Hidden Heroes

I make sure our staff and patients are nourished.
I Am Henry.

Wherever you look within Henry Ford Jackson Hospital and the surrounding Central Market, you are sure to find heroes working quietly behind the scenes and going beyond expectations. The latest “Hidden Hero” to be featured on the team member-focused billboard across the street from the Hospital is Abbie Smith of Nutrition Services.

It was no surprise that Abbie chose to work in Nutrition Services at Henry Ford Jackson Hospital 10 years ago—or that she’s become an indispensable member of the team. Abbie is compassionate and nurturing by nature. “Besides having a strong work ethic, she is always looking for ways to help her coworkers and her community,” says Abbie’s leader director of Hospital Support Services George Gancsos.

As the administrative secretary for Nutrition Services, Abbie is responsible for making sure many of our Hospital events and meetings have the right foods and beverages delivered on time. As a member of the Value Analysis Team for Food and Nutrition, she is also involved with data gathering and analysis—and is a strong advocate for replacing plastic and Styrofoam with eco-friendly products. And, as a member of the Staff Advisory Council, she is the self-described “’Voice of Hospitality.’ I have no problem speaking up and asking the questions everyone else is thinking,” she says.

In addition to everything Abbie does for her job, she has been an active member of the Hospital’s annual Employee Food Drive for the past eight years to help provide meals for community families and Central Market team members in need of help for the holidays. During the year, the Food Drive Committee raises funds through events such as the popular Mac Down, a competition for best macaroni and cheese entries. The Staff Assistance Fund for Emergencies (SAFE) is another cause close to Abbie’s heart. For the past three years, she has chaired the SAFE Committee, which provides loans and grants to team members facing unexpected emergencies.

Abbie loves her work. But, she says, “I wouldn’t enjoy it nearly as much if I wasn’t part of a wonderful team. Everything we do takes a team effort. We all divide and conquer whatever needs to be done.”

Congratulations, Abbie, and thank you for all you do.