Celebrating National Day of Portugal (June 10): Joana Corriea

Joana Correia works in our Environmental Services (EVS) Department at St. Luke’s Hospital as a Housekeeper. She’s been with Southcoast for three years now.

“It was always a dream to be part of Southcoast Health,” she says. Southcoast in turn is thrilled to have someone as dedicated and diligent as Joana on the team serving patients.

As do all of our Environmental Services staff, Joana represents Southcoast’s Model of More values and service excellence behaviors. She gives her best, takes satisfaction in her work, and always stays a step ahead. She is supportive, proud, and so much More. As she says herself, “I always like to go above and beyond and make sure that everything is nice and clean.”

“Joana is a tremendous asset to our organization. Her compassion and dedication is second to none,” says Paul Ponte, Director of Environmental Services. “She truly loves her EVS Role in our St. Luke’s Emergency Department and loves serving our community.”

Joana says she plans to keep striving in her job and moving forward in the EVS Department. She is motivated by her compassion for patients who need to be in the hospital and their circumstances.

Significance of the National Day of Portugal (June 10)

“The National Day of Portugal means respect for the country where I was born,” says Joana. “I always respect the holiday, and I like being together with others and joining the festivities.”

Joana enjoys attending the New Bedford Day of Portugal Festival each year. The festival blends traditional foods, regional crafts, dance and music. “It is like a big family reunion. You see people you haven’t seen all year long come together to celebrate.”

Joana feels blessed to be from Portugal, her country of origin in which she takes great pride, and also to be living in the United States. “I feel wonderful because this country (the U.S.) where I live now respects, loves and cares for me the way Portugal has done.”

In reflecting on her role and time at St. Luke’s, Joana sends a message to Southcoast and all who work with her: “Thank you, Southcoast, from the bottom of my heart. And thank you for the respect, kindness, compassion that you – all my colleagues – share with me. You all mean a lot to me. Thank you, God bless.”

To learn more about Southcoast’s Day of Portugal Celebration please visit Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Southcoast Health | Southcoast Health.