Written by Marnesha Hords, Welcome Services Manager
As we continue to celebrate Black History Month, read about the legacy of Hennepin Healthcare's incredible Patti Brown-Winston, an extraordinary psychiatry nurse supervisor whose compassion, kindness, respect, teamwork, and ability to connect with people were paramount.
Patti held the distinguished title of Miss Teenage St. Paul in 1970. She could have chosen many professions because she encompassed brains and beauty. However, she ultimately chose a career in nursing because of her unwavering commitment to care for others. Patti started her 40-year career with Hennepin Healthcare in 1979.
Throughout Patti's remarkable tenure, she left a lasting impression with all she encountered. She connected with staff, patients, and families like no other. She made people feel valued, safe and supported. She genuinely cared about people and, more importantly, how they felt. Patti was a dedicated nurse who evolved into a nursing leader who, without hesitation, made countless sacrifices for her team to have a good work-life balance.
Additionally, she did not just work with her colleagues. She took the time to get to know them. She never forgot a birthday, an anniversary, or their children's milestones - she even created nicknames for their children and supported team members through personal crises. To this very day, her team still has all the cards, notes, and accolades they received from her over the years.
Patti never met a stranger; even the most critical mental health patients made meaningful connections and progressed with Patti's support and concern for their well-being. She and I tackled many issues for patients of color who struggled with mental health issues but were not afforded equitable care. Patti took charge head-on to ensure those patients felt safe and thus fostered a nurturing environment where they could trust their clinicians to get the mental health support they needed. Two of those patients were close family members of mine. The treatment plan she helped develop for them is what got them through their mental health crisis, and they are both happy and flourishing. Any of our patients with the privilege of having Patti as part of their care team would say the same. Patti has received the inaugural Pierce Family Trust Award and a Daisy Award for her staunch devotion to caring for those with mental health challenges.
Patti fell ill and had a battle with breast cancer. Even while battling her cancer, she was resilient to the end, tending to others' needs. Our beloved Patti lost her battle with breast cancer on April 3, 2020. The news of her passing slowly trickled through the walls of Hennepin Healthcare as we were dealing with the unprecedented crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we were not able to grieve her passing how we would have liked. If you ever walk through the halls of Psychiatry in Orange 8, you will see constant reminders of her impact.
Through Patti's impact on staff and patients alike, the Psychiatry leadership team named a prestigious award in her honor named Patti Pin. Recipients receive this pin for showing extraordinary compassion, kindness, and respect to people struggling with mental illness. The pin represents an ability to maintain empathy in extreme circumstances, treating people you care for with the utmost respect and humanity in their darkest and happiest moments.
Those are the attributes of Patti Brown-Winston that we are reminded of when we see this pin. The pink rose represents her caring and loving spirit, and the green ribbon represents mental illness awareness. By wearing the Patti Pin, those around you will know you live the values of compassion, kindness, and respect for all.
Patti's presence and impact will never be forgotten, and her legacy will live on forever at Hennepin Healthcare.
