Margaret Smith, RN, of Norwalk was honored with the prestigious Marian Nowak Award – given to the employee who embodies the best of Greenwich Hospital’s values – at the annual Employee Service Awards Dinner.
Known for her compassion and sense of humor, Smith was praised for her strong work ethic and commitment to providing the highest standards of patient care. The 41-year hospital veteran has worked as the only nurse administrator on the night shift for more than three decades.
“Margaret’s nature inspires excellence in everything she does,” said Norman Roth, Greenwich Hospital president and chief executive officer, before the audience of nearly 300 at the Hyatt Regency. “Greenwich Hospital has greatly benefit by having Margaret in a leadership role.”
“It’s a great honor to receive such a prestigious award,” said Smith. “The award is quite poignant because I had the privilege of knowing and working with Marian Nowak.” Nowak was a Holocaust survivor who exemplified the qualities of hard work, kindness, loyalty and humility during his 41 years at Greenwich Hospital.
Smith said Greenwich Hospital’s culture of being inclusive and valuing its employees are among the qualities that first drew her to and have kept her at the hospital for so many years.
A native of Trinidad, Smith left her homeland at age 18 upon receiving a scholarship to attend the Kemperhof Kranenhaus Nursing School in West Germany. She mastered the new language and her nursing studies, eventually specializing in critical care. Smith worked in Germany for many years before returning to the United States to join her family, who had settled in Connecticut. She joined Greenwich Hospital in 1978 and went on to earn a bachelor degree in nursing from the University of Bridgeport while working full time.
Each year at the annual appreciation event, the hospital celebrates employees with extended service to the hospital, from five years and longer, in five-year increments. A total of 297 employees with 4,055 years of service were honored at the event. The highlight is the presentation of the Marian Nowak Award, established in 1990.