Martha Connors was moved to tears when she learned WVU President Gordon Gee and her employer, WVU Medicine, honored her with a gold, “Challenge Coin” for her work in 2020, and for fighting for mental healthcare for residents of the Upper Ohio Valley.
A few weeks before Alecto-West Virginia shuttered the Ohio Valley Medical Center in September 2019, the former Hillcrest staff member created the Save Hillcrest/OVMC/EORH Facebook page to attract ideas and attention that could ultimately keep the campus open. Connors also went on local radio, and she was featured in online articles and TV news broadcasts.
She was fighting back.
“I was just doing what I’ve had to do my whole life,” she said. “When they announced the closure, I thought for sure someone could do something, so I contacted as many people as I could and agreed to do the media requests. We were covered a lot locally but also nationally.”
Only four Challenge Coins were awarded this month by Gee’s Leadership Team, and the statement from WVU Medicine CEO David Hess explained why Connors was honored.
Martha Connors, Ambulatory Care Assistant, Outpatient Psychiatry, Reynolds Memorial Hospital: When Ohio Valley Medical Center (OVMC) in Wheeling abruptly closed both its medical and psychiatric facilities last year, Martha emerged as a passionate advocate for ensuring the behavioral health needs of that community were met. She contacted me directly and laid out the reasons why WVU Medicine should step in to fill the void created by OVMC’s closure. Martha previously worked at OVMC’s Hillcrest psychiatric facility and knew firsthand the impact the negative impact the closure would have, especially for those individuals who needed psychiatric care. She was a highly persuasive champion for that entire community, and her advocacy is one of the reasons that we engaged and opened an inpatient psychiatric unit at Reynolds Memorial Hospital. I am grateful for Martha’s leadership and commitment! Thank you, Martha!
“I was on the phone with a patient when Dr. Gupta saw the newsletter,” Connors explained. “He could not wait to tell me. And I just sat there and cried, right in front of patients. I was deeply touched. I can honestly say, outside of the birth of my children, I have never been so proud.”
She’s Not Shy But …
The last thing Connors has attempted is to take all the credit herself, not for the Facebook page or for the attention she’s attracted from the media, and that’s why she hesitated to post on her personal Timeline anything about the Challenge Coin award.
That didn’t stop administrators of WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital.
We are incredibly proud of Martha Connors, our Ambulatory Care Assistant in Outpatient Psychiatry, for being recognized system-wide for representing Mountaineer Values of service, curiosity, respect, accountability, and appreciation.
Only FOUR people in the entire WVU Medicine Health System received this recognition. They were selected by CEO Albert Wright.
Anyone that knows Martha knows that she is a true champion of mental health, and we are extremely grateful that she is part of our team.
“I was torn about posting it because I felt like an arrogant jerk, at least on some level. At the same time, it was such an honor I felt compelled to brag,” Connors admitted. “Also, the group members needed to know. I got my power from them, and I wanted them to know we did make a difference.
“It’s been exciting, and awesome, and beyond fulfilling. Everyone has been so kind and gracious, and I want to say thank you to everyone for being involved in keeping mental health care available in the area. I need to thank everyone involved,” she added. “There are only four chosen every year, and the other recipients were high-ranking executives in the WVU Medicine organization, so for someone in my position to receive one of the coins says that we all count.”
