Greeley Hospital cook ‘the model for customer service’

If you’re a regular at UCHealth Greeley Hospital café, Cameron Churchill-Medina knows your name – but that’s not all.

“He’s memorized most of staff’s preferences, allergies and dietary restrictions and makes accommodations so that people can be healthy and safe throughout their shifts,” GH Chaplain Ryan Wooley said of the cook. “He’s one of the first faces our staff see every day, and he’s always got a smile on his face and a laugh to offer.”

When a familiar customer flashes a thumbs-up from the back of the queue, Churchill-Medina begins the order tailored to their exact needs.

“Acknowledging people by name and remembering their orders makes the experience of coming to the cafeteria really special, and has the added benefit of making the wait time for all who are in line shorter,” he said.

Churchill-Medina joined UCHealth in January 2020, previously working as a sous chef at an upscale Fort Collins restaurant. He’s been a cook for about 12 years and said his position at the hospital requires more interaction with customers – which he enjoys.

“We kind of provide an oasis for patients’ families,” he said. “If they’re having one of the worst days of their life, you can give them a smile and make what they want.”

GH Food and Nutrition Manager Kaden Pierson said Churchill-Medina is “the model for customer service.”

Wooley said he makes the hospital feel especially warm and inviting.

“When I think of Greeley Hospital, his face is one of the first to come to mind. I know some staff who intentionally eat breakfast at work so they get to interact with Cameron at the beginning of their day to start it off right,” he said. “He just picks you up.”