As the COVID-19 pandemic has altered our everyday lives and challenged the medical community in profound ways, it’s a particularly apt moment to applaud the inspiring efforts of nurses across the St. Louis region. They consistently exhibit selfless care, compassion, and service.
To recognize their remarkable efforts, St. Louis Magazine hosts its annual Excellence in Nursing Awards, presented by BJC HealthCare and Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College. Over more than a decade, we’ve 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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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.
St. Louis Magazine invites you to join us online on April 14 at 6 p.m. as we reveal the winners of this year’s awards. We look forward to celebrating this year’s honorees. Register now to receive updates about the virtual event and an in-person reception tentatively slated for this summer.
Selection Committee
Debra Harrison, executive coach, MEDI; former chief nursing officer, Mayo Clinic
Lola Denise Jefferson, first vice president, National Black Nurses Association
Brigit VanGraafeiland, Assistant professor, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
Phyllis Zimmer, founder, Nurse Practitioner Healthcare Foundation
Carli Zegers, assistant professor, University of Kansas School of Nursing
Honorees
Congratulations to all of the honorees!
ACUTE CARE/FAMILY PRACTICE/GENERAL MEDICINE
- Mary Jo Pierson, Barnes-Jewish Hospital
- Fabrienne Harper, Washington University School of Medicine
- Veronica Murray, Christian Hospital
ADMINISTRATION
- Jennifer Garnica, SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital
- Michelle Limberg, SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital–Wentzville
- Dawn Strautmann, SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital
- Lindsey Wilson, Memorial Hospital Belleville
ADVANCED PRACTICE
- Matthew Buhr, SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, SLUCare
- Janelle Holthaus, Barnes-Jewish Hospital
- Lakeelah Whitfield, Interventional Pain Institute
CARDIOVASCULAR
- Jane Goetz, Barnes-Jewish Hospital
- Jill Igou, Mercy Hospital St. Louis
- Angela Nuxoll, Barnes-Jewish Hospital
- Lan Trinh, SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital–St. Charles
COMMUNITY CARE/AMBULATORY CARE
- JanNysse Gray, SSM Health DePaul Hospital
- Vickie Henry, Memorial Hospital Belleville
- Brandy Holthaus, SIHF Healthcare
- Dan Orlet, Places for People
EDUCATOR
- Kathleen Armstrong, Saint Louis University School of Nursing
- Alissa Haycraft, St. Louis Children’s Hospital
- Sara Kimmel, Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes Jewish College
- Xiumei Lin, Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College
- Wendy Zobel, Barnes-Jewish Hospital
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
- Susan Duck, Mercy Hospital Washington
- Susan Holt, Missouri Baptist Medical Center
- Sarah Moorehead, Survival Flight, Inc.
- Rosanna Tochtrop, Missouri Poison Center, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital
EMERGING LEADER
- Dana DiPasquale Fortmann, SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital–St. Charles
- Cody Meyer, SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital
- Devita Stallings, Saint Louis University School of Nursing
HOSPICE/HOME HEALTH/PALLIATIVE CARE
- Marquita Morris, SSM Health Hospice & Home Health Foundation
- Carlita Vasser, At Home Care
- Stephanie Williams, At Home Care
INTENSIVE CARE
- Rebekah Howard, Barnes-Jewish Hospital
- Jamie Keiser, Progress West Hospital
- Emily Crews, SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital
- Madeline Reynolds, St. Louis Children’s Hospital
MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING
- Amanda Fitzpatrick, Saint Louis University School of Nursing, SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital
- Lindsey Gause, Memorial Hospital Belleville
- Mary Marlen, Memorial Hospital Belleville
- Tara Molina, Washington University School of Medicine
- Faith Torrence, Christian Hospital
NEUROLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
- Kelly McCoy Gross, Washington University School of Medicine
- Rachel Sargent, Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital
- Kimberly Sauder, St. Louis Children’s Hospital
ONCOLOGY
- Mary Beck, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis Children’s Hospital
- Melanie Davis, Barnes-Jewish Hospital
- Brittany Kumnick, SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital
ORTHOPEDICS
- Shelly Bliese, SSM Health St. Clare Hospital
- Allison Rozum, SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital
- Tiffany Schmidt, SSM Health St. Clare Hospital
PEDIATRICS
- Kristen Bagby, St. Louis Children’s Hospital
- Donna Richardson, Washington University School of Medicine
- Ellen Girresch, Strictly Pediatrics Center
- Karen Holzum, Washington University School of Medicine
RESEARCH
- Martha Kreuzkamp-Antal, BJC HealthCare
- Kristin Geile, Washington University School of Medicine
- Verna Hendricks-Ferguson, Saint Louis University School of Nursing
- Vicki Moran, SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, Saint Louis University School of Nursing
WOMEN’S HEALTH
- Lisa Bass, SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital–Lake Saint Louis
- Barb Gaal, Barnes-Jewish Hospital
