Rising to the Challenge:
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
