Announcing the Excellence in Nursing 2012 Finalists!

They tirelessly and selflessly care for others with a special, gentle diligence that only someone in their profession could possess. They are the many exceptional nurses in our community, and St. Louis Magazine will honor their dedication and caring at our third annual Excellence in Nursing Awards. It is the least we can do to show our gratitude for the excellent nurses at our communities’ schools, hospitals, nurseries, colleges, and clinics who touch the lives of St. Louisans each and every day.

It was an especially challenging year for the Excellence in Nursing judges, as each nurse nominee had superior recommendations and impressive backgrounds. However, the judges were able to narrow down the nominees to 71 finalists across 18 categories. We are pleased to announce the following Excellence in Nursing finalists:

Acute Care/ General Medicine: Amanda Kayser, Janice Moormann, Caryn Rosen

Cardiovascular: Heidi Craddock, Gerry Huber, Rosario Nievera, Kathleen Winborn

Community Care/ Ambulatory Care: David Aldridge, Deborah Goldfeder, Sara Henderson, Sandra Odenwald

Educator: Janet Kaminsky, Karen Mayes, Dorcas McLaughlin, Gail Rea, Lee Smith, Joanne Thanavaro, Andrea (Bobbie) Weber

Emergency Department: Cathy Dupont, David Hoffman, Jami Jones, Maggie Lewis

Hospice/ Home Health/ Palliative Care: Vicki Boehmer, Patricia Burhanna, Marla Thorpe

Intensive Care: Andrea Metzger, Michael J. Rakey II, Carrie Sona, Diane Spence, Barb Szorady

Management/ Nurse Executive/ Clinical Leaders: Teresa Halloran, Patti Kelley, Jeannie Mollohan, Kelly Pearce, Rachel Sparks

Neurology/ Psychology/ Behavioral Health: Eve Marie Holzemer, Jennifer Koehne, Janet Severine, Calvin Thomas III

Oncology: Jill Conway, Christine Rimkus, Mary Ellen Swatske

Orthopedics: Christi Abeln, Madelyn Curry, Jean Kiburz, Barbara Merz, Jane Michener

Pediatrics (Neonatal): Michelle Allen, Diana Battocletti, Joanne Callahan, Barbara Gavillet

Pediatrics (Non-neonatal): Anne Albers, Barbara Kountzman, Laura Kuchnicki, Elizabeth Risse, Lynne Sekarski

Research: Mary Clare Blackburn, Angela Oliver

School: Deborah Artman, Rebecca Cartmill, Karen Obermark

Senior Services: Kim Eric Henderson, Jeffery Kannady, Karen Zurick

Surgery: Stacy Pokorny, Mary Quasebarth, Faye Williams, Tina Woodard

Women's Health: Pamela Follen, Janette Seper, Michelle Taylor

The nursing finalists were chosen by a selection committee made up of four judges:

Dr. Karen Drenkard, Executive Director of the American Nurses Credentialing Center
Lora Lacey-Haun, dean of the University of Missouri- Kansas City School of Nursing
Jill Kliethermes, CEO of the Missouri Nurses Association (MONA) and Missouri Nurses Foundation
Dr. Diane Twedell, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer of Austin Medical Center

Join St. Louis Magazine and the many dedicated nurses in our community as we honor them at the Excellence in Nursing 2012 awards presentation and dinner on Thursday, April 19 at 6:00 p.m. We will honor the finalists, announce the winners in each category, and launch the May issue of St. Louis Magazine in which the winners will be featured. The event will be held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel St. Louis and will include cocktails, a three-course dinner, and the awards presentation. Tickets for the event are $100 each or $1,000 for a table of 10 people. For more information, call 314.918.3033, or click here.