Edna Hymas has worked full-time at CBHA for 13 years; she was a medical assistant when she started, then a medical assistant- phlebotomist and now she’s a medical assistant – certified. She has found her niche in the Walk-In Clinic. “I work there full time,” she said. “I love working with people. I know my patients and the providers they like to see. I do everything I can to arrange for them to see their favorite.” Edna said she always tries to put herself in the patient’s shoes and treats them the way she would like to be treated.

Edna never anticipated that she would be chosen as Firestarter. A co-worker told her she had made an error on an order and asked her to follow her; she was concentrating so hard on what that might be that when she saw a bunch of co-workers gathered. They all shouted “Congratulations!”, she had no idea they were talking to her. “It took me a little while to comprehend that I had been chosen,” she said. “I feel very privileged and grateful. It makes me very happy.”

Edna was nominated for this honor by Norma Gutierrez. Norma has known Edna for a number of years and has observed Edna’s work ethic first hand. “Edna is a positive, mature person who is very dependable; Edna also takes pride in her work,” Norma said. “She goes above and beyond expectations. She is always looking for ways to help her coworkers. She tries to make the patients feel they are important and it is obvious that Edna cares about them. She is flexible, has excellent work skills and tries to do her best at all times.

Edna has a lot of things that she loves to do in her spare time. She listens to classical music and also loves to read – usually church related and inspirational books. “I love to spend time with my family. I have eight children and 17 grandchildren with one on the way,” she said. “I am a widow; my children are all grown so I visit them. I am very active in my church and I have friends who I do things with. I like to paint, crochet, sew, cook and I love to dance!” She also works with the young women in her church on Wednesdays after work. She does like to sing; however, her full schedule doesn’t allow her to sing in groups right now. Edna is also a cancer survivor. “I feel very blessed – it will be five years in January that I have been cancer free,” she said. “My life is good and I am grateful.”