'Being kind can go a long way to improving someone else's day,' says UConn Health IT Department's Jon Gorman
Jon Gorman works in the IT Department at UConn Health and primarily supports the technical needs of health care providers and staff caring for patients at the Outpatient Pavilion.
IT colleagues at UConn Health all call Jon Gorman the kindest person they know.
Gorman, of Southington, serves UConn Health as an application analyst for its advanced electronic medical record system called EPIC. He says he always kindly helps his EPIC ambulatory care providers and staff troubleshoot any needs they have with the electronic medical record system.
"As an Epic application analyst, I support outpatient providers and staff with their charting and medical records needs and technical issues," Gorman says.
He's been happily working at UConn Health for a little over two years after working at several local hospitals such as UConn Health's longtime affiliate Connecticut Children's.
"I have some friends who were always telling me how much they like it here at UConn Health. So, I applied, and it turned out to be a really good fit. UConn Health is a great organization - and it is a wonderful opportunity to work here," he says.
His ongoing kindness trait started at a young age and continues to this day while working at Connecticut's only public academic medical center.
"My parents instilled the importance of kindness in me," Gorman says. "I always saw kindness in how they treated us as kids and each other. I was taught when you spend time with people you are always kind, and I carry that value with me."
He says kindness is not something he thinks about all the time but always follows the Golden rule he was taught as a youngster: "Simply treat people how you want to be treated," Gorman stresses.
"Sometimes people are just having a bad day. Even if you meet or are working with someone who is not sparkling on a given day - I remind myself that they need help - and I am here at UConn Health to help them."
Service to others is Gorman's top mission, and UConn Health's foundational mission.
Whether it's electronic medical records or hands-on patient care, Gorman knows how important the work of UConn Health employees really is.
"There is a lot of collaborative work that happens here at UConn Health, and everything and everyone of us are interconnected across our academic medical center. For example, in IT we are helping clinicians so they can help patients have a better patient experience."
Gorman adds, "UConn Health is a collaborative experience and workplace! Our important work is all intertwined and making a real difference. So it's extra important that we all are kind, get along, and work with each other well."
Gorman says it's all about building good relationships - and it all starts with being kind.
"It works!"
And Gorman also reminds himself in his IT role how his job also helps not only his fellow coworkers at UConn Health but his own loved ones too.
"My friends and family all use UConn Health for their health care. Our patients are not strangers. They are our family members too and count on us. We want everyone to get the same, great care."
Gorman adds, "The work you are doing at UConn Health affects end users - we can all relate to this- since it's us and our own family members being cared for too by UConn Health."
This content is part of a collaborative initiative of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, with UConn Health's Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Jeffrey Hines, to celebrate the institution's shared values and its workforce. Send your word-of-the-month nominations to [email protected].
