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As a retired director of Mount Nittany Medical Center's women & children's services unit, Dianne Barben didn't hesitate to help Mount Nittany Health with the immense task of vaccinating community members against COVID-19 when vaccines first became available in December 2020.
Mount Nittany Health recruited qualified nurses and clinical staff as volunteer vaccinators for mass vaccine clinics. "We wanted to make sure that we maximized vaccine distribution while at the same time maintaining patient care," states Tiffany Cabibbo, executive vice president, patient care services, and chief nursing officer, Mount Nittany Health.
"As soon as Mount Nittany Health contacted me, I knew I wanted to help," recalls Dianne. "It was gratifying to lend a hand and feel appreciated in a different way than my traditional roles at Mount Nittany Health." Dianne provided comfort and vaccines to thousands of community members at Mount Nittany Health's vaccination clinics.
State College Sunrise Rotary recognized Dianne's outstanding service with the Four-Way Test Award. This award honors first responders, healthcare workers and volunteers.
"Our vaccine clinics ushered tens of thousands of individuals through the vaccination process. There is no doubt these clinics were successful because of Dianne, and those like her, who volunteered their time and energy to support us," shares Cabibbo. "We deeply appreciate State College Sunrise Rotary honoring first responders, healthcare workers and volunteers like Dianne. These individuals have been essential in responding to this pandemic."
As a reminder, Mount Nittany Health is offering the FDA-approved Pfizer vaccine to interested community members. To register for the COVID vaccine, please go to mountnittany.org/COVID and click "Sign up now." You do not need to be a Mount Nittany Health patient to request the vaccine, and there is no out-of-pocket cost for the vaccine. Mount Nittany Health will contact you with an appointment date and time.
