LEWISTON — Christine Pomerleau-Hunt, a certified nursing assistant on Central Maine Medical Center’s cardiopulmonary nursing unit, has been named the organization’s first Sunshine Award winner. She was selected for the honor for her “gift of being present,” according to a co-worker who nominated her for the award.

Pomerleau-Hunt has a special talent for helping patients “relax within our foreign environment,” wrote the registered nurse who nominated her for the award. She exudes an attitude that “I care about you and you are my one concern at this moment.”

Also noted was her ability to convey her “interest and … taking the time to listen. She shares those stories with the healthcare team helping us truly ‘see’ the patient for who they are; a lonely widow, grieving husband, frightened confused grandfather, guilt ridden sister, a joyous couple so filled with love for each other or any number of other human beings with often great sadness within them.”

As a mother and community member, Pomerleau-Hunt was recognized as a role model for “giving back.” She “attends each and every Blake Street Towers event, bringing her daughter, Donna, who has blossomed under her mother’s upbringing — laughing, sharing joyous stories and listening to others … providing food, conversation and compassion to the residents of this low-income apartment building. She is an active volunteer at her daughter’s school,” the nomination noted.

“We are honored to have Christine as a role model for others on our patient care team here at CMMC,” said Sharron Sieleman, chief nursing officer at Central Maine Healthcare. “She mentors everyone to highest personal and professional expectations and her compassion is immeasurable and invaluable. She is the pride of CMMC.”

Pomerleau-Hunt is a Mechanic Falls resident. She has worked at CMMC for 18 years.

The Sunshine Award recognizes and celebrates the extraordinary work and compassionate care given by technical support personnel, including certified nursing assistants, medical technicians and others.