DAISY Foundation Award
The DAISY Award is an international program that rewards and celebrates the clinical skill and compassionate care given by nurses every day. The following DAISY Award winners are recognized as role models in our nursing community.
July 2022: Sophie Barrett, 12 West Tower
August 2022: Christina Koehler, 11 West Tower
September 2022: Laura Hernandez, Professional Nursing Practice
October 2022: James Mielnikowski , 10 West Tower
November 2022: Clare Lucey, Labor and Delivery
December 2022: Caroline Nguyen, 13 East Tower
January 2023: Michelle Fleury, RUSH Rehabilitation
February 2023: Kara Pedersen, Emergency Department
March 2023: Elyse Adkins, RUSH University Medical Group, Ears, Nose and Throat
April 2023: Sonisha Mosley, RUSH University Cancer Center
May 2023: Ethan Chadwick, 12 East Tower
June 2023: Andreia Ceh, 7 North Atrium
Illinois Nurses Foundation
The Illinois Nurses Foundation chose eight nurses and nursing faculty members from the medical center as recipients for their annual 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leaders Award.
Aaron Franklin, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CMSRN, RUSH University Medical Center, Human Resources
Margaret Gladman, DNP, RN, CMSRN, CBCN, RUSH University Medical Group, Surgical Oncology Nurse Navigator
Colleen Haynes, MSN, CMSRN, RUSH University College of Nursing, Clinical Faculty
Katie Kean, RN, BSN, OCN, RUSH University Cancer Center, Clinical RN Manager
Hyejin Kim, PhD, RN, RUSH University, Assistant Professor
Annie Lally, BSN, RN, RUSH University Medical Center, Cardiovascular Surgery
Michael Liwanag, DNP, MBA, RN-BC, NEA-BC, RUSH University Medical Center, Unit Director
Shannon O’Shea, MSN, RN, CNE, CNL,RUSH University College of Nursing, Instructor
Ellen Elpern Voice of the APRN Nominees
The Ellen Elpern Voice of the APRN Award is given annually to an Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) working at RUSH who exemplifies the characteristics of leadership, commitment and excellence in advanced practice nursing as demonstrated by former colleague Ellen Elpern MSN, APRN. This award celebrates the contributions that APRNs make toward continually improving patient care at RUSH.
*Award winner in bold
Sarah Anderson, DNP, AGACNP-BC, OCN, WCC, Radiation Oncology
Susan Budds, DNP, ANP-BC, AOCN, Hematology/Oncology
Paulina Crescimone, DNP, APRN, AGACNP-BC, Internal Medicine
Kelly Fitzgerald, DNP, WHNP-BC, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Brandy Hatcher, DNP, FNP-C, CNL, Internal Medicine
Megan Jones, BSN, MSN, NNP-BC, Pediatrics, Neonatology
Meghan Kelly, APRN, AGACNP-BC, Hematology/Oncology
Denise Kirsten, DNP, NNP-BC, Pediatrics, Neonatology
Colleen Masters, ACNP-BC, MSN, BSN, Radiation Oncology
Teresa O’Brien, MSN, APRN, OCN, AGNP-C, Hematology/Oncology
Erin O’Donohue, MS, APRN, NP-C, Community Engagement
Anita Sharko, DNP, AGNP-C, OCN, Hematology/Oncology
Adam Spurlock, DNP, AGACNP-BC, FNP-C, CNL, Emergency Medicine
Veronica Yeung, MSN, WHNP, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Magnet Course for Excellence Awards
The RUSH Magnet Course for Excellence Award recognizes individual nurses or teams that exemplify the excellence conveyed by Magnet status, the highest honor in nursing.
*Award winner in bold
Natalie Laverty, Ambulatory (Urology)
Ryan Franklin, Emergency Room
Mary Heitschmidt, Center for Clinical Research and Scholarship
Mary Ellsworth, Professional Nursing Practice
Emily Louange, Interventional Services
Adult Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist Team
Medical Intensive Care Unit Skin Assessment and Treatment Team
RUSH Cancer Center Tumor Board Coordinators
4 Tower Recycling Program
Wound/Ostomy Consultation Services
Glycemic Taskforce
COVID Team
4T Wellness Ambassadors
Post-Anesthesia Care Unit Beacon Committee
Emergency Department Adult Care Unit Team
Clinical Nurse Leaders
Rescue Team
Annual Nurses Month Awards
RUSH University Medical Center honored nursing excellence at the Professional Nursing Staff Awards Ceremony during Nurse's Month. The PNS Recognition Committee each year chooses the recipients for the awards from nominations submitted by co-workers, managers and nursing leaders.
*Award winner in bold
Additional Nursing Areas
Mary Ellsworth, Professional Nursing Practice
Adult Critical Care/RUSH Vascular Access Team /Critical Care Outreach Team
Jennifer Corcoran, 11 West Tower
SaraLouise Dawson, 10 East Tower
Barbara Lettiere, 11 East Tower
Margaret Rivelli, 10 West Tower
Annemarie Tarpey, Vascular Access Team
Ambulatory
Shaina Daniels, Access Center
Ashley Marenyi, Radiation Oncology
Melissa Ortiz, Primary Care
Clinical Staffing Office
Jennifer Hattan, Clinical Staffing Office
Interventional and Perioperative Services
Cathleen Byrne, Interventional Radiology Prep
Sean Jeffords, Operating Room
Ellen Tran Yu, Endoscopy
Medicine/Behavioral/Emergency Department
Lauren Drysdale, 13 Kellogg
Joanna Kane,7 North Atrium
Amy Keleher, 14 East Tower
Josh Mendoza, 14 West Tower
Natalie Plovanich, Emergency Department
Melissa Rivera, 9 North Atrium
Dee Dee Sanford, RUSH Day Hospital
Robin Stephen, 9 Kellogg
Elsie Vasquez, 9 South Atrium
Surgical and Rehabilitation
Brenda Giacalone, 7 South Atrium
Angeline Muday, 12 East Tower
Women’s and Children’s Department
Nicole Albold, 8 Atrium
Mariah Larson, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Mary Ellen Sarna, Labor and Delivery
Rachael Simoneau, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Additional Nursing Areas
Andrea Fidai, Professional Nursing Practice
Adult Critical Care/RUSH Vascular Access Team /Critical Care Outreach Team
Andrea Chepkevich,11 West Tower
Cathy Heinzinger, Vascular Access Team
Erin Holden, 11 East Tower
Kelly King, 10 West Tower
Stephanie Pearson, 10 East Tower
Ambulatory Department
Sarita Brooks, Neurology
Sofia Figueroa, Surgical Colorectal
Natalie Paolella, Urology
Janaki Sha Desai, Primary Care
Clinical Staffing Office
Elaina Bartoli, Clinical Staffing Office
Interventional and Perioperative Services
Camille Valiente, Electrophysiology Laboratory
Brenda Williams, Endoscopy
Medicine/Behavioral/Emergency Department
Ashlee Bertram, 9 North Atrium
Claudia Carrillo, 5 Kellogg
Natalia Filinowicz, 14 West Tower
Angela Hurley, 7 North Atrium
Daniel Hurowitz, 9 South Atrium
Nora Kennelly, 13 Kellogg
Angela Min, Emergency Department
Paul Zurbano, 9 Kellogg
Surgical and Rehabilitation Department
Karen Fisher Doyle, 13 East Tower
Agnieszka Hedberg, 7 South Atrium
Lauren Mason, 12 East Tower
Jakub Zubrycki, 13 West Tower
Women’s and Children’s Department
Barbara Biel, 8 Atrium
Clarissa Gradilla, Labor and Delivery
Sarah Hehmann, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Briana Johnson, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Relationships and Caring
Helema Abdeljabar, 7 North Atrium
Keeley Binion, 5 Kellogg / 9 Kellogg
Alicia Birchler, Clinical Staffing Office
David Bracho,7 North Atrium
Emily Brey, Professional Nursing Practice
Diana Campos Gudino, Rush Rehabilitation
Shelby Chinappi, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Hannah Cooper, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Jessica Cozzi, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Maria Delmille Marasigan, RUSH University Cancer Center
Tanya Friese, College of Nursing
Alexis Giegling, Clinical Staffing Office
Dana Goodin, 9 North Atrium
Shelby Gross, 7 North Atrium
Marissa Hensley, 10 West Tower
Nicole Kaliski-Martinez, Preparatory and Recovery
Alexandra Kickert, Emergency Department
Lynna La Manna, 14 East Tower
Madeline Laurencelle, 14 East Tower
Emily Louange, Interventional Radiology
Alexandra Lunneborg, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Trudi Magiera, 11 East Tower
Sahara Martinez, 13 East Tower
Nicole Mikulski, 7 North Atrium
Morgan Morrash, Plastic and Reconstruction Surgery Clinic
Sonisha Mosley, RUSH University Cancer Center
Alexandra Murray, Electrophysiological Laboratory
Jenny Neustadt, 10 East Tower
Milan Norman, Clinical Staffing Office
Sammiejo Oswalt, 7 North Atrium
Charlotte Page, 7 North Atrium
Katherine Pieprzyk, 10 West Tower
Rhonda Harbin-Rucker, 14 West Tower
Amy Schloss, Radiation Oncology
Elda Shehu, 14 East Tower
Morgan Skala, 7 South Atrium
Bridget Slevin, 7 South Atrium
Lauryn Streid, Pediatric Primary Care Clinic
Alma Sumale, Endoscopy
Chloe Thompson, 7 South Atrium
Catherine Turner, Labor and Delivery
Tamara Warden, 8 Atrium
Stephanie Watzke, Radiation Oncology
Aurelia Wilczek, RUSH University Cancer Clinic
Sara Young, 14 West Tower
Evidence-Based Practice
Alexandra Becker, Labor and Delivery
Alexandra Comes, 10 West Tower
Jean Flaws–Chervinko, 10 East Tower
Darwanna Flowers, 8 Atrium
Lynnese Frost, 13 East Tower
Dana Goodin, 9 North Atrium
Lynn Grenier, 11 East Tower
Christine Hull, 9 North Atrium
Donna Jackson, Clinical Staffing Office
Joanna Kane, 7 North Atrium
Zina Karana, 7 North Atrium
McKenzie Klee, RUSH University Cancer Center
Ann Lieb, 7 North Atrium
Jenna Maloney, 5 Kellogg / 9 Kellogg
Antonella Mossa, Professional Nursing Practice
Barbara Piechowska, 7 North Atrium
Katie Schipfer, 14 East Tower
Morgan Skala, 7 South Atrium
Kelly Thompson, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Barbara Vivanco, Emergency Department
Francesca Wegener, 7 North Atrium
Critical Thinking
Patricia Blattner, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Michelle Brady, Clinical Staffing Office
Vanessa Clay-Ledoux, Labor and Delivery
Hannah Cooper, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Elyse Deleon, 7 North Atrium
Nicolette DeMicc, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Daisy Flores, 14 East Tower
Taylor Frahm, 9 North Atrium
Joanne Gianopoulos, RUSH University Cancer Center
Katelyn Huck, 7 North Atrium
Chelsea Intal, RUSH University Cancer Center
Joanna Kane, 7 North Atrium
Catherine King, 7 North Atrium
Rachel Kriz, Pediatric Primary Care
Brenna Langan, 14 East Tower
Emma Martinez, Labor and Delivery
Tegan McCarten, Catheterization Laboratory
Lilianna Mendoza, RUSH University Cancer Center
James Mielnikowski, 10 West Tower
Monica Oliver, 7 North Atrium
Heather Price, 7 North Atrium
Grace Reyes, RUSH Rehabilitation
Amy Rogala, 14 East Tower
Erin Salach, 10 East Tower
Emily Saperstein, 9 North Atrium
Rachel Shefchek, 9 North Atrium
Sarah Skeba, Professional Nursing Practice
Monet Supremo, 13 East Tower
Allison Szudrowicz, Radiation Oncology
Cristine Tancredi, Pediatric Primary Care
Donna Vainisi, 11 East Tower
Ashley Wade, Radiation Oncology
Leadership
Julie Anderson, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Cindy Beren, Labor and Delivery
Mary Beth Busby, RUSH Rehabilitation
Meghan Connery, Operating Room
Olga Corona, Community Health
Osvaldo Delaluz, 14 East Tower
Mia Dizdarevic, 5 Kellogg / 9 Kellogg
Diane Doran, Primary Pediatrics
Rachel Filer, 12 East Tower
Jelissa Gonzalez, Oncology/Chest Tumor Clinic
Edgar Allan Gonzalez-Caracheo, 7 North Atrium
LaShon Gurrola, Ambulatory Care Management
Patricia Gwaltney, Interventional Radiology
Denise Hauser, RUSH University Cancer Center
Carter Hayes, 10 East Tower
Laura Hernandez, Professional Nursing Practice
Katelyn Huck, 7 North Atrium
Angela Hurley, 7 North Atrium
Lorraine Koh, 13 East Tower
Sara Krauss, 14 East Tower
Jenny Manson, 10 West Tower
Kate Mathias, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Jennise Matta, RUSH University Cancer Center
Shea Mckenna, Emergency Department
Maria Medina, Pediatric Primary Care Clinic
Christine Murphy, 8 Atrium
Lester Osano, 7 South Atrium
Victoria Pryal, 14 West Tower
Maggie Quinn, Labor and Delivery
Emily Sermersheim, Professional Nursing Practice
Sophia Shroff, RUSH Rehabilitation
Daniel Slutsky, Endoscopy
Emily Sullivan, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Taylor Tressel, 7 South Atrium
Ashley Wade, Radiation Oncology
Rebeccah Willard, RUSH University Cancer Center
Glorious Wilson, Hospital Operations Administration
Kyle Wright, Emergency Department
Eric Zack, 14 East Tower
Technical Expertise
Bethany Aikenhead, 10 East Tower
Victor Ambrosio, RUSH Rehabilitation
Kylie Begue, Perioperative Care Unit
Ashlee Bertram, 9 North Atrium
Suzi Chung, 7 South Atrium
Angela Cooper, 5 Kellogg / 9 Kellogg
Marianne Corrieri–Alaniz, Labor and Delivery
Jennifer Cranson, 14 East Tower
Anne Marie Delliquadri, Catheterization Laboratory
Kathryn Gianopolus, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Emory Goant, Endoscopy
Edgar Allan Gonzalez-Caracheo, 7 North Atrium
Shelby Gross, 7 North Atrium
Katelyn Huck, 7 North Atrium
Ofelia Jaczko, 13 East Tower
Ann Lieb, 7 North Atrium
Jennifer Manson, 10 West Tower
Kelly McCann, RUSH University Cancer Center
Jack Neylon, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Geysa Ng, RUSH University Cancer Center
Felicia Pautsch, Endoscopy
Jamie Schanz, 14 East Tower
Amy Schloss, Radiation Oncology
Melissa Silverlight, Professional Nursing Practice
Jordan Smith, 11 East Tower
Nicole Sulima, 10 East Tower
Christine Joy Villaros, 14 West Tower
Kaelin Walsh, Operating Room
Chandala Watson, General Pediatrics
Francesca Wegener, 7 North Atrium
Nellie Barry, 10 East Tower
Rachel Corrado, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Jacqueline Erickson, RUSH University Medical Group, Neurology
Kendra Gates, 13 West Tower
Angela Geschrey, Professional Nursing Practice
Carline Guerrier,9 North Atrium
Maggie Heraty, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Christine Hull, 9 North Atrium
Angela Hurley, 7 North Atrium
Joanna Kane, 7 North Atrium
LaTanya Kennedy, RUSH Rehabilitation
Maria Mietus, Perioperative Care Unit
Candace Moore, RUSH University Cancer Center
Margie Par, RUSH Rehabilitation
Humberto Rodriguez, Endoscopy
Christin Scott, Labor and Delivery
Angelika Stachura, RUSH University Medical Group
Arlene Todd, Perioperative Care Unit
Colleen Wallek, 14 West Tower
Whitney Willis, RUSH University Cancer Center
Ashley Boumgarden, Emergency Department
Karla Cavazos, RUSH University Cancer Center
Andrea Crawford, RUSH University Medical Group, Ears, Nose and Throat
Karyn Dionne-Quiros, Access Center
Jacqueline Erickson, RUSH University Medical Group, Neurology
Justin Erwin, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Joi Evans, Rush Rehabilitation
Melissa Gerr (Jankes), Operating Room
Kirsten Gidd-Hoffman, 10 East Tower
Carline Guerrier, 9 North Atrium
Diane Jakubik, 14 West Tower
Sheila Levins, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Orlando Maldonado, Catheterization Laboratory
Denina McCullum-Smith, Post Anesthesia Care Unit
Humberto Rodriquez, Endoscopy
Tammara Trice, Multispecialty Clinic Oak Brook
Lisa Boudreau
Lisa Maurer, 14 East Tower
Amy Schloss, Radiation Oncology
Jenna Thomas, RUSH University Cancer Center, Gastrointestinal Navigator
Elyse Adkins, RUSH University Medical Group, Ears, Nose and Throat
Caitlin Carr, Pediatric Sub-Specialty
LaShon Gurrola, Ambulatory Care Management
Natalie Laverty, RUSH University Medical Group, Urology
Madeline McIntosh, RUSH University Cancer Center, Breast Coordinator
Samantha Medina, RUSH University Medical Group, Neurology
Deborah Nalian, RUSH University Cancer Center, Infusion
Kathleen O’Malley, Radiation Oncology
Giovanna Zito, RUSH University Cancer Center
Carmen Acevedo
Michael Bohnenstiehl
Meghan Connery
Serena Schoff
Janel Draxler, RUSH University Medical Group, Psychiatric Clinic
Maria Malalis, 4 Kellogg
Zainab Taiwo, RUSH University Medical Group, Psychiatric Clinic
Daphne Tse-Guillen, 4 Kellogg
Norah Vo, 13 Kellogg
9N Patient Satisfaction Employee Engagement Committee
Glycemic Taskforce
Reducing Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries
Endoscopy Education Committee
Labor and Delivery Promoting Vaginal Births
Cardiac Cath Quality Committee
10 East, Recruitment, Retention and Recognition Committee
Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, Beacon Award
Clinical Staffing Office Spirit/Recognition
Emergency Department Education Committee, RN Comp Team
8 Atrium, Safe Sleep for Infants
RUSH University Medical Group, Lung Cancer Screening Program
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Braden QD
Rachel Start and Sharon Schonemann
Cynthia Brincat
