She is known as a behind-the-scenes hero at St. Joseph’s/Candler, but today she is front and center. Sherri Clark is the health system’s 31st Annual McAuley Award recipient.

St. Joseph’s/Candler President & CEO Paul P. Hinchey announced Clark’s name at a special ceremony at St. Joseph’s Hospital. The McAuley Award is named in honor of Catherine McAuley, who founded The Sisters of Mercy in the hopes of bringing education, healthcare, social justice, and spiritual guidance to those in need. Clark was among more than 130 co-workers nominated by their peers for the award.  

“I feel overwhelmed, shocked. I can’t believe it. There are more people that are more deserving than I am, but I am very grateful. St. Joseph’s/Candler has been very good to me my whole entire career,” Clark said. “I have been a nurse my entire life. It’s the only thing I know to do – take care of people. I’m a caregiver naturally. I love helping others. I’m a widow now for seven years and I like to help other widows or anyone else work through their grief in life. I am well past my grief experience but I like to share and help others.”

Clark lives in Brunswick and has worked for St. Joseph’s/Candler since 1995.

Clark serves as the Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement Specialist at the Hinesville division of St. Joseph’s/Candler Home Health Care. She logs hundreds of miles each week from her home in Brunswick to the Hinesville office and throughout the region, serving the educational needs and compliance requirements of nearly 100 co-workers. Clark has been serving in Home Health for nearly 30 years, helping provide continuity of care for patients in the transition from hospital to home, including medical treatments and disease management education.

 In her current role, Clark makes sure the Home Health Care staff meets the requirements needed to provide exceptional care to patients. Clark’s co-workers think that she is pretty exceptional herself.

 In her nomination, co-workers said Clark is a “behind-the-scenes hero of the Home Health Division and the health system.” The nomination added that Clark “perfectly reflects Catherine McAuley’s spirit of compassion, leadership, love, and service to others,” and that she is the “glue that binds not only her family at home, but her work family as well.”

 As the 31st McAuley Award recipient, Clark will have her name and image added to the bronze McAuley plaque displayed in the lobbies of St. Joseph’s Hospital and Candler Hospital. She will receive a $3,000 honorarium, a one-year parking pass in the location of her choice, a one-month cafeteria meal pass, a gift certificate for a massage at SJ/C’s Wellness Center, a St. Joseph’s/Candler watch and the McAuley plaque and pin.

 What Sherri Clark’s Co-Workers Said About Her:

“Outside of a work ethic that is second-to-none, her dedication to our mission and vision is clearly evident in her work and how she treats others.”

“She portrays the ultimate team player attitude, and is always available for questions and impromptu education. She anticipates the needs of the nurses, therapists, and home health aides by teaching us new equipment, and how to do our jobs not only better, but more efficiently and safely.”

“She is such a joy to work with.  Always cheerful, positive attitude, even when she has faced some very difficult times in her personal life, like the sudden loss of her husband a few years ago.”

“We can all take lessons from her approach to life and wor