Valerie Fusco, LPN, Receives Wheeler’s 2nd Annual Ethics & Integrity Award

Valerie Fusco, a pediatric LPN for Wheeler's Susan Walkama Family Health & Wellness Center in Hartford, has never shied away from doing the right or compassionate thing.  The recipient of Wheeler’s second annual Ethics & Integrity Award, Valerie was nominated by her peers at Wheeler as part of the 2024 Health Care Compliance Association’s Corporate Compliance & Ethics week, November 3 through 9.

“I am truly honored and humbled to be recognized in this way,” said Valerie, who has been with Wheeler for three-and-a-half years. “Being part of this pediatric team is extremely fulfilling. I love that my team can help our families get the care they need.”

Prior to embarking on a career in nursing, Valerie worked in corporate banking for 10 years until a family health situation changed her trajectory. “My mom got sick, and I took some time off to help take care of her,” recalls Valerie.

“During that time, I met many healthcare professionals, nurses, physicians, physical and occupational therapists, who were so wonderful to my mom and family during that difficult time.” 

She added, “This period made me rethink my career choice. Once my mom was feeling better, I signed up for a nursing seminar and never looked back. I graduated from LPN school about 15 months later.”

Valerie continues to make a lasting impression on colleagues. One of her peers, in the nomination process, characterized her as setting a standard that “we should all strive toward in our work,” going on to describe her as “extremely diligent” in areas ranging from pediatric vaccine storage and preparation, to quickly and thoroughly addressing the root causes of inefficiencies when they happen.

Linda Russo, LMFT, CPHQ, vice president of quality operations, was pleased with the nomination process, which also invited all of Wheeler’s team to reflect and share their thoughts about integrity. 

Valerie received multiple peer nominations for this award, which is an acknowledgement of her outstanding professional integrity, ethics, character, and the fact that she performs her work to the highest of standards, even when it means more time and effort, simply because it’s the right thing to do,” said Linda.

Integrity is one of four institutional values at Wheeler, as well as compassion, diversity and inclusion, and teamwork. All staff were invited to nominate possible recipients for the 2024 Integrity & Ethics Award, and the winner was selected by staff from Wheeler’s Corporate Compliance Committee.  The goal of the week was to highlight the importance of compliance and ethics within the organization.

In one of the nominations, an employee described Valerie as “someone who displays integrity with every patient and staff interaction and who takes pride in keeping her patients safe and well.”

Another colleague, enthusiastically declared, “If I could clone her for every site, I would!”