FRIENDS Magazine Fall 2007 - Banner Health

Mari Oxentenko celebrates 20 years with Banner Healthat Banner Behavioral Health’s Howard S. Gray SchoolMarie Oxentenko beganher 20-year career with Banner Health at Banner Desert Medical Center asa diet tech. She worked at Banner Desert for 16 years before transferring toBanner Behavioral Health Hospital – Scottsdale’s Howard S. Gray School.“I’d done work with kids before and I knew the job at the school wasthe right place for me,” said Oxentenko.The Howard S. Gray School is a small school with a low student-toteacherratio. There are two teachers instructing 12 students per classroom.There are a total of eight teachers and one principal. Most of thestudents come from area schools but some are brought to school by theirparents. When school is in session, Oxentenko splits her time betweenworking as a Teacher’s Aid in the morning and teaching Arts and Crafts inthe afternoon. The class has worked on many different projects, includingtie dye t-shirts and wood burning, and she also arranges the occasionalfield trip to museums and art exhibits.During the summer, Oxentenko works at the hospital as a BehavioralMari Oxentenko shows off one of her favoritepieces of art created by her students at theHoward S. Gray School at Banner BehavioralHealth Hospital. The collaborative project, whereeach of the students contributed a piece to thecollage, was a resounding success.Health tech. She has worked on all of theunits – adult, adolescent and drug and alcoholrehabilitation. “I love working with thestaff here, they really care about the patients.They care about the patients’ safety and theymodel that. The same goes for the school.Everyone is here because they want to behere, patients and staff alike.”“I’ve always had wonderful friends atwork – they are a gift to me. Working at thehospital and the school has been a very fulfillingexperience,” said Oxentenko. ■FRIENDS ■ FALL/WINTER 2007 25