As Dialysis Clinic, Inc. (DCI) recognizes the accomplishments of its clinics and programs during the not-for-profit’s annual conference, one award celebrates the personal impact an employee has on others. Alabama Area Operations Director Mona Gautney was named the 2024 Nancy Johnson Heart Award recipient for her “servant’s heart” and “trying to take care of everyone she can.”
Dr. H. Keith Johnson’s wife and Dr. Doug Johnson’s mom, Nancy Johnson
The Nancy Johnson Heart Award honors an individual each year in memory of Nancy Johnson, wife of DCI Founder and Chairman of the Board Dr. Keith Johnson and mother to DCI Vice Chairman of the Board and REACH Kidney Care Co-founder Dr. Doug Johnson. Nancy served as a DCI board member since its inception until her passing and as a founder of Camp Okawehna held each year for kids with kidney disease. Nancy enjoyed hiking throughout her life, especially the Adirondack Mountains in New York state. Nancy, who passed away in March 2014 after a two-year battle with metastatic breast cancer, was known for always keeping a positive outlook despite the hardships she faced. The Heart Award honors her legacy.
“When you had the opportunity to talk with my mom, she put you in the center of her world,” said Dr. Doug Johnson. “She was so interested in the stories you had to tell. I love how much she made everyone at DCI feel so valued. She is the standard that I try to reach.”
“Personally, I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to be able to give this award each year and am so grateful for the opportunity to keep my mom’s memory alive within DCI,” he said. “Mona’s passion and dedication to serve DCI’s patients and employees is remarkable and inspiring. It is an honor to celebrate her with this award.”
A registered nurse for nearly 40 years, Mona has been a DCI employee for more than 20 years, serving as an area operations director for the past 14 years in Dothan, Enterprise and Eufaula, Ala.
Mona’s caring heart and desire to serve others comes from values instilled by her parents.
“I truly care and have a passion for people, whether it’s my patients or it’s my employees,” Mona said. “I don’t see my employees as just employees, they’re family. If they have a need, I try to support them and meet that need, whatever it is. I don’t stand back and wait for someone else; I try to take care of everyone I can. I have a servant’s heart, and I’m thankful for it. It’s something I was raised to do.”
Mona was surprised to hear her name announced as the 2024 Nancy Johnson Heart Award recipient.
“I was so shocked, I couldn’t even move,” she said. “It was so emotional, because I don’t think of anything I do as special. It’s just me, it’s who I am.” Nancy Johnson was “such a beautiful person, and for me to be honored with anything connected to her is just very special to me,” Mona said.
Along with her clinic teams, Mona was a pillar of support for Dialysis Tech Daniel Whittle, who recently returned to work after a July 2024 kidney transplant. His initial diagnosis came more than three years ago.
“We’ve rallied with Daniel since his ESRD diagnosis came down,” Mona said of her team, including his Nurses Serena and Margaret. “We all sat and cried, and we’ve cried and we’ve rallied, and cried and we’re rallying, and we’re gonna keep rallying; we’re so proud of him. We’ve all done our part, but he’s the one that had to really sacrifice, him and his family, and he has done an awesome job.”
Mona and Daniel’s clinic coworkers encouraged him as he began dialysis at home, integrated healthier diet and lifestyle habits and pursued a transplant. Mona’s emotional support was invaluable when Daniel lost his mom the month before his transplant.
“We’re one big family, we look after each other,” Daniel said. “She is an awesome person; you couldn’t ask for a better boss. She’s fair, honest, just the whole deal.”
“We do it together, it’s a team approach,” Mona said. “It’s not me, I have an awesome team. They support me, and I support them.”