Rising to the Challenge:
Excellence in Nursing Honorees for 2020

Nurse Concept2 Dec20

THIS YEAR, perhaps more so than any in recent history, the entire world has witnessed the compassion, commitment and kindness nurses bring to their jobs every day, no matter the circumstances. We’ve marveled at their courage and dedication in the face of a pandemic that has altered life as we know it. Such circumstances led our panel of judges to create a new category for honorees — Pandemic Response Hero — in recognition of the remarkable innovation the nursing community showed while rising to meet the challenges of COVID-19.

By RACHEL WEAVER LABAR
Photos by BECKY THURNER BRADDOCK

HONORABLE MENTION

Pandemic Response Hero

Marnie Kaminski, emergency management coordinator, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh

Sarah Martin-Cua, director, workforce management, UPMC Center for Nursing Excellence

Faith Colen, director of quality and patient safety, UPMC St. Margaret

Joyelle Bateman, manager of infection control and clinical education, The Jewish Association on Aging

Shannon Tully, intensive care nurse, AHN Forbes Hospital

Leadership

Jeannine DiNella, director of organizational development, nursing education and research, UPMC Presbyterian

Kelli Tamewitz, administrator, Bridges Hospice

Lauren Gorman, unit director, ICU, UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital

Linda Dudas, unit director, OB Specialties, UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital

Emerging Leader

Jeffrey Bomba, patient care manager, nursing, Intensive Care Unit, AHN Jefferson Hospital

Latasha Kast, advanced clinical education specialist, Critical Care, UPMC Passavant

Maddy Hanes, director of clinical informatics, Heritage Valley Health System

W. Michael Widmann, clinical informatics coordinator, Excela Health, Westmoreland Hospital

Advanced Practitioner 

Maj. William Pileggi, Veterans Administration, Pittsburgh Health System

Clinician

Joy Laughlin, nurse educator/clinical nurse specialist, Critical Care, St. Clair Hospital

Lynn Belice, administrator on duty, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh

Marci Nilsen, assistant professor, Department of Acute and Tertiary Care, School of Nursing, Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Community

Tammy Ronstadt, director of Provider Practice operations, Heritage Valley Health System Convenient Care, Business Care, and Employee Health

Bethany Kilinsky, school nurse, Elizabeth Forward Middle School

Susan Harshbarger, nurse educator, Respiratory Care, St. Clair Hospital

Academic

Renee Ingel, program director DNP, MSN education and leadership, MSN-MBA, and health coach, Carlow University College of Health and Wellness

Researcher

Rebecca Kronk, associate dean for academic affairs, associate professor, School of Nursing, Duquesne University

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