In late 2019, the World Health Organization deemed 2020 “The Year of the Nurse.” Although it may seem as though COVID-19 has overshadowed this theme, we think it has amplified why 2020 is The Year of the Nurse, more than ever.
During National Nurses Week, May 6-12, we thank and honor all UW Health nurses for banding together in the face of this worldwide pandemic, with grace and dedication. They are on the frontlines bravely facing whatever comes their way. They are heroes and we are forever grateful.
Nurses Week also gives us a distinct opportunity to pay special recognition to a few exceptional employees who exemplify compassion, skill and an outstanding commitment to patient care and the professional practice of nursing.
We are proud to announce our 2020 Nursing Excellence Award recipients and nominees.
Meet Our 2020 Nursing Excellence Award Recipients
 Support Staff, Clinical: Catherine Jones, Medical Assistant |  Support Services, Non-Clinical: Patrick Van Eyck, Health Unit Coordinator |  Rising Star: Fiona Bennett, BSN, RN, Pediatric ICU |
 Clinical Nurse, Clinics: Anna Bast, BSN, RN, Family Medicine |  Clinical Nurse, Critical Care: Angela Kurth, BSN, RN, Cardiac ICU |  Clinical Nurse, Home Health and Coordinated Care: Amber Brunner, MSN, RN, Coordinated Care |
 Clinical Nurse, Medical: Eden Larson, BSN, RN, Medical and Surgical |  Clinical Nurse, Pediatrics: Katie Elmer, BSN, RN, Pediatric General Medicine/Surgical |  Clinical Nurse, Surgical: Alyssa Holt, BSN, RN, Medical/Surgical and Short Stay |
 Clinical Nurse, Surgical and Procedural Services: Sally Temple, RN, Operating Room |  Primary Nurse: Ann Shefchik, BSN, RN, Pediatric ICU |  Leadership and Advanced Practice: Nicole Kalscheur, MSN, RN, Employee Health and Wellbeing |
2020 Nursing Excellence Award Nominees
UW Health recognizes all nominees for their valued contributions to patient care:
| Amy Alexander Kimberly Ashford Parvin Bandarabad Cheryl Bass Anna Bast Ann Bellings Melissa Beltran Fiona Bennett Kristi Birkle Mary Blum Jessica Brockner Amber Brunner Whitney Buss Barbara Byrne Andreya Carman Tami Cecil Susan Chandre Anya Collard Jennie Corey-Heinrich Suzanne Daugherty Ann Dehn Ariel Demont Shiloh Dolphin-Mack Brittany Douglas Steven Drevlow Rachel Edwards Jennifer Ekezie Kathryn Elmer Aja Elvord David Erickson Cynthia Essex Rikki Flint Renee Floyd Angela Foster Sarah Frank Nicole Gardner Jennifer Goodwin Kelli Gross Jennifer Hackenmiller Alma Hajdari Pamela Hall Tyler Hardyman Kaitlynn Harkonen Mary Herman Emily Hertel Alyssa Holt Meghan Holum Carly Hood Susan Hopkins W. Steven Hughes Christy Hunter Heather Hustad Elizabeth Johnson Catherine Jones Jennifer Kakuske Nicole Kalscheur Catherine Kellihan Sarah Keyes Stephanie Klock Jennifer Kooiman Mohr Jacob Kopmeyer Angela Kurth Karen Lacy Erika Lang Sara Larsen Eden Larson Earlene Laudin | Nicole Laufenberg Caroline Ledbetter Carrie LeMahieu Janna Lewis Jeremy Lins Wittnee Linscheid Peter March Emily Maritato Janean Marr Karen Marvin Nicole Marx Courtney Maurer Linda McKenna Ro Mean Alicia Meier Marguerite Milanowski Eden Miller Dawn Mills Marcie Mitchell Lisa Moyer Janessa Muchow Ann Nelson Elizabeth Niblack-Sykes Andrea Noeske Mary Ellen O’Leary Arianna Opsahl Christopher Plampin Laura Potamousis Carrie Pulvermacher Joseph Ramia Rohenie Ramnarine Brooke Ramsey Shelly Reyzek James Russell Robert Scheel Megan Schroeder Melissa Schwab Ann Shefchik Jenna Shinstine Erik Sikora Sara Stewart Brittany Stombaugh Justin Strom Mary Sutter Sally Temple Kusumam Thayyil Nancy Tschoeke Patrick Van Eyck Danielle Varnell Michele Voss Teresa Wagner Kelsey Walsh Michele Warnke Joan Watson Megan Webber Jennifer Weber Heide Weiss Kathryn Wellenkotter Mary Faith Welling Sara Westra Jacqueline White Steven Wiese Terrance Wilde Emily Wilhelmson Samyej Xiong Hushee Xiong-Vang |