Passion is defined as a powerful emotion or overwhelming feeling.

It’s also a word Jeri Seratti-Goldman uses to describe her dedication to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, where she serves on the Board of Governors.

The Providence Holy Cross Foundation presented Seratti-Goldman with the Mother Gamelin Society Award for her contributions as a member of the Board of Governors and her service to the hospital.

The award is named after Emilie Gamelin, a woman of means who served the poor and embraced the importance of charity who, after the loss of her husband and children, founded a religious order for women that became known as Sister of Providence.

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“To receive this award behind (previous recipient) Keith Richman means so much to me, Seratti-Goldman said. “I truly believe it’s because he empowered me and encouraged me to step up. It’s also an honor to receive this award from my peers because it means other people recognized my passion. It’s pretty cool.”

As a board member, she chaired the Foundation’s Communications Committee and co-chaired the inaugural Providence Holy Cross gala. She’s also been instrumental in promoting the quality care and services provided by the hospital to the communities throughout the Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valleys. She was a leading advocate for the 138-bed expansion of the hospital, raising more than a half-million dollars towards the project.

Several members of Seratti-Goldman’s family have been patients at Providence Holy Cross and she’s seen first-hand how compassion and care is the medical center’s first priority. Her mother’s battle with ovarian cancer came to mind.

“When my mom went to have chemotherapy, the big question every day was ‘what do we bring the girls (who administered the treatments)? Do we stop for donuts, fruit or bagels?’” she said. “They made it not scary, she wasn’t afraid.”

The community of care is just one of the reasons Seratti-Goldman is so dedicated to Providence Holy Cross. When the Goldmans were honored for their service to the American Cancer Society, three of her mother’s oncology caregivers were at the ceremonies.

“One of the nurses still calls occasionally to check on me,” she said. “The experience for me has always been no matter where you are, you’re still getting attention. If you’re on a gurney in the hallway, the doctor is on his knees, caring for you, even when there’s a wait.”

Seratti-Goldman also made sure that patients, visitors and staff had visual reminders of their importance and the importance of caring by commissioning an angel mural near the emergency room and the angel statue near the oncology department.

The awards were presented at the Skirball Center in West Los Angeles on October 27.