Frye Regional Medical Center announced on Apr. 16 the recognition of its first-quarter 2026 STAR (Shining Through Acts or Resilience) Award honorees, highlighting certified nursing assistants and unit secretaries who have shown compassion, perseverance, and excellence in patient care.
The STAR Award is intended to acknowledge team members whose dedication and resilience are essential in supporting patients, families, and care teams. The award emphasizes the importance of empathy and professionalism among staff members who help ensure that patients feel safe and cared for during their hospital stay.
This quarter’s honorees include Laura Ugarte Orellana, Mikayla Ray, and Jessica Clark. Bridget Denzik, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, chief nursing officer at Frye Regional Medical Center said: “Certified nursing assistants and unit secretaries are often the steady presence patients rely on the most. Their compassion, resilience and attention to detail make a meaningful difference during some of the most vulnerable moments in a patient’s journey. The STAR Award allows us to shine a light on the extraordinary impact they make every day.”
Orellana was recognized for her reliability and leadership with both patients and colleagues; Ray received acknowledgment after acting quickly to extinguish a fire started by a visitor’s cell phone; Clark was honored for providing compassionate end-of-life care that brought comfort to both patient and family.
The award is presented monthly before family members and colleagues. Each recipient receives a certificate of recognition along with other tokens of appreciation including a commemorative star statue.
Frye Regional Medical Center advances community well-being by delivering advanced specialty care locally in the Catawba Valley region according to the official website. The hospital includes its main campus in Hickory as well as behavioral health facilities at its South Campus plus several outpatient centers according to the official website. It operates under Duke LifePoint Healthcare according to the official website as a 355-bed acute care hospital according to the official website, offering advanced specialty services such as cardiology, cancer treatment, neurosciences, orthopedics, emergency medicine, women’s health services, and behavioral health according to the official website. The facility has been recognized as high performing in heart attack and heart failure care by U.S. News & World Report according to the official website.
Frye Regional delivers comprehensive medical services across specialties while functioning as western North Carolina’s first Duke Health heart affiliate according to the official website.
