12 nominated for Saint Joseph Physician of the Year Award!

Congratulations to the 12 physicians nominated by colleagues to win Saint Joseph’s 2025 Physician of the Year Award! They are listed below in alphabetical order along with an excerpt of the nomination submitted on their behalf.

Ben Briggs, MD, Hospitalist: “Ben is an outstanding colleague and teacher, a great mentor to the house staff and a great patient advocate. He has been on the MUC and Peer Review committees for years. He was a previous resident at SJH, and his patient care embodies what our hospital culture means. I would want Ben taking care of me or my family members.”

Nick Galyon, DO, Internal Medicine: “Nick is incredibly dedicated to his patients and inspires others to deliver the best care possible in a sometimes challenging environment. He has an incredible amount of patience and wisdom, and always remains upbeat and encouraging. Working with people like Nick is one of the biggest rewards from coming to the hospital each day.”

Amber Gieri, MD, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine: “Amber is a compassionate and hard-working physician. She serves as the lead on two vital quality-improvement teams in the NICU and is always looking for ways to make the NICU better. She provides excellent care and is always calm and clear thinking, even under very stressful circumstances. She is loved by all the staff.”

Kirstin Hesterberg, DO, Cardiovascular Disease: “She has a tireless commitment to her patients. She provides exceptional care and she navigates her administrative duties with tact and poise.”

Ken Lyn-Kew, MD, Critical Care Medicine: “Ken cares about SJH and cares for the sickest patients across the entire system. He is a phenomenal clinician and educator. Surgeons, intensivists, hospitalists all go to Ken with tough cases. He is directly responsible for building the ECMO program from the ground up, turning it into a referral center for much of the Front Range.”

Cory Manly, MD, Hospitalist: “Cory is a truly outstanding physician. Always willing to go the extra mile and always looking to his patient’s best interests.”

Sydne Muratore, MD, General Surgery: “Dr. Muratore has kept the general surgery service and residency above water when the future looks murky. She has kept things as positive as possible despite overwhelming changes. She has made everyone feel valued while working tirelessly to find solutions to a constant stream of challenges.”

Heather Orth, MD, Emergency Medicine: “Dr. Orth helped lead a team to optimize and streamline stroke care in the Emergency Department. She is a pleasure to work with and comes to every shift with a great attitude. She is always willing to help and collaborates well with other physicians, the APPs and RNs.”

Anne Prendergast, MD, Emergency Medicine: “Dr. Prendergast is a fantastic physician, team leader and colleague. She is incredibly hard-working, thoughtfully provides the best and most-appropriate care possible, and communicates well with all her patients and families. She also is an amazing team player and supports all of us with her great attitude and sense of humor.”

Eric Seger, DO, Hospitalist: “Eric has been monumental in restructuring and leading the Caritas Clinic. He is a leader in the Medicine residency program and a strong mentor. He is also an amazing physician. I enjoy working with him and know he is always available for colleagues and residents.”

Yin Stein, MD, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine: “Yin is the most energetic person I know and can accomplish more than most anyone. She is an excellent physician, smart and detailed, and she makes great decisions. Yin builds relationships with our families and communicates with them better than anyone. She works to ensure that all who work in the NICU feel valued.”

Dan Zeccola, MD, Emergency Medicine: “Dan is an outstanding physician who is deeply committed to delivering exceptional, innovative care to his patients. As the director of the Emergency Department CDU, he has continually elevated the unit, maintaining its reputation for excellence. He is a supportive colleague, dedicated teacher and key leader.”

Congratulations to these physicians and thank you to everyone who nominated a colleague for this recognition! The winner of the 2025 Physician of the Year Award will be announced at our Annual Meeting & Dinner, and all nominees will be celebrated. Don’t miss the fun! All Saint Joseph physicians, APPs and residents are invited to attend and bring a guest. Click the button below to RSVP today.