Casey Hookfin selected as a Forty Under 40 award winner

Congratulations to Casey Hookfin, Dayton Children's career specialist program manager, on receiving a 2022 Forty Under 40 Award!

Since 1998, the Dayton Business Journal honors our region's brightest young leaders through an award titled the "Forty Under 40 Award." Nominees across a variety of sectors are judged by independent judges on professional accomplishments, community leadership, awards and career milestones. This year's winners, marking the 25th class, join a special cohort of over 900 individuals.

Nine years ago, Casey joined the Dayton Children's team as a clinical nurse and quickly proved herself to be a knowledgeable and inspired leader.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Casey was selected to build, staff and lead a new department responsible for COVID screening visitors and staff at over a dozen of Dayton Children's locations. When the peak of the pandemic plateaued, Casey fostered placement options for each screener - 80% of our screeners still work at Dayton Children's. 

 As Dayton Children's first-ever BIPOC career specialist program manager, Casey created a work study program to provide nursing opportunities for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) to attend nursing school at Sinclair Community College. In its second year, the program has had four participants. Motivated to inspire people of color to choose nursing as a career, Casey has spoken to children at local schools and with the Girl Scouts of America and Young Ladies Aspiring Greatness. As a result of Casey's efforts, several area high schoolers have been hired at Dayton Children's.

"Casey has been an inspiration to many," read her nomination. "Her leadership, compassion and generosity of time and self has paved the way for many. She is relentless in her goal to elevate and advance young professionals, especially people of color."

She serves as a Dayton Children's brand ambassador, member of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion council, chair of the nursing professio

nal recognition council and member of the CEO racism and wellbeing taskforces. During her tenure, she's also held notable positions outside the hospital's walls, including helping individuals with developmental disabilities, partaking in Dayton's Black Leadership Development Program and as an Advisory Board finalist, speaking during their 2021 Innovation Showcase: Strategies to Advance Diversity.

"Casey has a never-ending positive spirit, a servant leader energy and a gift for bringing out the best in others," read her nomination. "She is an irreplaceable asset to Dayton Children's and the entire Dayton Community."

Casey will be honored during this year's awards ceremony on July 14.

"I truly feel like I'm giving back to what God has given me," said Casey.

Congratulations Casey on being named a Forty Under 40 winner! You are a role model in our hospital and community!