ADMINISTRATION
Lindsey Wilson
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As a nurse manager, Lindsey Wilson typically gets to work early so she can touch base with the previous shift. She separates her tasks into “buckets,” including patient, quality, and employee satisfaction. One of the biggest challenges she has faced during the pandemic? Leading by example while showing co-workers that she’s human.
On daily huddles during the pandemic: “The silence at the beginning of every huddle was very eerie because everyone was on edge. You could almost hear a pin drop. We were going over everything we knew, and it was continuously changing and resetting. At 6 a.m. it would be one thing, and by 6 p.m. it would change about four times. So the atmosphere was very intense.”
On working through the pandemic: “I feel very proud of the team who fought through [the pandemic]. I know that sounds corny, like we were going to war, but if you talk to anyone up here, it’s really what it felt like. [Our] team was there for each other, and I don’t think there would be one person who would still be here if they didn’t have a strong team to support them.”
HOSPICE/HOME HEALTH/PALLIATIVE CARE
Marquita Morris
SSM Health Hospice & Home Health Foundation
Marquita Morris is an on-call nurse, so she often doesn’t know the patients and families she’ll visit until her shift begins. Once she receives a list of patients, she starts her day by familiarizing herself with their illnesses, medications, and the supplies she’ll need. She says it’s rewarding to meet new people every day.
On the job’s most challenging part: “When I am faced with letting the family know their loved one is in that ‘last phase of life’—I began using that phrase instead of saying the patient is actively dying. When I have this discussion with families, I have to read the room to see the moment to let them know.”
On how the pandemic has changed the job: “The pandemic has helped me to become more sensitive to others’ emotions. Although my life didn’t change much, I saw the anxiety everyone was faced with because of the detour from normalcy.”
COMMUNITY CARE/AMBULATORY CARE
Vickie Henry
At the height of the pandemic, Vickie Henry didn’t get much sleep. A patient care manager, she would regularly check in with the ICU staff at 3 a.m. She found relief from the stress by caring for the staff as much as possible, and she strives to advocate for her fellow nurses through her managerial position.
On enduring the challenges of the pandemic: “Every one of us has been involved in something greater than ourselves. This pandemic is a part of history… The fact that these nurses were able to make an impact on this small community is exceptional. They’ve all laughed and cried together. It’s hard to even talk about it without getting emotional.”
On nurses’ ability to adapt for patients: “We had a special-needs young person who was positive [for COVID-19], but the parents were negative, so we couldn’t have brought them into our normal clinic. Two nurses volunteered to come in at 6 a.m. to do the infusion, so [the parents] would already be gone when we started taking other positive patients in… Through and through, people were more than happy to be flexible, so they could take patients in as needed.”
ONCOLOGY
Mary Beck
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis Children’s Hospital
When Mary Beck introduces herself to families, she tells them that she’s “their person.” A nurse coordinator for the neuro-oncology team at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Beck and her colleagues often care for young patients with brain tumors. Beck emphasizes the importance of working closely with families and building trust.
On the most rewarding aspect of the job: “A simple ‘thank you’ from the parents that you made it a little bit easier for them. Those little things make it very rewarding. We see some patients for 10 years after diagnosis, and we still keep in touch [after treatment]. They send cards; I’ve been invited to weddings and gotten announcements for babies. It’s extremely rewarding to know I’ve touched these families in a way that they still remember me.”
On advice to new nurses: “My daughter’s in her second year of nursing school now. I tell her there are gonna be good days, and there are gonna be bad days. You are going to make a mistake, and when you do, you learn from it. You have to find an outlet to help alleviate stress. You have to separate your emotions, and that is truly hard, especially when you’re taking care of [patients with] pediatric cancers… Make sure you make time for yourself.”
PEDIATRICS
Donna Richardson
Washington University School of Medicine
As a clinical nurse coordinator for the division of newborn medicine, Donna Richardson and her colleagues track growth and development for babies who stay in the neonatal intensive care unit. Similarly, Richardson is the coordinator for the congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CGH) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) clinic, which continues to monitor progress for young patients. She’s constantly inspired by the resilience of babies and their families.
On the job’s rewarding moments: “For the babies who are born prematurely and leave our NICU, as well as babies who have medical challenges, it’s rewarding to see them work through that process and have a happy outcome.”
On a proud accomplishment: “As part of the neonatal care, we established a process for newborn screenings. In Missouri, there’s a law that all babies have to have a metabolic screening before they’re discharged. So we developed a plan for our [local] BJC nurseries that our physicians attend and a process to track those newborn screens to make sure no one falls through the cracks, with pediatricians kept in the loop about any abnormal results.”
ORTHOPEDICS
Allison Rozum
SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital
As an orthopedic trauma nurse team leader, Allison Rozum manages 60 staff members, including nurses and clinical partners. She says there are many misconceptions about what orthopedic work entails. “A lot of people think of orthopedics as hip or knee [replacements], but our patients are gunshot wounds, car accidents, ice slips—those sorts of things.”
On the most challenging part of her work: “No one expects to get in a car accident or to get shot, so they come in with post-traumatic stress, and they’re upset. We need all hands on deck from social work to case management to make sure they’re getting everything that they need. It’s what I love about working here: It’s very much a team effort.”
INTENSIVE CARE
Emily Crews
SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital
Emily Crew works in a special float pool in the intensive care unit, which means she never really knows what a shift might entail. She could be responding to emergencies or code blues, doing procedural work, or troubleshooting. “I like being able to get to know people all through the hospital, across all settings,” she says. “I know what the strengths and challenges are in each area.”
On advice to new nurses: “Find someone you look up to and pick their brain. That was something that really helped me in my career in each place I worked. Ask questions and ask them how they got where they are. It really helped mold my career. I enjoy having the opportunity to get to know our newer nurses and help them grow and build their skills and confidence.”
EMERGING LEADER
Devita Stallings
Saint Louis University School of Nursing
An associate professor, Devita Stallings spends her days working with students and conducting research. Stallings is now in the middle of a curriculum revision that aims to ensure that the program and classes align. She says the pandemic didn’t have a dramatic impact on enrollment for the nursing program. “For our traditional programs, we are still getting a lot of applications,” she says. “I think people know that nursing is a viable option.”
On the most rewarding aspect of her work: “Seeing the students accomplish their academic goals. Sometimes they can get discouraged, but when I see them make it to the finish line, graduate, and get awesome jobs, that’s really rewarding for me. Because I focus on helping people in communities, it’s also rewarding to know that we’re producing more health care providers who are passionate about helping people.”
ACUTE CARE/FAMILY PRACTICE/GENERAL MEDICINE
Mary Jo Pierson
Mary Jo Pierson has an eye for detail. She helps ensure patients aren’t missing essential antibiotics, key lab work is on file, and medications are available as needed. “Her conscientious care is a model for all perioperative nurses to aspire to,” a colleague says. “She is constantly working with more junior nurses to mentor and ensure consistent high-quality care.”
On patient advocacy during the pandemic: “With all of the masking and isolation, really being an advocate, listening to patients, and letting them know you’re happy to see them makes a big difference.”
CARDIOVASCULAR
Lan Trinh
SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital–St. Charles
When Lan Trinh began nursing, he was a regular floor nurse. Then the floor he was on became a cardiology floor, and he decided to stay. Now he can’t imagine it any other way. Similarly, when there was an opening on the night shift, Trinh thought he’d give it a try, and now he prefers it. “I’m just not a morning person,” he says. “Waking up and being functional and making critical decisions at 7 or 8 in the morning—no amount of coffee is going to make that work for me.”
On advice to new nurses: “Never be afraid to ask questions. I still ask questions. You’re always learning—there’s always new material and new standards. Go with your gut. New nurses are a lot smarter than they give themselves credit for. They just finished nursing school and passed boards. Not everyone can do that.”
MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING
Lindsey Gause
After graduating in spring 2020 with a master’s in nursing leadership from Webster University, Lindsey Gause has served as a nurse manager for the surgical unit, overseeing approximately 60 colleagues. One of her goals is to create an environment where people want to stay. “I look up to her a lot,” notes one colleague. “She probably doesn’t know that, but I highly respect her. She’s always near and dear to my heart.”
On opening a new nursing unit in March 2020: “We didn’t know really anything about COVID then. It was very scary for a lot of individuals… That unit reported [in mid-February] that they hit zero COVID patients for the first time in over a year, which was a great moment.”
On handling stress: “I crochet, so that takes my mind off it a little bit. I grew up crocheting with my grandma and then I had put it to the side for a little bit. I picked it back up as a relief. I crochet stuffed animals. I’ve made a Baby Yoda, a bumblebee, some unicorns—all kinds of stuff.”
NEUROLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Rachel Sargent
Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital
Although Rachel Sargent never envisioned herself working in nursing after graduation, she’s worked as a nurse for nearly 20 years, including a stint as a stroke manager at Missouri Baptist Medical Center. Today, she remains committed to helping patients there through a survivorship program, supporting MoBap’s mission “to improve the health of the people and the communities we serve.”
On nursing during the pandemic: “Nurses have always been resilient, and I think the resiliency has been elevated. I’ve learned that you have to be adaptable to uncertainty, as well as the importance of taking care of myself to be able to provide support and resilience in an ever-changing unknown.”
WOMEN’S HEALTH
Barb Gaal
Working with women and infants in the antepartum department, Barb Gaal takes time to get to know patients. As one colleague observes, “When Barb is on the floor, we seldom see her in the halls because she spends so much time with patients in their rooms.”
On collaborating with patients: “I like to engage the patient in the plan. I don’t like when people tell me, ‘OK, we’re going to do this, this, and this.’ I like when somebody says, ‘So, what do you think about this?’ or ‘How do you feel about this?’ I try to make it cooperative. That kind of takes stress out of the situation, because everybody’s working toward the same goal.”
EDUCATOR
Sara Kimmel
Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College
Sara Kimmel is dedicated to teaching nursing students, even as she’s pursuing a doctorate in nursing herself. She’s often at her desk late into the night, surrounded by miscellaneous crafting supplies that serve as visual representations of her teaching style, which a former student described as imaginative and hands-on. “Her tireless work at making body systems and their pathologies come to life made me understand how the heart, the lungs, the circulatory system, digestive tract, and kidneys truly work,” the student noted.
On teaching: “When I found teaching, I finally found my passion. Bringing knowledge to future nurses is something that makes me smile… I would do anything for my students. I just love it.”
RESEARCH
Verna Hendricks-Ferguson
Saint Louis University School of Nursing
Most days, Verna Hendricks-Ferguson spends her time on Zoom calls with research colleagues, working with people across seven states for some studies. The Zooms are paying off: Her research looks at palliative and end-of-life communication practices, and she’s been able to affect change. She balances her research with mentoring a visiting scholar and doctoral students.
On the most rewarding aspect of her work: “I’ve been able to train people to change clinical practice and empower parents to make informed decisions. It’s especially rewarding when I can help trigger a faculty member’s or student’s interest in this area. And while mentoring students, it’s especially rewarding when they get their first abstract accepted.”
ADVANCED PRACTICE
Janelle Holthaus
Janelle Holthaus is passionate about inspiring future generations of nurses and teaches students at schools across the region. “During the pandemic she even offered to Zoom,” a colleague says, adding that she often allows students to job shadow. “She is very engaging with young adults, encouraging them to seek health care as a career.”
On advice to new nurses: “The first couple of years are the hardest. Get your footing under you, and make sure you have support at work and at home. I also always encourage people to continue with schooling.”
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
Sarah Moorehead
As an emergency medicine nurse, Sarah Moorehead says there is no typical day. Some days are calm, while others are so hectic that “you are running traumas out of the hallway because they’re coming faster than you can find space for them.” The biggest challenge, she says, has been navigating staffing and resources during the pandemic. “I’ve been a nurse for more than 10 years,” Moorehead says, “and I’ve never seen a time where nursing was being asked to do so much with so little resources.” Yet she says the pandemic has also shown the resilience of her team.
Advice to new nurses thinking about working in emergency medicine or intensive care: “Learn as much as you can on a telemetry unit or neuro unit, and really hone your assessment skills, so when you’re overwhelmed in the ER, you already have your ‘Spidey senses’ and know-how to focus your priorities.”
Finalists
Congratulations to all of the honorees!
ACUTE CARE/FAMILY PRACTICE/GENERAL MEDICINE
Mary Jo Pierson Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Fabrienne “Fay” 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
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE 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
