Meaningful Reflections: July 2025 Human Sunshine Awards
The winners of our Human Sunshine Awards this month share steady, calming personalities that are encouraging and inspirational to all those around them.
By Kim Crawford Meeks
Spiritual Health & Counseling Manager
During the summer, we love to go on vacations near the water. Whether it is the beach, a river, lake or pool, we head to the water to cool off and have fun. One of the best times to be near the water is that time of day when the sunlight is dancing on the surface.
Even though the waters may be deep, possibly dark, and there may be unknowns lying beneath, what we can actually see in the moment is often quite magical. A symphony of light shines down from the vast blue sky and plays a tune with the water as its piano.
The added comfort comes when the rays of sunshine warm our cheeks and seem to surround us in a hug of hope and safety. This calming experience gives us the opportunity to inhale a breath of peace and exhale our stress.
The winners of our Human Sunshine Awards this month remind me of this experience, as they both share steady, calming personalities that are encouraging and inspirational to all those around them. Thank you to Naja Hadad and William Butler for winning these awards, and thank you for being light for all of us.
Naja Hadad, Director, Clinical Laboratory, USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital
What is your role, and how long have you been with USA Health?
I'm the laboratory director of the clinical laboratory at USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital. I oversee the operation of the laboratory, ensuring accurate, reliable and timely diagnostic results for patient care. I've been with USA Health for over 25 years.
What do you love about your job here?
I love the direct impact our lab has on patient care. Knowing our accurate results are crucial for diagnoses and treatment is incredibly fulfilling. I also love and appreciate the people I work with, the collaborative spirit among our teams, and the continuous opportunity for learning and growth in diagnostic medicine.
Does your role impact patients, families, employees? If so, how?
I would like to say yes. For patients, by ensuring accurate and timely diagnostic results, which are vital for their diagnoses, treatment and safety. For families, providing reliable information helps them understand conditions and make informed decisions, offering peace of mind. For employees, by supporting them with every resource available to provide them with a safe work environment, fostering a culture of excellence, and ensuring their critical work is valued.
Do you find fulfillment in your role? If so, how?
Absolutely. My greatest fulfillment comes from knowing our work directly improves patients’ lives and the health of the community. There’s an immense purpose in contributing to life-saving diagnoses, optimizing treatments, and continuously enhancing our services to meet the evolving needs of our patients and healthcare system.
Our theme for Spiritual Health and Counseling this year is "If you can't find the sunshine, be the sunshine." When the world is bleak around you, how do you find the sunshine?
When things are bleak, I always look at the bigger picture in life and focus on our core purpose of helping people – that's our inherent ‘sunshine.’ I also look for small victories and moments of team collaboration, and I actively practice gratitude, striving to be a source of positivity for others.
Is there someone who you think of when you think of human sunshine?
Yes, I immediately think of my late father who passed due to COVID. His unwavering kindness, optimism, empathy and compassion always brightened any situation and truly embodied being the sunshine.
Is there a quote that brings you sunshine on a cloudy day?
This Desmond Tutu quote: “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” This quote is very powerful because it defines hope not as an absence of darkness, but as the ability to perceive light even when surrounded by it. It speaks to a profound inner vision and resilience.
William Butler, Patient Services Manager, Cafeteria, USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital
What is your role, and how long have you been with USA Health?
October will be seven years. I am the patient services manager in the cafeteria at USA Health Children's & Women's Hospital.
What do you love about your job here?
I love that when someone is having a bad day, we can make them smile with food.
Does your role impact patients, families, employees? If so, how?
My role does impact families. Our job is to help the healing process with food.
Do you find fulfillment from your role? If so, how?
I do find fulfillment in my job when I make a patient smile.
Our theme for Spiritual Health and Counseling this year is “If you can't find the sunshine, be the sunshine.” When the world is bleak around you, how do you find the sunshine?
I find sunshine by remembering why I work at this hospital. Seven years ago, my son was born at Children’s & Women’s Hospital. He was born at 26 weeks and 5 days. This hospital helped save my son’s life, and I do the best I can to give back to the people who saved my son’s life.
Is there someone who you think of when you think of human sunshine?
My son is nothing but sunshine. His outlook on life is amazing!
Is there a quote that brings you sunshine on a cloudy day?
The quote that brings me sunshine on a cloudy day is “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get,” from the film “Forrest Gump.”
Learn more about Spiritual Health and Counseling at USA Health. Patients, family members, and USA Health associates are encouraged to call the Meaningful Reflections Line at 251-445-9016 for a daily recorded word of encouragement.
