The Santa of Parkridge Valley: Dale Solomon's Gift of joy and the meaning of Christmas
Dale Solomon, emergency department director at Parkridge West Hospital, is known for his leadership in healthcare. When he isn’t providing outstanding care, he’s likely fishing for his next big catch or teeing it up on the golf course. But each December, Dale takes on a very special mission–helping a certain jolly friend spread holiday cheer.
For nearly two decades, Dale has spent December mornings lending a hand to Santa Claus, making sure every child at Parkridge Valley Hospital feels the magic of Christmas.
It all started as a lighthearted challenge.
“Years ago, one of the directors at the Parkridge Valley child campus asked if I could reach out to my friend, Santa and see if he’d visit,” Dale said with a smile.
What began as a favor became a deeply meaningful tradition — one that’s changed how Dale sees the holidays and his work in healthcare.
“At the time, Christmas felt like it was all about buying gifts,” he said. “I wanted to put Christmas back into perspective. Seeing these kids experience the season just made me realize what it’s really about.”
Each year, Dale arrives early to make sure Santa’s visit goes off without a hitch. He helps call out names from Santa’s scroll, listens to wishes and offers encouragement. For kids too ill or unable to join the group, Dale makes sure Santa pays a personal visit.
“I have one rule: Everybody who wants to see Santa, gets to see Santa.”
Through the years, the experience has left a lasting mark.
“It’s changed Christmas for my family, too,” Dale shared. “Now, Christmas for us is more about what we can do for others. I get so much joy helping these kids.”
One memory stands out. A 12-year-old boy came in determined to ignore Santa.
“He was trying to act like he didn’t care,” Dale recalled. “But before he left, he came over and told me what he wanted for Christmas. For those few minutes, he just got to be a kid again. That meant so much to me.”
For Dale, these visits also deepened his compassion and empathy as a healthcare leader.
“It has made me realize you never really know what someone’s going through,” he said. “You learn to be a little more understanding of whatever someone’s situation may be.”
He credits the Parkridge Valley colleagues for keeping this Christmas tradition alive.
“Those folks out there do an incredible job taking care of the whole child–not just their behavioral health,” Dale said. “For many of these kids, the gifts they get through our employee giving program are the only Christmas they’ll have. It means the world to them.”
Each December, when Dale helps Santa make his rounds, he’s not just spreading holiday cheer — he’s exemplifying the compassion at the heart of our care at Parkridge.