Dennis Eberhardt, a retired registered nurse at the Memorial Drive-Thru Lab on South Sixth Street, is the Springfield Memorial Hospital Colleague of the Month for September.

Eberhardt had retired after 20 years as a nurse but returned to service at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eberhardt was deployed to swab patients for COVID-19 testing and, later, to monitor patients who had just received the vaccine.

“I was willing to join the fight [against COVID-19] and did not realize at first what a rewarding position I was in,” said Eberhardt. “My small role makes me feel I am helping mankind, that I am a part of history and I make a difference, one person at a time.”

Eberhardt creates a great experience for his colleagues and patients by tending to details, said hospital officials. For example, Eberhardt is known to bring dog treats to work to surprise patients who have their dogs with them as they use the drive-thru service.

Prior to retirement, Eberhardt was a registered nurse in one of the post-surgical units at Springfield Memorial Hospital.

Outside of work, Eberhardt enjoys spending time with his two dogs and doing home improvement projects and landscaping work.