VNF Leadership Excellence Award Nominees

The Virginia Nurses Foundation (VNF) is excited to announce the nominees for the 2019 VNF Leadership Excellence Awards. The awards were created to honor outstanding nurses throughout the Commonwealth who have made exceptional contributions to the nursing profession. This year the VNF is proud to announce they received 137 nominees across 8 categories from more than 40 organizations in Virginia.

The 2019 VNF Leadership Excellence Award winners will be announced at the annual VNF Gala on September 21, 2019.

2019 VNF Leadership Excellence Award Finalists:

Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital
Kristen Caluag, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety

Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing
Diane Smith, Nurse Educator
Christine Turner, Nurse Educator

Bon Secours Mercy Health
William Jason Sweitzer, Nurse Manager/Director

Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Ctr.
Jennifer Stanley, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital
Deborah Alder, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience
Jim Gregory, Nurse Manager/Director

Bryant & Stratton College-Richmond
Debora (Debi) Erick, Nursing School Dean/Director

Carilion Clinic
Brandie Bailey, Nurse Manager/Director
Patricia "TK" Kingery, Nurse Manager/Director

Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
Kimberly Carter, Nurse Researcher
Arielle Watkins, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety 

Inova Health System
Alquietta Brown, Chief Nursing Officer
Mary Ann Friesen, Nurse Researcher

Inova Loudoun Hospital
Stephanie Boese, Nurse Manager/Director

Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital
Deb Brown, Chief Nursing Officer
Shelia Conner, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Heather Spence, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

Riverside Walter Reed Hospital
Heather Teller, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety

Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital
Nicole Spence, Nurse Manager/Director

Sentara Healthcare
Cherika Britt, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

Sentara Leigh Hospital
Lisa Dutter, Nurse Manager/Director

Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital
Abby Denby, Nurse Manager/Director
Judy Kauffman, Nurse Manager/Director

Sentara Princess Anne Hospital
Reagan Boomer, Nurse Manager/Director
Carrie Buck, Nurse Manager/Director
Kristen Joseph, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Rebecca Joye, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety

Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital
Abby Dalton, Nurse Manager/Director

Southside College of Health Sciences
Wendy Thompson, Nursing Informatics
Johanna Vaughan, Nursing School Dean/Director

Southside Regional Medical Center
Heather Hunter, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience
Jean-Tyler Scalone, Nurse Educator
Brenda Woodcock, Chief Nursing Officer

The George Washington University School of Nursing
Pamela Jeffries, Nursing School Dean/Director

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health
Kathy Baker, Nurse Researcher
Diane Hanson-Johnson, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience
Deb Zimmerman, Chief Nursing Officer

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing 
Carla Nye, Nurse Educator

Virginia Hospital Center
Sarah Akers, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience
Melody Dickerson, Chief Nursing Officer
Sherrie Robinson, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience
Katherine Thompson, Nursing Informatics

2019 VNF Leadership Excellence Award Honorable Mentions:

Bon Secours 
Michele Mclasky, Nurse Manager/Director
Debra Renfro, Nurse Manager/Director

Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital
Kristen Caluag, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety

Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center
Donna Dickinson, Nurse Manager/Director
English Hosay, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Robin Johnson, Chief Nursing Officer
Chris Nicholson, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Cynthia Woods, Nurse Manager/Director

Bon Secours Mercy Health
Carol Gabala, Nurse Manager/Director
Leigh Lewis, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety

Bon Secours Mercy Health System, Memorial Regional Medical Center
Angelique Williamson, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center
Dawn Baumgartner, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Karen Bridgforth, Nurse Manager/Director
Sharlie Yanez, Nurse Educator

Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital
Mark Gregg, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

Bryant & Stratton College
Amy Martinez, Nurse Educator
Michele Richardson, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Angela Saathoff, Nurse Researcher

Carilion Clinic
Emily Codrea, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety

Carilion Clinic Cardiovascular Institute
Heather Moreno, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

Carilion Clinic - Giles
Veronica Stump, Chief Nursing Officer

Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital 
SaVanna Eckrote, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience
Nicole Hale, Nurse Manager/Director
Michelene Morin, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience
Annie Phillips Smith, Nurse Manager/Director
Cheyanne Spradlin, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety

Centra
Bridgette Smoot, Nurse Manager/Director

Inova Alexandria Hospital
Cynthia Bustria, Nurse Manager/Director
Michelle Hall, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience
Stacey Haney, Nurse Manager/Director

Inova Health System
Tiffani Fuller, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience
Helen Stevens, Nurse Manager/Director
Carine Wawa, Nurse Manager/Director

Inova Loudoun Hospital
Aliso Smolsky, Nurse Manager/Director
Jordan Tyczka, Nurse Educator

Inova Mount Vernon Hospital
Larisa Golding, Nurse Manager/Director

James Madison University
Erica Lewis, Nurse Researcher

Johnston Memorial Hospital Ballad Health
Lynn Holden, Nurse Educator
Melissa Whited, Nurse Manager/Director

LewisGale Hospital Pulaski
Jenna Martin, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

Memorial Regional Medical Center
Amy Peatross, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
Patricia Smith, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Williamsburg
Celia Grinstead, Nurse Manager/Director
Elisa Mangosing-Lemmon, Nurse Educator
Jennifer Williams, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

Riverside Health System
Ramona Hercules, Nurse Manager/Director
Nancy Littlefield, Chief Nursing Officer
Marybeth Scott, Nurse Manager/Director

Riverside Tappahannock Hospital
Lisa Petty, Nurse Educator

Riverside Regional Medical Center
Susan Donston, Nurse Manager/Director
Elizabeth May, Nurse Educator

Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital
Margaret Bennett, Nursing School Dean/Director
Heather Jarvis, Nurse Educator
Carrie Washington, Nurse Manager/Director

Sentara Leigh Hospital
Donna Baybay, Nurse Manager/Director
Jennifer Kreiser, Chief Nursing Officer
Nerizza Morido, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety

Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital
Heidi Cabot, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Sarah Glatt, Nurse Educator
Johnsa Morris, Chief Nursing Officer
Jennifer Wray, Nurse Manager/Director

Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
Valeria Mitchell, Nurse Manager/Director

Sentara Princess Anne Hospital
Lori Holleman, Nurse Researcher
Jennifer Toombs, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

Sentara RMH Medical Center
Julie Pierantoni, Nurse Researcher

Southside College of Health Sciences
Katherine Lawson, Nurse Educator

Southside Regional Medical Center
Mary Taylor, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

Southside Virginia Community College
Michelle Edmonds, Nursing School Dean/Director

The George Washington University School of Nursing
Majeda El-Banna, Nurse Researcher

Twin County Regional Medical Center
Carla Gunter, Nurse Educator

UVA Health System
Lora Carver, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience
Mary Dixon, Chief Nursing Officer
Kathryn McGough, Nurse Educator
Rachel Nauman, Nurse Manager/Director
Anika Spry, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health
Matthew Jensen, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Brett Neville, Nurse Manager/Director

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing 
Michael Bleich, Nursing School Dean/Director

Winchester Medical Center
Manual Zember, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience