Delaware’s Top Nurses of 2022 Make a Lasting Impact

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Nurses across Delaware were nominated in various categories by their professional peers. The top nurses were verified through our editorial process.

Category winners are listed in bold.

Academic Educator

Xiaopeng Ji, PhD, MSN, MA, RN
University of Delaware School of Nursing

Kathleen Brewer-Smyth, PhD, MSN, RN, CRRN, FAAN
University of Delaware

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Dawnyel Furlong, MSN, APRN, NP-C
Delaware Technical Community College

Jennifer Graber, EdD, MSN, APRN, PMHCNS-BC
University of Delaware

Catherine Heilferty, PhD, RN, CNE
University of Delaware

Kimberly Hopkins, MS, RN
Delaware Technical Community College

Diane Rudolphi, MS, RN
University of Delaware

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Aaron Sebach, PhD, DNP, MBA, AGACNP-BC, FNP-BC, NP-C, CP-C, CEN, CPEN, CLNC, CNE, CNEcl, SFHM
Wilmington University

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

Erin Dwyer, MSN, APRN, ACCNS-P, CCRN-K
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Dyane Bunnell, MSN, APRN, AOCNS, CPON, NPD-BC
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Felicia Cruz, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, RN-BC
Bayhealth

Laura Dechant, DNP, APRN, CCNS, CCRN, B-C, FCNS
ChristianaCare

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Timothy Eden, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, AGACNP-BC, SCRN
ChristianaCare

Adeyoyin Esaka, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
ChristianaCare

Emily Link, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, AGACNP-BC
ChristianaCare

LaTonya Mann, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, OCN
Bayhealth Cancer Center

Julia Nutter, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Nurse Managed Primary Care Center of University of Delaware

Denise Pecora, MSN, APRN
Beebe Healthcare

Tara Pezzuto, DNP, APRN, CNS
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Ariana Powers, MSN, APRN, ACCNS-P
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Valerie Rebmann, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
ChristianaCare

Leasha Roy, MSN, MHA, APRN, ACCNS-AG, PCCN-K
ChristianaCare

Elizabeth Sargent, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, AGACNP-BC
ChristianaCare

Michael Szeliga, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, CMSRN
ChristianaCare

Allison Thompson, MSN, APRN, PNP-AC, CCRN
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Deborah Warshawsky, MSN, APRN, ACNP-BC, AACC
Bayhealth

Bradley Why, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Bancroft Behavioral Health

Advancing & Leading the Profession

Kellie Kessler, MSN, RN, CCRN
ChristianaCare

Kathleen Brewer-Smyth, PhD, MSN, RN, CRRN, FAAN
University of Delaware

Bridget Buckaloo, MSN, RN
Beebe Healthcare

Michelle L. Collins, DNP, APRN, CNS, ACNS-BC, NPD-BC, NEA-BC, LSSBB
ChristianaCare

Virginia Conte, MSN, RN, CPN
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Lauren Covington, PhD, RN
University of Delaware School of Nursing

David Hancox, MSN, MHA, RN, NEA-BC
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Deborah “Debbie” Hines, MSN, RN, PCCN, CNML
Bayhealth

Kimkeshia Knight, MSN, RN-BC, CEN
Department of Veterans Affairs

Margaret LaFashia, MBA, BSN, RN, NPD-BC
Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware Valley

Amanda Latina, MBA, MSN, RN, TCRN
ChristianaCare

K Starr Lynch, BSN, RNC-OB
Bayhealth

Stephanie McClellan, MBA, MSN, RN, CMSRN, NE-BC
Bayhealth

Melissa Minor-Brown, MSN, RN
University of Delaware, Delaware House of Representatives

Erin Mitchell, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CNRN, SCRN
ChristianaCare

Donna Mower-Wade, DNP, APRN, ACNS-BC, CNRN
ChristianaCare

Mary Newman, MSN, RN, CPON, NE-BC
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Christopher Otto, MSN, RN, CHFN, PCCN, CCRN
Delaware Nurses Association

Kristen Palaisa, MSN, RNC-NIC
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Bridget Ryan, MSN, RN, CCRN
ChristianaCare

Jennifer Saylor, PhD, APRN, ACNS-BC
University of Delaware School of Nursing

Jessica Tagliaferro, MSN, RN, PCCN
ChristianaCare

Danielle Weber, MSN, MSM, RN-BC, NEA-BC
ChristianaCare

Laura Wedel, MSN, RNC-OB
Bayhealth

Ambulatory Care Nursing

Stacey Strazzella, BSN, RN
Transplant Coordinator, ChristianaCare

Constance Allen-Chapman, BSN, RN
RADfertility

Jenna Amador, RN
Westside Family Healthcare

Mary Kate Carroll, BSN, RN, CCRN-K
ChristianaCare

April Comley, BSN, RN
Beebe Healthcare

Heather Crumley, MSN, RN, PCCN
ChristianaCare

Jennifer Davis, MSN, RN
ChristianaCare

Stephanie DeMoe, BSN, RN, CPN
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Janene Ebaugh, MSN, RN, NCSN
Christina School District

Danny Hamm, MSN, RN
ChristianaCare

Karen Jones, BSN, RN
Smyrna School District

Krystal Little, MSM-HCA, MSN, RN, NCSN
East Dover Elementary

Beth Mattey, MSN, RN, NCSN, FNASN
Brandywine School District

Theresa “Shelley” McVey, BSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC
ChristianaCare

Kim Petrella, MSN, RNC-OB
Delaware Perinatal Quality Collaborative

Phyllis Whaler, MS, BSN, RN, NCSN
CAB Calloway School of the Arts

Case/Utilization Management

Valerie Bica, BSN, RN
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Patricia Buckalew-Bradley, RN, BSN, CCM RN
ChristianaCare

Donna DeFilippis, BSN, RN, ACM-RN
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Clare Shumate, BSN, RN
ChristianaCare

Clinical Educator

Karen Pickard, DNP, MSN, RN, CNE
Margaret H. Rollins School of Nursing and Clinical Professional Development, Beebe Healthcare

Ann-Marie Baker, MSN, RN-BC
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Pamela Jenkins, MSN, RN, CPN, NPD-BC
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Noelle Johnson, MSN, RN, CNN, NPD-BC
ChristianaCare

Jennifer McGrath, MSN, RN, CDCES, LNC
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Jennifer Melvin, MSN, RN
Bayhealth

Kevin Nusspickel, MSN, APRN, CPNP-AC, CCRN
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Julia Nutter, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Nurse Managed Primary Care Center of University of Delaware

Wendy Radcliffe, MSN, RN, CEN, PCEN
Bayhealth

Gina Scott, MSN, RNC-OB,
ChristianaCare

Michelle Thompson, MSN, RN, PCCN
Bayhealth

Barbara Willey, MSN, RN, CDCES
Wilmington VA Medical Center

Katherine Zeccola, MSN, RN, CCRN
ChristianaCare

Home Health/Hospice/Telehealth

Wendy Strowhouer, RN
Case Manager, Compassionate Care Hospice, an Amedisys Company

Susan Conaty-Buck, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, FAANP
University of Delaware School of Nursing

Informatics

Dawn Robinson, MSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC
ChristianaCare

Connie Ajah-Ayang, MSN, RN
Bayhealth

Susan Conaty-Buck, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, FAANP
University of Delaware School of Nursing

Lydia Elliott, RN, CCRN
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Debra Howard, MSN, RN-BC
ChristianaCare

Amy Linzey, BSN, RN
Beebe Healthcare

Carmen Pal, MSN, MBA, RN
ChristianaCare

Kim Scott, MS, RN-BC (retired)
Bayhealth

Melette Tendongim, MS, BSN, RN
Wilmington VA Medical Center

Inpatient/Acute Care Nursing

Emily Gear, BSN, RN
ChristianaCare

Jackie Bates, BSN, RN, BCRN
ChristianaCare

Vikki Benson, MSN, RNC-OB
ChristianaCare

Ashton Biddle, BSN, RN
ChristianaCare

Amy Blacker, RN
Bayhealth

Abby Calvetti, BSN, RN
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Lindsey Clark, PhD, RN, PCCN
ChristianaCare

Kristen Deal, BSN, RN
ChristianaCare

Liza Draper, BSN, RN
ChristianaCare

Kiersten Edmondson, MSN, RN, PCCN
ChristianaCare

Susan Gildea, MSN, RN, CPHON
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Nicholas Gorman-Zolochik, BSN, RN
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Clare Grobelny, RN
ChristianaCare

Ingrid Hausner, BSN, RN, PCCN
ChristianaCare

Helen Hawrylack, MSN, RN, CCRN
ChristianaCare

Kristen Hover, BSN, RN, CCRN
ChristianaCare

Jessica Kucek, BSN, RN, CMSRN
Bayhealth (formerly)

Lara Kwetkauskie, BSN, RN, CEN, CVRN-BC
Beebe Healthcare

Whitney Lane, BSN, RNC-OB
ChristianaCare

Cory Legar, MSN, RN, CMSRN
Bayhealth

Kelsey McGonigle, BSN, RN, CPN
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Sara Meany, BSN, RN, CCRN
ChristianaCare

Tamyra Mosley, MSN, RN-BC, CCRN
ChristianaCare

Erin Mueller, BSN, RN, CMSRN
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Daniel Pauley, BS, RN, CCRN, CTRN, CFRN
Beebe Healthcare

Devie Pawlak, RN
ChristianaCare

Melissa Phenix, BSN, RN, CMSRN
Bayhealth

Valerie Salmon, BSN, RN, GERO-BC
ChristianaCare

Melanie Sanchez, BSN, RN, CCRN, SCRN
Bayhealth

Anna Skrobot, BSN, RN, CPHON
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Samantha Steich, BSN, RN, CPN, CCRN
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Sarah Swan, MSN, RN, CCRN
Bayhealth

Albert Vayda, MSN, RN
Bayhealth

Christopher Weinacht, BSN, RN, PCCN
Christiana Care

Licensed Practical Nurse

Kenyette Walters, LPN
LPN, Moorings at Lewes

Renee Davis, LPN
Wilmington VA Medical Center

Donna Dixon, LPN, CBIS
Bayhealth

Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing

Bradley Why, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Bancroft Behavioral Health

Kathleen Brewer-Smyth, PhD, MSN, RN, CRRN, FAAN
University of Delaware

Caren Coffy-McCormick, DNP, APRN, PMHCNS-BC
University of Delaware

Jessica Conlan, BSN, RN
Meadowood Hospital

Julia Jordan, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C
Serene Minds

Shawna Mayles, RN, SANE, DE-CMHS
Beebe Healthcare

Quality, Safety and Risk Management

Deb Friedman, MSN, RN, CPHON
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Sharon Baptiste-Brown, MSN, APRN, GNP-BC, PMP
GlaxoSmithKline

Marie Cassalia, MSN, RN, ACCNS-AG, CCRN-CSC, WTA
ChristianaCare

Sandra Glenn-Vernon, MS, RN, CCRN, NHDP
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Kelly Gray, BS, RN
ChristianaCare

Elisabeth (Lisa) Z. Klein, DNP, RNC-OB, RNC-LRN
Delaware Child Death Review Commission

Denise Lyons, DNP, APRN, AGCNS-BC
ChristianaCare

Jeanne Nichols-Willey, DNP, RN-BC, CIC, APRN, ACNS-RN
Bayhealth

Cynthia Waddington, MSN, RN, AOCN, NE-BC
ChristianaCare

Rehabilitation/Long-Term Care

Kathleen Brewer-Smyth, PhD, MSN, RN, CRRN, FAAN
University of Delaware

Sarah Howard, BSN, RN
Bayhealth

Finda Menjor-Kromah, BSN, RN, LNHA
Churchman Village

Volunteerism & Service

Jennifer Korkosz, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC
University of Delaware

Alexandra Colin, MSN, RN-BC, CCRN
ChristianaCare

Jennifer Graber, EdD, MSN, APRN, PMHCNS-BC
University of Delaware

Amy Hagstrom, PhD, RNC-NIC-E
University of Delaware

Jamila Richardson, BSN, RN, IBCLC
Nemours Children’s Hospital Delaware

Derek Sheets, RN, CDDN
Bayhealth

Nursing Newcomer

Ingrid Hausner, BSN, RN, PCCN
Registered Nurse, Cardiology, ChristianaCare

Devon Chew, BSN, RN
ChristianaCare

Clint King, RN
Bayhealth

Delana Ringer, RN
ChristianaCare

Kaprie Tserkis, RN
ChristianaCare

Samantha West, RN
Bayhealth

Nursing Legend

Evelyn Hayes, PhD, MPH, APRN, FNP-BC
University of Delaware

Winners were notified only after the results are verified and the list finalized. Affiliates of the nurses may choose to purchase advertising in this issue of Delaware Today, subsequent issues and/or other Delaware Today/Today Media Inc. titles, and they may choose to promote their achievements in those ads, but it has no bearing on the results. Unlike many referral publications and other services, Delaware Today does not include names suggested or recommended by readers. The list is based exclusively on balloting by practicing Delaware-licensed nurses. Delaware Today regrets that many excellent nurses do not make the list.

Related: Nurses in Delaware Can Now Open Primary Care Clinics

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