Janelle Cone, RPh, Named UP Health System - Portage 2026 Mercy Award Winner

UP Health System – Portage is pleased to announce Janelle Cone, registered pharmacist, has been recognized as its 2026 Mercy Award winner. The Mercy Award recognizes one employee from each of Lifepoint Health’s facilities who profoundly touches the lives of others and best represents the spirit and values on which the company was founded.

Established in 2001, the Mercy Award is an annual recognition program that honors the life and contributions of Scott Mercy, Lifepoint’s founding chairman and chief executive officer. The award is considered the highest honor a Lifepoint employee can receive.

Janelle has shown a steadfast commitment to our community, frequently going above and beyond to serve and care for those around her. One such example involved helping to organize transportation to and from the hospital for a patient in need of daily medication. 

Another example of Janelle's leadership comes from her involvement outside of work. She's an active volunteer at her church, chaperone for school trips and even an organizer for a local middle school basketball team.

This week, we celebrated Janelle and 10 other 2026 Mercy Award nominees, who are also deserving of recognition for the hard work and dedication they show each and every day. Please join us in congratulating the following nominees:

• Sharon Fisher – Director of Rehab & Sports Medicine
• Kara Galbraith – Administrative Secretary/Patient Advocate, Administration
• Janet Holmstrom – Social Worker, Dialysis 
• Kevin Keranen – Director of Acute Care Services
• Marion Kreivi – Health Information Clinic Clerk, Medical Records
• Angela Lizzadro-Mcpherson – Cancer Care Infusion Nurse, Cancer Care
• Erin Nuttall – ATC/PTA, PortagePointe
• Jessica Savard – CMA/CNA, Internal Medicine/Rheumatology
• Danielle Sutherland – Team Coordinator, PortagePointe
• Jessica Witting – Clinic Supervisor, Portage Physician Practices

Each facility winner, including Janelle, will be considered for Lifepoint’s 2026 companywide Mercy Award. The companywide winner will be announced this summer and honored during a ceremony in Nashville, TN, in August.