clearly went above and beyond. Zach turned what could have been a disastrous visit into a positive experience. Zach remembering my son's name really meant more than he may ever know. In a busy emergency room setting with multiple patients, Zach not only saw my son as a person but also treated him as a person. Thank you, Zach, for providing amazing care.
Thank you, Zachary, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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