WCH celebrates top 100 honor, Sheron's 25th year
Bill Sheron, center wearing the blue sweater, and others look at the banner unveiled at Wooster Community Hospital marking Sheron's 25 years as CEO there.
Wooster Community Hospital recently celebrated two landmark events: Being named in the top 100 hospitals in the country for the fifth time; and Bill Sheron's 25th anniversary as CEO of Wooster's hospital.
Invitations indicated only that the Dec. 2 event would be a hospital-wide celebration of the top 100 award. None of the guests, including Sheron, knew that the event was also planned to surprise the CEO on his anniversary.
Sheron spoke for nearly 20 minutes to the over 130 hospital staff, friends and supporters who were gathered in the outpatient pavilion, enjoying gourmet refreshments. "This is the oldest and most prestigious hospital award," Sheron explained. "This is the academy award."
Wooster Community Hospital was chosen as one of only 20 medium-sized hospitals in the country to be included in the top 100 list, out of a field of more than 1,000.
"We've won two times in a row, five times in 11 years, and the way we have done that, the number one job for us, is that we take care of our patients," " said Sheron.
As Sheron concluded, Board Member Dan Wakefield stepped to the podium. "It's hard to surprise Bill," he said. "On behalf of the Hospital Board and the entire community, thank you for 25 years of dedicated service to Wooster Community Hospital."
The surprised Sheron received a standing ovation. The celebration included a video of physicians, staff, Board members and Sheron's family expressing gratitude for his extensive, innovative, and enthusiastic service to the hospital and community. At the conclusion of the evening, Sheron was invited back to the podium where he simply and gratefully stated, "Thank you all."