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Having celebrated her 32nd year with St. Joseph’s/Candler the day before, Mary Robinson was named the 25th McAuley Award winner Thursday.

“It's hard to imagine anyone in our health system more deserving of such high praise and recognition than Mary,” said one co-worker about Robinson. “She goes out of her way for every one of her patients, every one of her team members and every one of her co-workers.”

Robinson is a Clinical Nurse Manager of the 5North unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital, known as much for her high standards of care as for her kindness and compassion with patients and their family members. 5N serves patients who are post-surgical, acutely ill and fighting cancer.

As the 2018 McAuley Award winner, Robinson’s name will appear on 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 free parking pass in the location of her choice, a one-month cafeteria meal pass, a gift certificate for massages at the Center for WellBeing, a St. Joseph’s/Candler watch and the McAuley pin.

“In my heart I don’t feel like I’m deserving of this because there are people who do much more than me every day,” Robinson said after the surprise announcement. “So I’m sitting here thinking, ‘I can’t believe it’s me.’”

The 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.

Paul P. Hinchey, President & CEO of St. Joseph’s/Candler, said he saw the mercy mission in all the nominees and progressing into the future.

“The Mercy legacy is really like a relay race,” Hinchey said. “And everybody in this room is in that relay.”

This year, 73 St. Joseph’s/Candler co-workers were nominated by their peers for the distinguished honor. Nominations are based upon an individual’s ability to illuminate the health system values of compassion, quality, integrity, courtesy, accountability and teamwork.

About Mary Robinson

As of March 28, 2018, Robinson has worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital for 32 years. She has been a McAuley nominee multiple times during her career.

As a nurse manager, Robinson is known for going above and beyond for her staff, often cooking breakfast or holiday lunches for them and making sure they received needed meals, rest, and breaks during Hurricane Irma and the January 2018 snowstorm. She is a hands-on manager whose ability to listen creates both a high-quality and a gentle, loving environment. She has even been known to pray with patients to help bring them a sense of peace.

What Her Co-Workers Said About Her:

“She is a teacher and a nurturer. You will hear her in a patient's room talking to a family member—‘Have you eaten?’ ‘Would you like a cup of coffee?’ ‘Let me show you how this recliner lays flat for you to close your eyes and take a nap’—she is always putting patients, families, co-workers before herself.”

“It was nothing short of humbling to watch her during Hurricane Matthew, Hurricane Irma, and even the recent snowstorm. She is an inspiration to our co-workers and so clearly defines who we are and what we are all about---taking care of people and doing it with the utmost respect, kindness, compassion and courtesy.”

“To anyone who knows Mary, it is evident that her actions spring from her deep faith. Her professional ability, peaceful manner, and sense of humor set the tone for those who work with her, as well as those patients in her care.”