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Each year, Delaware Today partners with the Delaware Nurses Association to recognize the top nurses in our state through the Excellence in Nursing program. After a slight delay, we’re proud to present the 2020 honorees listed below in various areas of practice as voted on by their peers. The top vote getters are listed in bold. Please help us celebrate all this year’s winners in a special web broadcast on Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. It’s free and will be available online at delawaretoday.com/nursing.
Thank you to all the nurses in Delaware who have done so much and are still doing so many extraordinary things for our community.
Academic Educator
Crystal Dennis-Jordan, BSN, RN, COHC, COHN-S
Health Services Leader, Occupational Health, Procter & Gamble Dover Wipes Company
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
Jacki Cherry, MSN, APRN, ACNP
Pulmonary Nurse Practitioner, ChristianaCare Health System
Jennifer Cormier, MSN, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, AOCNP
Nurse Practitioner, Radiation Oncology, ChristianaCare Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute
Jolene Dickerson, MSN, APRN, CPNP
Nurse Practitioner, Primary Care Pediatrics, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
Catherine Donahue Smith, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC, CDE
Nurse Practitioner, Endocrinology (Adult), ChristianaCare Health System
Erin Dwyer, MSN, APRN, ACCNS-P, CCRN-K
Clinical Nurse Specialist, PICU, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
Maureen Egan, APRN
Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Nemours duPont Pediatrics
Melissa Garvey, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, CEN
Nurse Practitioner, ChristianaCare Health System
Beatrice Gaynor, PhD, APRN, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner and Professor, Primary Care, University of Delaware Nurse Managed Primary Care Center
Tina Hendler, MSN, APRN, NNP-BC
Lead NNP/Coordinator Neonatal APC Fellowship, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, ChristianaCare Health System
Stacie Holdinsky, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Family Nurse Practitioner, ChristianaCare Health System
Pamela Jimenez, DNP, APRN, FNP/PNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner and Coordinator of Neonatal Abstinence Program, Family and Pediatrics/Caring for Substance Exposed infants, ChristianaCare Health System
Denise Lyons, DNP, APRN, AGCNS-BC
WISH Program Manager, Geriatrics, ChristianaCare Health System
Robin Maracle, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC
Palliative Care APRN, Palliative Care, Bayhealth Hospital
Kay McLean-Grant, MSN, APRN, CPNP
Nurse Practitioner/Program Manager, School-Based Health Center, ChristianaCare Health System
Donna Mower-Wade, DNP, APRN, ACNS-BC, CNRN
Director of Advanced Practice Clinicians, Neurology, ChristianaCare Health System
Dana Schade, MSN, APRN, CNM
Certified Nurse Midwife, OB-GYN, Christiana Care-Greenville OB-GYN
Michele Sturgeon, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, CMSRN
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Acute Care, Bayhealth Hospital
Laura Tolson, APRN, AGAC-NP
Critical Care Nurse Practitioner, Bayhealth Hospital–Kent Campus
Victoria Varga, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner, Family Medicine, ChristianaCare Health System
Leslie Verucci, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC
Nurse Practitioner, Oncology Express Care, ChristianaCare Health System
Kevin Wiley, MSN, APRN, ENP-C, FNP-C, RN, CEN
Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine, Bayhealth Hospital
Amanda Williams, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner, Neurology, ChristianaCare Health System
Advancing and Leading the Profession
Jenna Amador, RN
Associate Director of Clinical Operations, Administration, Westside Family Healthcare
Jo Ann Baker, DNP, MSN, RN, FNP-C
Instructional Director, ADN and PN Program Terry Campus, RN to BSN college-wide, Delaware Technical Community College
Hilary Barnes, PhD, NP-C, FAANP
Assistant Professor, Family Nurse Practitioner/Workforce Researcher, University of Delaware
Brenda Blain, DNP, RN-BC, FACHE, NEA-BC
Chief Nurse Executive, Bayhealth Hospital
Faith Colwell-Dorio, MSN, RN, NEA- BC, VHA-CM
Senior Director of Perioperative Services and Nursing Informatics, Perioperative Services, Bayhealth Hospital
Melissa Crossan, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CEN
Nurse Manager, Emergency Observation and Express Admission, ChristianaCare Health System
Heather Crumley, MSN, RN, PCCN
Clinical Manager, Kidney Transplant, ChristianaCare Health System
Michelle Fisher, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Director of Student Health Services, College Health, Delaware State University
Marianne Foard, MS, RN, NE-BC, PRC
Director, Professional Recruitment, Patient Advocacy & Service Excellence, Bayhealth Hospital—Kent and Sussex Campuses
Deborah Friedman, MSN, RN, CPHON
Nurse Manager, Sedation/Day Medicine, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
Shannon Guzman, MSN, MS, RN, NE-BC
Nurse Manager, Neuro Critical Care Unit, ChristianaCare Health System
Lynda Huselton, MSN, MSM, RN-BC, NE-BC
Nurse Manager, Heart Failure, ChristianaCare Health System
Kimkeshia Knight, MSN, RN-BC, CEN
RN, Emergency Department, Bayhealth Medical Center and Department of Veterans Affairs
Amy Kohl, MSN, RN, CCRN, NEA-BC
Nurse Manager, Perianesthesia/PACU, ChristianaCare Health System
Amanda Latina, MSN, MBA, RN-BC, TCRN
Assistant Nurse Manager, Trauma/Surgery, ChristianaCare Health System
Lauri Littleton, DNP, MSN, RN-BC, NE-BC
Nurse Manager, Nursing Leadership-Women and Children, ChristianaCare Health System
Donna Mower-Wade, DNP, APRN, ACNS-BC, CNRN
Director of Advanced Practice Clinicians, Neurology, ChristianaCare Health System
Christopher Otto, MSN, RN, CHFN, PCCN, CCRN
Manager, Nursing Professional Excellence, ChristianaCare Health System
Amanda Reese, MS, OTR/L, BSN, RN, CCRN
RN, Critical Care Surgical Shock Trauma Intensive Care Unit, ChristianaCare Health System
Jennifer Saylor, PhD, APRN, ACNS-BC
Associate Professor, School of Nursing/Nursing Education and Research, University of Delaware
Lisa Sayo, BSN, RN, CGRN, NE-BC
GI Nurse Manager, Gastroenterology, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
Sonya Stover, MSN, RN, CCRN, NE-BC
Nurse Manager, Critical Care, ChristianaCare Health System
Kimberly Talley, MSN, RN, APRN, CNML-BC, FABC, LSSGB
Vice President Patient Care Services, Acute Care, ChristianaCare Health System
Sharon Urban, MSN MHA RN-BC CNML NE-BC
Senior Director, Patient Care Services, Acute and Critical Care, Bayhealth Hospital
Cynthia Waddington, MSN, RN, AOCN, NE-BC
Clinical Director Cancer Program, Oncology, ChristianaCare Health System
Danielle Weber, MSN, MSM, RN-BC, NEA-BC
Chief Nursing Officer, Wilmington Hospital, ChristianaCare Health System
Ambulatory Care
Carla Arot, RN, CDE, CPT
Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, Certified Pump Trainer, Endocrinology, ChristianaCare Medical Group
Tanya Clarke, BSN, RN, CPN
Nurse Manager, Behavior Health Developmental Medicine and Swank Autism Center, Nemours CARE Team/Child Advocacy Center, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
Darlene Deel, MSN, RN-BC, CLC
Staff Nurse, Ambulatory Care, ChristianaCare Medical Group Â
Lyrae Graham, BSN, RN-BC
Outpatient Nurse, Primary Care, ChristianaCare Primary Care at Middletown—West
Edna Green, MSN, RN-BC
Manager of Nursing Services, Primary Care, ChristianaCare Medical Group
Heather Grogg, BSN, RN-BC
Practice Nurse, Primary Care, ChristianaCare Primary Care at Linden Hill
Leslie Hayes, BSN, RN, ACRN
Primary Care Nurse, HIV/Hep C, ChristianaCare–William J. Holloway Program
Mary Kotowski, BSN, RN, CPN
Neurology Specialty Care Nurse, Ambulatory Care Neurology, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
Alexa Maloney, BSN, RN III-BC, OCN
RN III, Radiation Oncology, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center
Nattallie Masso, MSN, RN
Nurse Navigator, Oncology Nursing/Thoracic Surgery and Interventional Pulmonology, ChristianaCare Helen F. Graham Cancer Center
Gloria McGilberry, MSN, RN
Manager of Nurses Services, Ambulatory Care–Primary Care, ChristianaCare Medical Group
Kim Petrella, MSN, RNC-OB
Nurse Coordinator, Women’s Health/Labor and Delivery, Delaware Perinatal Quality Collaborative and ChristianaCare
Jordan Polifroni-Williams, BSN, RN, OCN
Clinical Practice Coordinator, Oncology/Hematology, ChristianaCare Medical Group
Clare Shumate, BSN, RN
Transplant Coordinator, Telehealth—Kidney Transplantation, ChristianaCare Kidney Transplant Program
Lorraine Slater, BSN, RN
Nurse Manager, Critical Care/Emergency Room, Newark Urgent Care
Kristina Sten, BSN, RN, OCN
RN III, Radiation Oncology, ChristianaCare Medical Group
Alyssa Tiberi, BSN, RN, CPN
Gastroenterology Specialty Nurse, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
Trina Turner, MSN, RN-BC, LNC
Lung and Colorectal Screening Nurse Navigator, Oncology, Bayhealth Cancer Institute–Kent and Sussex Campus
Case/Utilization Management
Barbara Little, MSN, RN, CCM
Director Care Management, Utilization Review/Case Management, Bayhealth Medical Center
Karen McDevitt, MSN, RN
Care Coordinator, Case Management, ChristianaCare CareVio
Candy Muldowney, BSN, RN
Survivorship Program Coordinator, Nurse Navigator/Case Management, ChristianaCare Helen F. Graham Cancer Center
Clinical Educator
Jenna Amador, RN
Associate Director of Clinical Operations, Administration, Westside Family Healthcare
Ann-Marie Baker, MSN, RN-BC
Clinical Nurse Educator, Nursing Professional Development, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
Kristen Callaghan, MSN, RN-BC
Nursing Professional Development Specialist, ChristianaCare Health System
Alexandra Colin, MSN, RN, CCRN
NPDS, Nursing Education, ChristianaCare Health System – Ambulatory Care Practices
Amy Cunningham, MSN, RN, NPD-BC
Acute Inpatient Nurse Residency Coordinator—Kent and Sussex Campus, Medical-Surgical & Acuity Adaptable Coordinator–Kent Campus, Bayhealth HospitalÂ
Karen Davis, MSN, RNC-NIC
Nursing Professional Development Specialist, Neonatal Intensive Care, ChristianaCare Health System
Stacy Lourie, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Director APC Fellowships, Family Medicine, ChristianaCare Health System
Stacy Noel, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, HTCP/I
Nursing Professional Development Specialist, ChristianaCare Health System
Doreen Nord, MSN, RN, CEN
Nursing Professional Development Specialist and Emergency Department Nurse Residency Coordinator, ChristianaCare Health System
Brittany Oakey, MSN, RN, CRRN
Clinical Educator, Bayhealth Hospital
Lisa Sayo, BSN, RN, CGRN, NE-BC
GI Nurse Manager, Gastroenterology, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
Michelle Thompson, MSN, RN, PCCN
Adult Inpatient Nurse Residency Coordinator—Kent and Sussex Campus, Critical Care Coordinator—Kent Campus, Bayhealth Hospital
Kelly Tibbitt, BSN, RN
Clinical Educator, ChristianaCare HomeHealth
Amy Tuer, MSN, RN-BC
Nursing Professional Development Specialist, Professional Development, ChristianaCare Health System
Home Health | Hospice | Telehealth
Ginger Cowell, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Virtual Primary Care Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Lead, ChristianaCare Health System
Kathleen Ingram, RN
Director of Professional Services, Heartland Hospice
Nicole Scott, MSN, APRN, NP-C
Nurse Practitioner, ChristianaCare Primary Care at Home
Clare Shumate, BSN, RN
Transplant Coordinator, Telehealth—Kidney Transplantation, ChristianaCare Kidney Transplant Program
Susan Straughn, BSN, RN
Nurse Supervisor Medical Group Access Center, Telephone Triage, ChristianaCare Health System
Kara Welcher, BSN, RN
Community Nurse Liaison, ChristianaCare HomeHealth
Shannan Wyre, RN
RN Case Manager, Hospice/Case Management, Heartland Hospice
Informatics
Deborah Bartell, BSN, RN
Senior Clinical Analyst, ChristianaCare Health System
Susan Conaty-Buck,DNP, APRN, FNP-C, FAANP
Assistant Professor of Nursing, Healthcare Informatics Researcher, University of Delaware Nurse Managed Primary Care Center and College of Health Sciences
William Harvey, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, CPHIMS
Clinical Informatics Nurse, Nursing Administration, Bayheath Hospital
Jennifer Henry, MSHI, BSN, RN-BC, CEN
Senior Clinical Analyst, Information Technology/Informatics, ChristianaCare Health System
Lindsey Klemash, MSN, RN
Clinical Informaticist, Bayhealth Hospital
Amy Tyler, BSN, RN-BC, CEN
Senior Clinical Transformation Analyst, ChristianaCare Health System
Carolyn Zsoldos, MS, BSN, RN-BC
Senior Clinical Transformation Analyst, ChristianaCare Health System
Inpatient Clinical Nursing
Ellen Alvarez, MEd, BA, BSN, RN, CCRN, WTA-C, TNCC
RN, Medical Intensive Care Unit, ChristianaCare Health System
Labrini Carabetsos, BSN, RN
RN, Medical Surgical, ChristianaCare Health System
Tyler Coty, MSN, RN, CCRN
Clinical Coordinator, Critical Care, Bayhealth Hospital–Kent Campus
Thomas Czapp, BSN, RN, EMT
RN, Emergency Department/Trauma, ChristianaCare Health System
Tanesha Downes, BSN, RN
RN, PCU/IMC, Bayhealth Hospital–Kent Campus
Kathleen DiGuglielmo, MSN, RN, PCCN, WTA-C
RN, Progressive Critical Care, ChristianaCare Health System
Jeffrey Egbert, BSN, RN
RN, Heart and Vascular Interventional Services, ChristianaCare Health System
Joseph Fiorelli, BSN, RN, PCCN
RNIII, Step Down/Critical Care, ChristianaCare Health System
Stephanie Fulton, BSN, RNII, CCRN
RN, Transitional Medical Unit (TMU)/ Pulmonary Step-down, ChristianaCare Health System
Melinda Huffman, MSN, RN
RN, Operating Room, Nanticoke Health Services
Kelsey Johnson, BSN, RN
RN, Inpatient Clinical Nursing, ChristianaCare Health System
Samantha Lewis, BSN, RN
RN, Critical Care/ICU, ChristianaCare Health System
Susan MacCord, MSN, RN, VA-BC, CEN
Assistant Nurse Manager, Vascular Access Nursing, ChristianaCare Health System
Benjamin McQuiston, ADN, RN-BC
RN, Acute Care Medical Surgical, ChristianaCare Health System
Fredeline Menard, MBA, BSN, RN
RN, Hematology/Oncology, ChristianaCare Health System
Grace Ngamau, MSN, MSM, RN
RN, Women’s and Children’s – Postpartum, ChristianaCare Health System
Christine Potocki, BSN, RN
RNII Staff Nurse, Surgical, Shock Trauma ICU, ChristianaCare Health System
Lisa Sayo, BSN, RN, CGRN, NE-BC
GI Nurse Manager, Gastroenterology, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
Laura Ritchie, MSN, RN, VA-BC
Vascular Access Nurse, ChristianaCare Health System
Amy Staples, MSN, RN
Research Nurse Coordinator, OBGYN Research Department, ChristianaCare Health System
Kristin Syanene, BSN, RN, SCRN
RN, Neurology/Stroke, ChristianaCare Health System
Brittany White, BSN, RN, CCRN
RN, Surgical Trauma Intensive Care, ChristianaCare Health System
Kimberlee Woods, MSN, RN-PCCN
RN, Pulmonary Step-down, ChristianaCare Health System
LPN- Ambulatory Care
Shannon Franks, LPN
Ambulatory Care, ChristianaCare Health System
Autumn Smith, MPA, BS, LPN
Patient Safety and Regulatory Program Manager, Ambulatory Care, ChristianaCare Health System
LPN- Inpatient Clinical Practice
Tammy Walker, LPN
Nurse, Cadia Rehabilitation
Nursing Legend
Thomas Kopec, BSN, RN, WCC
Wound and Ostomy Specialty Nurse, Nemours/ A.I. duPont Hospital for Children
Nursing Newcomers
Gavin Brown, RN
RN, NICU, Bayhealth Hospital–Kent Campus
Brandon Gartland, RN
RN, Med-Surg, ChristianaCare Health Systems
Emma Hasek, BSN, RN
RN II, Transitional Care, ChristianaCare Health Systems
Felicia Johnson Cordell, RN
RN II, Pulmonary, ChristianaCare Health Systems
Jacob Lorea, BSN, RN
RN, Emergency Department, Bayhealth Hospital–Kent Campus
Kristan Miller, BSN, RN
Charge Nurse, Medical-Surgical, Nanticoke Health Services
Amanda Reese, MS, OTR/L, BSN, RN, CCRN
RN, Critical Care Surgical Shock Trauma Intensive Care Unit, ChristianaCare Health Systems
Idalis Stamas, BSN, RN
RN, NICU, Bayhealth Hospital–Kent Campus
Ashley Turner, ADN, RN
RN Case Manager, Community Health, Westside Family Healthcare
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing
Anne DeCaire, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Center for Women’s Emotional Wellness, ChristianaCare Health System
Stephanie Evans-Mitchell, EdD, MSN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health, ChristianaCare Health System/Creative Medical Consulting LLC
Michelle Fisher, APRN, FNP-BC
Director of Student Health Services, College Health, Delaware State University
Lisa Toy, APRN, PMHCNS-BC
Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse with Prescriptive Authority, Psychiatry/Mental Health, Alapocas Collaborative Care
Lisa Wallace, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner, Addiction Medicine, Addiction Consult Liaison Service Chair, APRN Council, ChristianaCare Health System
Bradley Why, DNP, APRN-BC
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Psychiatry, Bancroft Behavioral Health
Quality | Safety | Risk Management
Hilary Chavis, MSN, RN, QCP
Assistant Director of Nursing, Rehabilitation—Long-Term Care, Cadia Healthcare
Trista Frese, BS, RN
RN, Surgical Trauma ICU, ChristianaCare Health System
Susan Mascioli, MS, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, CPHQ, LSSBB
Director, Nursing Quality and Safety, ChristianaCare Health System
Julie MoDavis, BA, BSN, RN
Performance Improvement Project Manager, Patient Experience, ChristianaCare Health System
Emily Riddick, BSN, RN-BC
Patient Experience Program Manager, ChristianaCare Health System
Lisa Wallace, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner, Addiction Medicine, Addiction Consult Liaison Service Chair, APRN Council, ChristianaCare Health System
Rehabilitation/Long-Term Care
Hilary Chavis, MSN, RN, QCP
Assistant Director of Nursing, Cadia Healthcare
Anita Fasick, BSN, BS, RN, DNS-CT, WCC, RAC-CT
Director of Nursing, Cadia Rehabilitation–Silverside
Volunteerism & Service
Dawn Culp, MSN RN, SANE-A, SANE-P, FNE, DV Consultant & Gang Consultant
Bayhealth Forensic Nurse Clinical Coordinator, Emergency Nursing, Bayhealth Hospital–Smyrna, Kent & Sussex Emergency Department
Nishelle Harris-Hines, MSN, RN
Quality Management, Surgical Services/ Controlled Services, Wilmington VA Medical Center
Nora Katurakes, MSN, RN, OCN
Manager, Community Health Outreach and Education, Oncology/Community Outreach/Prevention and Early Detection, ChristianaCare—Helen F Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute
Greg O’Neill, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, NPD-BC
Patient & Family Health Education Manager, Nursing Professional Development, ChristianaCare Health System
Melissa Slater, BSN, RN, CMSRN
RN, Med-surg, Bayhealth Hospital
Trina Turner, MSN, RN-BC, LNC
Lung and Colorectal Screening Nurse Navigator, Oncology, Bayhealth Cancer Institute—Kent and Sussex Campus
