2025 VNF Leadership Excellence Awards

The Virginia Nurses Foundation (VNF) is excited to announce the nominees for the 2025 VNF Leadership Excellence Awards. The awards were created to honor outstanding nurses throughout the commonwealth who have made exceptional contributions to the nursing profession.
The 2025 VNF Leadership Excellence Award winners will be announced at the annual VNF Gala the evening of November 15, 2025.

Award Finalists

Augusta Health

Vickie Taylor, Chief Nursing Officer
Stephanie Gedeon (Non-CNE/CNO)
Elizabeth May, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)
Kim Derby, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety

Bon Secours

Cassandra Lewis, Chief Nursing Executive

Bon Secours Hampton Roads

Twila Lipscomb, Nurse Educator

Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital

Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center

Robin Johnson, Chief Nursing Officer
Cassandra Singleton, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)
Megan Payette, Nurse Manager/Director
Rebekah Blitch, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Mary (Ansley) Sutton, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety

Bon Secours Mercy Health

Nicholas Marks, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO) and Nurse Manager/Director
James Kelley, Nurse Manager/Director
Deborah Denmark, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience
Carolyn Carpenter, Nurse Educator

Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital

Kim Jarrelle, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)

Bon Secours Southside Medical Center

Emily Mapes, Chief Nursing Officer

Bon Secours St. Frances Medical Center

Cheryl Paul, Chief Nursing Officer

Bryant & Stratton College

Patricia Cohen, Nursing School Dean/Director
Charlene Morris, Nurse Educator

Camp Community College

Laurel Pope, Nurse Educator

Carilion Clinic

Jennifer Evans, Nurse Manager/Director

Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital

Kayla Frantz, Nurse Manager/Director
Ottilia Lewis, Public Health Nurse

Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital

Centra Health

Mary Ann Fuchs, Chief Nursing Executive
Erin Baird, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)
James Bryant, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)
Lisa Jamerson, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)
Kimberly Price, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)
Kristie Casey, Nurse Manager/Director
Megan Franklin, Nursing Informatics
Abigail Howe, Nursing Informatics
Heather Parks, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Elizabeth Todd, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Anthony Webb, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Elise Overstreet, Nurse Educator

Centra Gretna Medical Center Emergency Department

Amanda Farmer, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety

Centra Health Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation

Judy Ward, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

Centra Lynchburg General Hospital

Tobias Deloatch, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience
Katherine Campbell, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Cherie Haskins, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety

Centra Medical Group

Katie Page, Public Health Nurse
Valerie Nash, Nurse Educator

Centra Southside Community Hospital

Kathy Kendall, Nurse Manager/Director

Chesterfield County Public School

Heather Snyder, Public Health Nurse

George Mason University

Rebecca Sutter, Nurse Manager/Director
Bethany Cieslowski, Nurse Educator
Erin Maughn, Public Health Nurse

George Washington School of Nursing

Ashley Darcy Mahoney, Nurse Researcher

HCA Healthcare

Jennifer Seketa, Nurse Educator

HCA - Capital Division

Erin Keister, Chief Nurse Executive
Danyelle Stutz, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)
Zelika Hargrove, Nurse Educator
Ki Keana Goodwyn, Nursing Informatics

HCA - Capital Division, Center for Clinical Advancement

Debbie Keeys, Nurse Educator

HCA - Capital Division, Henrico Doctors’ Hospital

Jennie Whitaker, Chief Nursing Officer

HCA - LewisGale Hospital Alleghany

Nicole Tucker, Chief Nursing Officer
Stephanie Adams, Nurse Manager/Director
Leslie Broughman, Nurse Manager/Director
Katie Elmore, Nurse Manager/Director
Mark Hepler, Nursing Informatics

HCA - LewisGale Hospital Montgomery

Devin LaPuasa, Chief Nursing Officer
Brandon Howery, Nurse Manager/Director
Wesley Weber, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience
Nathanael Sommers, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety

HCA - LewisGale Hospital Pulaski

Samantha McClure, Chief Nursing Officer
Jessica Allen, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety

HCA - LewisGale Medical Center

Morgan Kessinger, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

HCA - Reston Hospital Center

Laura-Anne Cleveland, Chief Nursing Officer

HCA - Retreat Doctors' Hospital

Nancy Boykin, Chief Nursing Officer

Inova Health System

Marguerite Cunningham, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)
Glenda Joseph, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)
Anna Herbst, Nurse Manager/Director
Angie Howell, Nurse Manager/Director
Holly Wirth, Nurse Educator
Rebecca Babb, Nurse Researcher

Inova Ambulatory and Physician Services

Suzan Shibla, Chief Nursing Officer

Inova Behavioral Health

Patricia Lane, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)

Inova Fairfax Medical Campus

Stephanie Hancock, Nurse Manager/Director
Sharri Robinson-Hodge, Nurse Manager/Director
Laila Bailey, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Holly Samuelson, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Michelle Maiers, Nurse Educator
Lexi Leskovac, Nursing Informatics

Inova Mount Vernon Hospital

Margaret Arotimi, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)
Joanne Gucciardo, Nurse Manager/Director
Stacey Schaab, Nurse Manager/Director
Abena Boatey, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
D'Andra Fortune, Nursing Informatics

Inova Neuroscience and Spine Institute

Karlie Smith, Nurse Researcher

Marymount University

Judith Rogers-Fruiterman, Nursing School Dean/Director
Terri Gaffney, Nurse Educator
Melissa Leisen, Nurse Researcher

MedStar Washington Hospital Center

Tonka Williams, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)

Norfolk State University

Felisa Smith, Nurse Educator

Old Dominion University

Jessica Parrot, Nurse Educator
Tina Gustin, Nurse Researcher

Randolph Macon College

Cynthia Rubenstein, Nursing School Dean/Director

Riverside Health System

Riverside College of Health Sciences

Victoria Crisp, Nursing School Dean/Director

Riverside Doctors' Hospital Williamsburg

Jennifer Barthlome, Chief Nursing Officer
Victoria Davis, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Elisa Mangosing-Lemmon, Nurse Educator

Riverside Regional Medical Center

Sadie Thurman, Chief Nursing Officer
Tonya Vermette, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)
Ashland Burch, Nurse Manager/Director
Angela Romero, Nurse Manager/Director
Elizabeth Young, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience
Christina Brown, Nurse Educator
Leah Greene, Nurse Educator
Joy Hudspath, Nurse Educator

Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital

Deborah Brown, Chief Nursing Officer

Riverside Walter Reed Hospital

Lauren Murray, Nurse Manager/Director
Jennifer Schneider, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

Sentara Health

Jaime Carroll, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)

Sentara CarePlex Hospital

Shannon Martin, Chief Nursing Officer
Chris Boxley, Nurse Manager/Director
Rebecca Wheeler, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

Sentara Leigh Hospital

Tess Bilyeu, Nurse Manager/Director
Effie Onuh, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

Sentara Norfolk General Hospital

Jennifer Kreiser, Chief Nursing Officer
Jennifer Martin, Nurse Manager/Director
Susan Mitchell, Nurse Manager/Director
Rachel Ruiz, Nurse Manager/Director
Andrea Whyte, Nurse Manager/Director
Valerie Carroll, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety

Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center

Ermi Tisak, Nurse Manager/Director

Sentara Obici Hospital

Kristi Morgan, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO) and Nurse Researcher
Eve Newell, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience
Rebecca Poulson, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Ashley Reed, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety

Sentara Princess Anne Hospital

Elise Clow, Nurse Manager/Director
Crystal McKee, Nurse Manager/Director

UVA School of Nursing

Amy Boitnott, Nurse Educator
Sharon Bragg, Nurse Educator
Emily Evans, Nurse Educator
Gretchen Wiersma, Nurse Educator

UVA Health

UVA Health Medical Center

Shelly Dean, Nurse Manager/Director
Judy Kauffman, Nurse Manager/Director
Kaitlin Vannatter, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience
Amy Johnston, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Mimi Pohl, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Chris Moubray, Nurse Educator
Laurie Brock, Nursing Informatics

UVA Continuum Home Health Care

Lorie Koch, Nurse Manager/Director

VA Dept. of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

Central State Hospital

Jeena Joseph, Nurse Educator

VCU Health

Shannon Lubin, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Amanda Wingo, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Beverly Goyne, Nurse Educator

VCU Health - Children's Hospital of Richmond

Chloe Cuff, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

VCU Health - Community Memorial Hospital

Jennifer Hutson, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

VCU Health - VCU Medical Center

Trina Trimmer, Nurse Manager/Director

VHC Health

Melody Dickerson, Chief Nursing Officer
Taryn Overman, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)
Lisa Steeves, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)
Jessica Czelusniak, Nursing Informatics

VA Dept. of Health

Kyndra Jackson, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)
Joanna Cirillo, Public Health Nurse

Richmond City and Henrico County Health Districts

Ashley Lancaster, Public Health Nurse

Veterans Health Administration

Richmond Veterans Administration Medical Center

Sherri Mikolon-Santuk, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience
Bernadith Abuan, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety

Richmond City and Henrico County Health Districts

Ashley Lancaster, Public Health Nurse

Trailblazers
(Honorable Mentions)

Augusta Health

Brooke Campbell, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)
Pamela Flint, Nurse Manager/Director

Blue Ridge Community College

Samantha Koontz, Nurse Educator

Bon Secours

Bon Secours Mercy Health

Carol Gabala, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)
Abby Pennington, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)
Lauren Doak, Nurse Manager/Director

Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital

Tiffany Skok, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

Bon Secours Richmond Health System

Bon Secours Southern Virginia Medical Center

Kathe Ware, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)

Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital

Yolanda Maurice, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)
Deborah Alder, Nurse Manager/Director
Heather Elliott, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience
Lily Wischman, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

Carilion Clinic

Kristie Williams, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)
Laurie Miller, Nurse Manager/Director
Karrie Moses, Nurse Manager/Director
Desiree Beasley, Nurse Educator

Carilion Clinic - New River Valley Medical Center

Vickie Rogers, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)

Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital

Cynthia Akers, Nurse Manager/Director
Karyn Reese, Nurse Manager/Director
Shannon Robertson, Nurse Manager/Director

Centra Health

Centra Health Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation

Pamela Janney, Nurse Manager/Director

HCA Healthcare

Amy Winkler, Nurse Educator

HCA Parallon

Erica Leonard, Nursing Informatics

HCA - LewisGale Hospital Pulaski

Rebecca Barker, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Alicia Gates, Nurse Educator

HCA - LewisGale Medical Center

John Craig, Nursing Informatics

Inova Health System

Shamaila Iqbal, Nurse Manager/Director
Alvin Matium, Nurse Manager/Director

Inova Fairfax Medical Campus

Nicole Wear, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)
Judy Tipton, Nurse Educator

Premium Care USA

Hazel Dichoso, Nurse Manager/Director

Radford University

Sarah Knoeckel, Nurse Educator

Riverside Health System

Christi Archer, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)
Chimera Strand, Nurse Manager/Director
Mitzi Thomas, Nurse Manager/Director
Margaret Atkins, Nursing Informatics

Riverside Doctors' Hospital Williamsburg

Elaine Boyd, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience
Jessica Garrenton, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

Riverside Regional Medical Center

Sarah Hair, Nurse Manager/Director
Dottie Wentworth, Nurse Educator

Teladoc Health

Amanda Cunningham, Nurse Executive (Non-CNE/CNO)

Sentara Health

Teresita Hammond, Nurse Educator

Sentara BelleHarbour

Traci Anderson, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety

Sentara CarePlex Hospital

Susan Singalewitch, Nurse Educator

Sentara Leigh Hospital

Carla Escobar, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Nadine Urich, Nurse Educator

Sentara Norfolk General Hospital

Latoia Kidd, Nurse Manager/Director
Joanne Williams-Reed, Nurse Manager/Director

Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center

Mandy Gensimore, Nurse Manager/Director
Brooke Phelps, Nurse Manager/Director

Sentara Obici Hospital

Ashley Hill, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety

Sentara Princess Anne Hospital

Lan Castro, Nurse Manager/Director
James Hermansen-Parker, Nurse Manager/Director
Sabita Neupane, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety
Jennifer McDonold, Nurse Educator

UVA Health

UVA Health Medical Center

Devon Bloxsom, Nurse Manager/Director
Matthew Henrich, Nurse Manager/Director
Morgan Kaminski, Nurse Manager/Director

UVA Health Culpeper Medical Center

Fiona Reingruber, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Experience

VCU Health

Shannon Lubin, Nurse Manager/Director

VHC Health

Georgia Mccullough, Direct Patient Care Leader - Patient Safety