At Sheridan Memorial Hospital, caring for patients goes beyond clinical excellence—it’s about connection, compassion, and continuous improvement. In a recent conversation with host Floyd Whiting on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse, two dedicated healthcare professionals—Kelly Lieb, DMSc, PA-C, Director of Patient Experience, and Toni Schoonover, BSN, RN, Trauma Coordinator—shared their journeys into healthcare and how their roles shape the patient and community experience every day.
Both Kelly and Toni emphasized the deeply personal paths that led them into medicine. For Toni, it began in childhood. “When I was in eighth grade, my mom got really sick, and I helped care for her. Ever since then, I’ve had a passion for caring for others.” That early experience has since evolved into a role focused on trauma education, emergency care coordination, and injury prevention through community outreach.
Kelly’s story also reflects a lifelong commitment to both science and people. Today, she balances patient care with her leadership in enhancing the patient experience. “We aim to create a five-star experience that patients remember as feeling cared for,” she shared. Her role includes spearheading initiatives like the hospital’s upcoming Patient and Family Advisory Council— “The Voice”— Voicing opportunities for improvement, collaboration and engagement a new opportunity— for patients and families to help shape care delivery through direct partnership and feedback.
The conversation highlighted the collaborative nature of healthcare at Sheridan Memorial. From bedside interventions to systemic improvements, both speakers stressed the importance of teamwork across disciplines, whether it’s between nurses and physician assistants or through cross-functional efforts to engage the community.
Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s outreach extends far beyond its walls, thanks to programs like Third Thursday, where Toni and her team offer hands-on injury prevention education supported by the Sheridan Memorial Hospital Foundation. These efforts demonstrate the hospital’s commitment to proactive health and safety—a mission rooted in community connection and wellness.
Whether responding in the ED or shaping policy behind the scenes, Kelly and Toni embody Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s vision: to serve our community with excellent patient-centered care.
🎧 Listen to Kelly Lieb and Toni Schoonover’s full interview on Public Pulse by clicking below.
