East Liverpool’s Nurse Manager Named 2023 DCI Clinical Employee of the Year
Posted in Articles by Dialysis Clinic, Inc.
Dialysis Clinic, Inc., recently named East Liverpool, Ohio, Nurse Manager Dave Miller 2023 Clinical Employee of the Year. Recognized at DCI’s October annual meeting, Dave was selected for his outstanding service over his 24-year career. He is “driven every day to be a leader for his team, other clinics and ultimately to do what is best for our patients,” said DCI Area Operations Director John Pitaro and Dave’s nominator.
Dave started his career as a registered nurse in 1996, working for a home health company and nursing home before joining DCI in 1999 as a staff nurse. He was promoted to charge nurse and later became East Liverpool’s nurse manager in 2012.
“Dave’s generous spirit and willingness to help sets the tone and creates a culture that exemplifies our mission,” said DCI President Donovan Schultz. “We are grateful for his dedication to serving DCI, his colleagues and patients in such a remarkable way.”
“I’m lucky, I have a great staff, a good working environment and we laugh a lot,” Dave said. DCI’s patient-focused, mission-centric culture and strong team motivate Dave in his career. “I have a strong group of people who keep everything running smooth.”
Supporting multiple clinics throughout and following the COVID-19 pandemic, Dave’s leadership has been invaluable. “Over the past two years, Dave has stepped up in more ways than one,” John said. “He reactivated his Pennsylvania RN license to help another clinic in Pittsburgh…with oversight of day-to-day tasks, training/mentoring several different nurse managers, attending monthly meetings, working closely with another area operations director, attending to staffing issues at both clinics, assisting in loaning staff from his home clinic to other clinics in the region, and the list goes on…all while maintaining complete composure and a positive attitude. To this day, he continues to assist another clinic in Ohio and train/mentor their new nurse manager.”
Growing up nearby and living in East Liverpool for the past 25 years, Dave knows his community and always has someone to call if he can’t do a job himself. A “generous and super-friendly” family man, Dave is always willing to help his coworkers within the clinic or outside of work. He often comes in after hours to take on additional cleaning, maintaining and organizing tasks at the clinic.
Outside of the clinic, Dave’s an integral organizer for a DCI golf outing in East Liverpool supporting a summer camp dedicated to kids with kidney disease at no cost to participants.
Having a good time together while cultivating a caring and supportive environment is part of East Liverpool’s culture. Dave and his team have a good rapport with each other and their patients, and pick a Halloween theme, dress up in costumes and invite their patients to join in the fun. Dave encourages his patients to participate, because they’re “part of the team, too,” he said. This year, the theme was 80s and 90s musicians, and Dave dressed as LL Cool J. One year, Dave dressed as Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz.”
“DCI is the incredible patient-focused not-for-profit dialysis care provider because of outstanding leaders like Dave,” said Donovan. “We are proud to have him as part of our DCI family.”
Dave and his wife celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this year and have three adult sons. Dave enjoys golfing, bowling and being outdoors.
Tags: Employee of the year, Staff spotlight, Award