April 23, 2024
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Joliet’s University of St. Francis earns recognition for vaccination efforts

A national health care nonprofit will recognize USF and its partner, KODO Care Pharmacy, for administering vaccines in Joliet area

By Alex Ortiz
University of St. Francis nursing students have been helping administer COVID-19 vaccines to community members with Kodo Pharmacy in Joliet.

University of St. Francis nursing students have been helping administer COVID-19 vaccines to community members with Kodo Pharmacy in Joliet. (Provided)

A national health care nonprofit organization is recognizing the University of St. Francis for its efforts to help vaccinate residents in the Joliet area for COVID-19.

USF partnered with KODO Care Pharmacy several months ago to administer vaccines in the Joliet area, including residents of long-term care facilities and developmentally disabled patients, according to a news release.

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation will recognize those efforts as part of its Annual Gala event this summer.

USF Leach College of Nursing representatives Kimberly Gibson and Annette Mattea along with KODO Care Pharmacy president and pharmacist Chad Kodiak will receive the Champion of Humanistic Care award. Among the other honorees for the event will be Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert.

“Congratulations to Kim, Annette and Chad on their recognition by the Arnold Gold Foundation as a Champion of Humanistic Care, for their extensive work on ensuring COVID-19 vaccination for our community, promoting a great partnership between USF LCON and Kodo Care Pharmacy, and providing wonderful practice opportunities for our students,” Ebere Ume, the dean of USF’s College of Nursing, said in the release.

USF students were able to gain experience with the administration of the vaccines.

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation’s mission statement says it aims to infuse “the human connection into healthcare” by engaging entities like schools and companies “in the joy and meaning of humanistic healthcare.”

The USF College of Nursing representatives said they felt they had a parallel mission in helping to administer vaccines to residents. The effort contributed to over a quarter of Will County residents being vaccinated.

“Navigating the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us all a lot about love, loss, and that distance still cannot stop the power of human connection,” Gibson said in the release. “There were many very hard days, and yet there were also days of happiness and joy. The patients are what kept me going.”