Laura Crowe, a community perinatal educator in St. Mary's Family Birth Center, and Ann Gomes, director of St. Mary's Orthopedics and Neuroscience units, received St. Mary's Health Care System's highest honors at the system's annual Tenure Banquet Tuesday evening.

Crowe, a resident of Danielsville, received the 15^th annual Catherine McAuley Award. The award is named in honor of the founder of the Sisters of Mercy and is presented to a staff member who exemplifies the values of the Sisters of Mercy and St. Mary's: reverence for each person, commitment to those who are poor, justice, stewardship and integrity.

Gomes, a resident of Lexington, received the second annual Sister Antonette Excellence in Leadership Award, presented to a leader who serves in the spirit of Sister Antonette, a member of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus who was St. Mary's Director of Nursing and Special Assistant to the President for Mission from 1966 to 2003.

Both Crowe and Gomes received standing ovations from the nearly 300 colleagues and guests attending the event. The Tenure Banquet celebrates St. Mary's employees and leaders who have reached five-year employment milestones from five years to 45 years. The event also recognizes colleagues who have retired in the last year.

"We are honoring 269 colleagues tonight, which speaks to the dedication you devote day-in and day-out to our ministry," President Montez Carter told those assembled in the Classic Center Ballrooms. "Together, you have dedicated more than 4,300 years of service to our health care system. Whether you have been here five years or 45 years, you are a vital part of our ministry. Thank you!"

As a perinatal educator and international board-certified lactation consultant, Crowe provides one-on-one education to help new mothers establish a breastfeeding relationship, coordinates St. Mary's breastfeeding support groups and classes, provides support for moms after discharge, and serves in the community, including with Healthy Mothers/Health Babies Coalition, Brightpaths positive parenting/child abuse prevention, and the Community Breastfeeding Coalition. She has worked at St. Mary's since 2007.

Gomes joined St. Mary's as a staff nurse in 1997 and now directs nursing care on the 6^th Floor Orthopedics Unit and 7^th Floor Neuroscience Unit. From providing hands-on patient care when needed, to buying ice cream for her staff on difficult days, to building a "float pool" of nurses who can respond to any part of the hospital when needed, she demonstrates compassion and dedication and inspires her staff to do the same.

"Laura and Ann represent the very best of St. Mary's," Carter said from the podium. "It is an honor to be your colleague and to work side-by-side with you for the health of our patients and our community."