TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – As the coronavirus pandemic creates fear and uncertainty throughout the Tampa Bay area, we are looking to highlight the heroes who are helping us get through it.
From doctors, nurses and first responders to store clerks, construction workers and truck drivers, we want to thank everyone on the frontline for their hard work. We know many of those occupations can often be thankless, so we want to recognize them and their dedication.
Andrew Dixon, a fire medic for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue 
Brett Koster, a cardiovascular tech screening Tenisha before her shift at Memorial Hospital of Tampa 
Publix employees Bill, Cheryl and Megan Sullivan in Sarasota/Bradenton 
Heather Bush, a nurse at Sarasota Memorial Hospital 
Brandon, a pharmacist at a Tampa Bay area Publix 
Nurses in Brandon Regional Hospital’s cardiovascular progressive care unit 
Dr. Robert Pfeiffer MD, an ER physician who has been providing care to the Tampa Bay community during the COVID-19 crisis 
Tampa Fire Rescue A Shift Station 6 
Alexis Parker, an RN heart nurse who teaches classes at a local nursing school while finishing her nurse practitioner studies 
Chris Mitchell, a Marine veteran and RN at the VA hospital in Tampa 
Dr. Mandaliya from the ICU at St. Joseph’s Hospital South 
Lindsay Bly, an RN at Brandon Regional in special procedures and an Air Force medic veteran 
Derika Graham, a charge nurse for Brandon Regional Hospital’s ER in Plant City and her husband Andrew Graham, a Hillsborough County Fire Rescue paramedic 
Nanci Sullivan at Doctor’s Hospital in Sarasota 
Jennifer Daniels from the Emergency Communications Center at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office 
Kaylie Lindsey, a nurse at Advent Health in Sebring 
Tony, Diane, Ashley, Katie, Courtney and Tim from the Publix at Lakewood Ranch on Market Street 
Whitney and Melissa, triage RNs in Brandon 
PT Jen and RN Johnny on the St. Joseph’s Hospital Orthopedic floor 
Dr. Lisa Brennan, a pediatrician in St. Pete 
Scott and Cinthya Tweedy, RNs at Moffit Cancer Center 
Mike, an emergency room medic at Memorial Hospital of Tampa 
Shawn Hayston, a 15-year firefighter who recently graduated as an RN and is studying to become a PA 
Emergency room crew at Memorial Hospital of Tampa, including Dr. Gingrich and ARNP Kim Kloeber 
Jackie Frazier, a NICU nurse and holistic educator at Young Living who is going to school to become a doctor. 
Tomasz, a paramedic in Brandon 
Postpartum team at Brandon Regional Hospital 
Jasmine Wells, an RN at Saint Anthony’s Hospital 
Nurses at Brandon Regional Hospital 
Kelli O’Malley, CEO and EMT/BLS 
Daphne, an ER nurse in Brandon 
Migdalia Keller, a CNA at Tampa General Hospital in pediatrics 
Nedra, a certified tech in Brandon’s ER 
Dr. Vega, an ER doctor in Brandon 
Brad, VP of the ER in Brandon 
Angela Clack, an OR RN at Nemour Children’s Hospital in Lake Nona 
Brent, a paramedic in the emergency room at Sarasota Memorial Hospital 
Labor and delivery team at Brandon Regional Hospital 
Dr. Beverly Deliz Tirado, a physician MD in nephrology working dialysis units 
Catherine Perez and Jennifer Finehirsh, labor and delivery RNs at Brandon Regional Hospital 
Nurses at Brandon Regional Hospital 
Chuck Dugan, a primary care nurse practitioner at Optum Care 
Nurses at Brandon Regional Hospital 
Rae, Katie and Brenda from Brandon Regional Hospital’s emergency room 
RN Jenn, an ER nurse 
Fallon,a medic in Tampa Bay 
Tony, a paramedic and firefighter 
Deputy Chris Parmentier 
Margie Quinn, a respiratory therapist at St. Anthony’s 
Sam, a pediatric PA at Sarasota Memorial 
Christine Gaukel, a speech therapist director 
Kat Kohn, an RN at Trinity Hospital 
Erika Scott Murray, an RN for the emergency department at Lakeland Regional Health 
Cassie Bixler, a technician at Bell Shoals Animal Hospital in Brandon 
Charity Plath, an RN at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa 
Sarah Tudisca (middle) and her coworkers who work nights in oncology at Backus Hospital in Norwich, Ct. 
Respiratory Therapist Kim Solano and RN Chrystal Deese at Lakeland Regional Hospital 
Amy and Norman, employees at the Crystal River Winn Dixie 
Brittany Adams, Hannah Jones, Mymy Williams, Nicole Vasquez, Kayleigh Pettis 
Annette Bush, a pharmacy tech 
Joe Henson, surgical physician’s assistant at Morton Plant 
Amanda Beach, an EMT with Sunstar 
Michael Collier, a Publix employee 
Karl Bell, a truck driver from Seffner 
Lisa Goodman, an RN at Venice Regional Hospital 
Nicole, a nurse practitioner at Advent Health in Tampa 
Ellery Reed, a CNA at a Tampa Bay nursing home 
Melodi Montoya, an EKG tech at Oak Hill Hospital in Spring Hill who is pursuing a medical degree 
Alyssa Pinto, an ER nurse at Baycare Hospital 
Wendell Johnson, truck driver 
Dr. Sharon Chacko, USF graduate and now medical director at a NYC hospital 
RN Peter Mastalir, Dade City Hospital 
Tara Ward, nurse at Tampa General Hospital. Ryan Ward (brother) firefighter for City of Tampa 
Michelle Lynn Schultz, Bayshore Pointe Nursing and Rehabilitation 
A nurse at Tampa General Hospital 
Jennie Rivera, a respiratory technician/therapist at Bayonet Point 
Shamiya Brown, a dialysis nurse 
Alicia Cielesz, a nurse at Elmcroft ALF in Hillsborough County 
He is my hero. He is 71 years old and goes to work everyday to bag groceries and sanitize carts. 
Dr Carey Thomson Chief of Pulmonology and Critical Care 
Workers in the COVID-19 unit at Sarasota Memorial Hospital 
Staff at Cedar Creek at Kings Bay Assisted Living Residence in Crystal River. 
Bill Kendrick, nursing director at North Side Hospital in St Petersburg. 
Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and other rehabilitation staff from Venice Regional Hospital. 
Corlissa Jacobs, Assistant Director of Nursing at the Whispering Oaks Health and Rehab Center in Tampa. 
Health care heroes from Venice Regional Hospital
If you have a hero you want to highlight – whether it be a police officer, firefighter, medical professional, cashier, child care worker, truck driver or anyone else – send their photo and name to us on social media or via email at online@wfla.com. We will add all the photos we receive to this gallery of heroes.
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