Harborview Medical Center

02/25/2026

Congratulations to Robert Leyden, our employee of the month!

Robert is a peer support specialist who uses his experience to help patients, families, staff and learners. His positive attitude and high regard for individuals in recovery make him a standout advocate for well-being.

He regularly goes above the call of duty to support the community, providing outreach to patients in multiple clinics including Hobson, Pioneer Square and the addiction consult service.

His active participation in clinic huddles and meetings, consistently offering thoughtful insight. At the Hobson Clinic, Robert started a talking circle — an informal, supportive session for people to gather and be in community. The talking circle is very well attended and has been going on for one year.

Robert has created a safe environment where patients feel empowered to seek support through the challenges of recovery. He inspires his team with the compassion and encouragement he brings to helping individuals reach their full potential.

📷: Robert Leydon, Peer Support Specialist

02/13/2026

“I want to recognize Audrey Branom who is fantastic! She’s kind, friendly and extremely knowledgeable. She always listens to my concerns and is excellent at explaining complex concepts in an understandable manner. Each time I’ve met with her, I’ve walked away with a good understanding of my options and my medical conditions. She is the kindest medical professional I’ve ever met and I’ve been to many, many appointments. Audrey is the BEST PA I’ve ever met! Thank you, Audrey! You make me feel safe.” - Neurological Surgery patient

📷: Audrey Branom, PA-C

02/11/2026

Please join us in celebrating Cardiovascular Professionals Week: February 8th-14th!

This Week highlights the contributions of electrocardiogram technicians, cardiac sonographers and cardiac monitor technicians. These cardiovascular professionals use their expertise to perform procedures, provide diagnostic information and actively monitor patients admitted to our hospitals.

At Harborview, the cardiovascular team is made up of more than 50 staff members whose work supports the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, the leading cause of death for men, women and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

02/06/2026

“Among the many doctors and nurses who cared for me during my stay, the one who stood out to me was Bethel. She was caring, compassionate, uplifting and attentive to my needs. Bethel cared for me with dignity and respect. She was imperative to my care and speedy recovery. I am truly blessed to have been under her care. She has my utmost gratitude.” - Neurosciences ICU patient

📷: Bethel Tadesse, RN

02/04/2026

Our new video series gives viewers a behind the scenes look at all the work to prepare for the Harborview Bond Program, including a new medical building and other important facility improvements.

Hosted by Ted Klainer, Harborview's senior director of capital development, the series explores the many different components of this complex, multi-year project -- all from the firsthand perspectives of those making it happen.

In Episode 1, Ted is joined by Kellie Hurley, associate administrator of clinical and capital integration. She explains what the Bond Program is, its goals, the overall timeline, the questions she is working through with clinical teams before the project breaks ground and what she's most excited to see happen.

Each new episode will bring new guests and new insights. Watch the full episode here!

Welcome to our new video series all about the Harborview Bond Program, hosted by Senior Director of Capital Development Ted Klainer. Join Ted as he explores ...

01/30/2026

Hahji Ruffin has been named Employee of the Month for his leadership as assistant director of Environmental Services. He is known for his open‑door policy, clear communication and strong support for his team.

Colleagues describe Hahji as a positive, steady presence who consistently invests time in ensuring his staff feel heard and valued. His guidance and professionalism have made a lasting impact and he continues to foster a workplace built on trust, respect and encouragement.

Congratulations, Hahji, on this well‑deserved honor.

📷: Hahji Ruffin, Assistant Director, Environmental Services

01/27/2026

Harborview’s Patient Safety team recently recognized the UW Medicine Compliance team for their partnership in advancing patient safety across the organization.

The Compliance team received the Patient Safety Partner Award, which honors individuals and teams who demonstrate exceptional commitment to safety through exemplary practices. These individuals help advance Harborview’s mission to foster a strong, reliable safety culture.

📷: Compliance Team: Angela Reyes, John Dortero, Brent DeBeaumont, Jeff Lesh, Laura Story, and Karen Kranz
📷: Patient Safety Team: Chris Cottingham and Polly Roush.

01/24/2026

In recognition of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) Week, we celebrate the vital work and contributions of our CRNA team.

CRNAs are highly skilled anesthesia professionals who have been providing anesthesia care in the U.S. for more than 150 years. At Harborview, 50 CRNAs make up over 60% of our permanent anesthesia staff and work alongside our anesthesiologist colleagues. In addition to airway management and invasive monitoring skills required to care for critically ill patients, CRNAs bring a broad skill set that supports patients throughout the perioperative process, from preoperative assessment and anesthetic plan development to postoperative recovery.

01/23/2026

Vanessa Gray has been selected as a recipient of this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award, recognizing her meaningful impact on our community.

This award honors members of our Harborview community who quietly embody Dr. King’s legacy by empowering others, addressing community needs, and helping build a stronger, more just community.

Vanessa Gray serves as the Executive Chef at Harborview Medical Center, overseeing the patient and retail food service menus. Over the past few years, Chef Vanessa has worked collaboratively with the UW Cultural Observances Implementation Subcommittee (COIS) to develop a cohesive menu during cultural observances.

Chef Vanessa uses her passion for food history and recipe creation to bring culturally diverse foods into a space where others can taste and learn about traditions different from their own. She features recipes from chefs who identify with the celebrated culture and shares their biographies in the cafeteria and online.

Chef Vanessa’s express goal is to give significance and exposure to the variety of cultures around us - because as we grow in familiarity, we grow in empathy.

01/22/2026

Please join us in congratulating Tarrell Harrison Jr., recipient of this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award.

This award honors members of our Harborview community who quietly embody Dr. King’s legacy by empowering others, addressing community needs, and helping build a stronger, more just community.

Tarrell is a Violence Prevention Specialist with Harborview’s Violence Intervention and Prevention Program team, supporting patients and families affected by gun violence with deep compassion and unwavering presence. He is especially dedicated to youth and spinal cord injury patients, often spending hours building trust and simply being there during the hardest moments.

Beyond the bedside, Tarrell is a powerful advocate, helping patients find their voice, strengthening the connection between patients and providers, and ensuring everyone has access to the wrap‑around services they need after leaving the hospital.

His commitment extends into the community, where he mentors and coaches youth, provides education on trauma and gun‑violence awareness, and volunteers at Stop the Bleed training.

01/21/2026

We are honored to recognize Kimmy Siebens as a recipient of this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award.

This award honors members of our Harborview community who quietly embody Dr. King’s legacy by empowering others, addressing community needs, and helping build a stronger, more just community.

Kimmy, a nurse on the Trauma Surgical ICU at Harborview, runs two nonprofits in Bremerton. One of the non-profits helps unhoused and low‑income individuals with veterinary care for their pets, and another supports the unhoused community with a variety of resources.

She has helped countless individuals and families return to housing, working through her network of contacts to support every aspect of that journey. She also assists people in accessing treatment and detox services for substance abuse. The people Kimmy selflessly helps are never just names on a list, they become her friends, and they know that if she can help, she will.

Kimmy regularly holds giveaways of pet food and supplies for pets in need and has helped countless animals receive the veterinary care they desperately require, all at no cost to their owners. Kimmy wants everyone in the Bremerton community to thrive and prosper, and with her help, many are doing just that.

01/20/2026

Congratulations to the Burns, Plastics, and Pediatric Trauma Unit’s Unit Practice Council (UPC), led by Aaliyah Ismail and Teresa Enloe, for receiving this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award.

This award honors members of our Harborview community who quietly embody Dr. King’s legacy by empowering others, addressing community needs, and helping build a stronger, more just community.

Aaliyah and Teresa have shown exceptional commitment to health equity and patient empowerment through their innovative wound care education initiative. This project addresses a critical need identified by nursing staff on the burn unit, who recognized a gap in providing wound care education to refugee, immigrant, and asylum‑seeking patients with limited English proficiency.

In response, the UPC is collaborating with EthnoMeduw and Interpreter Services to develop multilingual burn wound care education videos and to translate discharge teaching handouts into the most used languages at Harborview Medical Center. These resources, designed for low‑literacy audiences and shared on accessible platforms like YouTube, help ensure patients receive clear, culturally appropriate guidance for post‑discharge care.

By removing language and literacy barriers, the UPC empowers patients to manage their recovery confidently and safely, directly addressing community needs and patient experience.