To recognize the remarkable efforts of nurses across the St. Louis region, St. Louis Magazine hosts its annual Excellence in Nursing Awards, presented by BJC HealthCare and Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing.
Over time, we have recognized more than 500 outstanding nurses across a wide range of practice areas and levels of expertise, from emerging leaders to those with decades of experience. We couldn’t do it without the help of a distinguished selection committee, comprised of respected leaders across the nation.
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These nurses consistently exhibit selfless care, compassion, and service. We never cease to be moved by these nurses’ inspiring work, from life-changing moments of life and death to kind, thoughtful gestures that make a lasting impression on patients and their loved ones.
So beyond recognizing the following honorees, we encourage you to reach out to nurses across the region with a simple message: Thank you.
The winners will be revealed at an awards reception this summer and recognized in the June/July issue of St. Louis Magazine. Sign up to be notified when event tickets go on sale, and subscribe to SLM‘s Wellness newsletter to keep up with the latest.
Selection Committee
- Carli Culjat, associate professor, Florida State University College of Nursing
- Debra Harrison, executive coach, MEDI; former chief nursing officer, Mayo Clinic
- Lola Denise Jefferson, first vice president, National Black Nurses Association
- Jessica Dean (JD) Murphy, assistant professor, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
- Phyllis Zimmer, founder, Nurse Practitioner Healthcare Foundation
Honorees
Congratulations to all of the honorees!
ACUTE CARE/FAMILY PRACTICE/GENERAL MEDICINE
- Patricia Hamm, Missouri Baptist Medical Center
- Geralyn Ochs, Saint Louis University School of Nursing
- Kozue Schulte, WashU Medicine
- Kayla Warden, Mercy Hospital Jefferson
ADMINISTRATION
- Olawunmi Obisesan, Missouri Baptist Medical Center
- Michelle Papachrisanthou, Saint Louis University School of Nursing, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital
- Christine Talbott, Mercy Hospital St. Louis
ADVANCED PRACTICE
- Andrea Liefer, WashU Medicine
- Laura Raineri, U.S. Air Force Reserve, Scott Air Force Base
- Maria Walls, BJC Medical Group
CARDIOVASCULAR
- Karen Horn, St. Luke’s Hospital
- Suzanne Scego, St. Luke’s Hospital
- Mary Sullivan, WashU Medicine
- Holly Vitale, SSM Health St. Clare Hospital–Fenton
COMMUNITY CARE/AMBULATORY CARE
- Jane Coffey, SSM Health
- Diana Llamas, Saint Louis University School of Nursing
- Rachel Schaefer, Memorial Hospital Belleville
EDUCATOR
- Kelly Crawford, Memorial Hospital Belleville
- Julia Downey, Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing, WashU Medicine
- Melissa Holman, Saint Louis University School of Nursing
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
- Megan Heaven, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital
- Devyn Heskett, SSM Health
- Katie Kaylor, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital
INTENSIVE CARE
- Tara Laur, St. Luke’s Hospital
- Barry Payne, Memorial Hospital Belleville
- Melissa Prewitt, WashU Medicine
- Brittany Stone, Missouri Baptist Medical Center
MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING
- Emily Heslop, Memorial Hospital Belleville
- Kim Reimund, Mercy Clinic Spine & Pain Management
- Kristen Vogt, SSM Health St. Clare Hospital–Fenton
- Lisa Wright, Barnes-Jewish Hospital
NEUROLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
- Jacinda Berger, WashU Medicine
- Wendy Sanders, WashU Medicine
- Audra Stewart, WashU Medicine
ONCOLOGY
- Danielle Grasso, WashU Medicine
- Rochelle Hobson, WashU Medicine, Siteman Cancer Center, BJC Home Care
- Kristin Keller, Saint Louis University School of Nursing
PEDIATRICS: NEONATAL
- Tonya Hindersmann, Mercy Hospital Washington
- Ashley Rabe, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, WashU Medicine
PEDIATRICS: NON-NEONATAL
- Catie Dezort, WashU Medicine
- Sybill Naidoo, WashU Medicine
- Ellen Webb, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital
RESEARCH
- Katheryne Amba, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital
- Corinne Merrill, WashU Medicine
WOMEN’S HEALTH
- Nicki Harriman, Mercy Hospital Washington
- Amber Lester, Christian Hospital
- Elizabeth Slais, Mercy Hospital St. Louis
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
- Tina Bourbon, Mercy Hospital Jefferson
