Eight Healthcare Heroes Take Top Honors in ImageFIRST’s 6th Annual HeroesFIRST Contest

Winners from Washington, Minnesota, Connecticut, Texas, New Jersey, Florida, and Rhode Island will be awarded a cash prize for their extraordinary impact on patient care

King of Prussia, PA, Oct. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ImageFIRST®, the leading national provider of linen, laundry and facility services specializing in the healthcare industry, announced the winners of its 6th Annual HeroesFIRST Contest. Each year, ImageFIRST Service Team members recognize exceptional Healthcare Heroes who go above and beyond to positively impact the lives of their patients. Nominations poured in from across the country this year, with more than 600 submitted in total. From that pool, 20 finalists were selected, and members of the public cast their votes on the contest’s website to decide which stories inspired them the most.
 
Following the nationwide vote, the Heroes that received the most votes will be awarded a cash prize, totaling $16,500. *   

The 2026 HeroesFIRST Top Eight Winners are:  

1. Mekila Clark, PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview, WA 
2. Dr. Gayathri Sambasivan, Dentistry for Children and Adolescents in Eden Prairie, MN
3. Meghan Dean, Bristol Hospital in Bristol, CT 
4. Laura Reese, Mid Coast Medical Center - Bellville in Bellville, TX
5. Kimberly Kinsella and DeAnna Phan, Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology in Edina, MN
6. Lisa Wille, Meta Surgical Center in Montvale, NJ
7. Celeste Jenkins, TOC Spine & Joint Surgery Center in Tallahassee, FL
8. Susan Perrotta, Dermatology Professionals, Inc. in East Greenwich, RI

*If preferred, an equivalent donation will be made to a charity of their choice. 

Local celebrations will be held for each winner. Details of regional events can be shared with press upon request.   
 
Now in its sixth year, HeroesFIRST continues to celebrate the healthcare professionals whose compassion and quiet acts of service have a profound and lasting impact on patients and their families. “I have only known Mekila for one of her 20 years at St. John, but every time I work with her or see her with her team, her calm, collaborative voice comes through,” says Murray Heidebrecht, an ImageFIRST Hospital Customer Advocate in Portland, OR. The Portland team’s nominee, Mekila Clark, was voted one of the top eight winners. “She quietly does whatever it takes for her patients and colleagues, and I am proud to partner with her.” 

Clark, who works as a Linen Lead at PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center, said the recognition means a great deal to her. “It is an honor to be nominated for the HeroesFIRST award,” she said. “I do what I do because it’s who I am. I’m not in this for the competition or recognition. I do it for my patients and coworkers. That’s what truly matters to me.” 

"This year's winners remind us that healthcare is ultimately about people caring for people," said ImageFIRST Senior Vice President of Customer Experience Mike Martin. "Through their dedicated service, they have made a lasting difference in the lives of others. We congratulate this year's winners, finalists, and nominees, and thank them for the example they set for the healthcare profession."   

Congratulations to the 2026 HeroesFIRST nominees, including this year’s finalists and runners-up: 

• Demetrea Holman, Henderson Surgery Center in Henderson, NV 

• Ike Morgan, New Oakland Family Centers in Farmington Hills, MI 

• Kerstyn Boyd, Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic MRI in Tallahassee, FL 

• Amy Serante, South Denver Gastroenterology in Denver, CO 

• Jeff Williams, Hope Care Center in Kansas City, MO 

• Krista Kackley, Midwest Radiology Suburban Imaging - The Breast Center in Coon Rapids, MN 

• Amanda Summers, Banner Surgery Center - Chandler in Candler, AZ 

• Nanci Garcia, Maternal Gynerations in Lawrenceville, GA 

• Jorge Contreras, New Me Plastic Surgery in Miami, FL 

• Kimberly Copeland, Henderson Surgery Center in Henderson, NV 

• Isabel Palileo-Rapanan, Pacific Medical Centers - First Hill in Seattle, WA 
• Mary Hall, The University of Kansas Health System, Indian Creek Campus in Overland Park, KS

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ABOUT IMAGEFIRST 

Founded in 1967, ImageFIRST® is the largest and fastest-growing national provider of linen rental, laundry and facility services, focusing primarily on the healthcare sector. Acquired by private equity firm Calera Capital in 2018, ImageFIRST serves medical facilities nationwide and hospitality customers in select markets. They offer an array of items such as linens, patient/guest garments, essential staff uniforms and supplies, facility service programs, and more while managing their clients’ linen inventory for cost management. With a customer retention rate of over 97%, ImageFIRST is dedicated to improving staff and patient/guest satisfaction through quality linen and remarkable service. As leaders in infection prevention, they currently own and operate the most HLAC-accredited (63) and TRSA Food Service certified (8) facilities in the industry. For more information, visit imagefirst.com.  

 

Attachments

• 2026 HeroesFIRST Winners
• HeroesFIRST

Angel Taylor
ImageFIRST
267-806-0058
ataylor@imagefirst.com