Nine nurses from Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN) received top honors at the March of Dimes Tennessee Chapter Nurse of the Year Awards, held recently at Belmont University’s Maddox Grand Atrium.
The event, in its eighth year, recognizes nurses who embody leadership, compassion and excellence in patient care across nursing specialties.
Here are the Vanderbilt winners, by category:
- Advanced Practice, Jennifer Wilbeck, DNP, APRN, VUSN; Angela Wilson-Liverman, MSN, CNM, VUMC.
- Graduate Student Nurse, Stephanie Abbu, MSN, RN, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
- Hospice and Palliative Care, Erin Harvilla, RN, Children’s Hospital.
- Pediatric, Beth Sparta, RN, Children’s Hospital.
- Public and Community Health, Patricia Detzel, MSN, CNM, VUMC.
- Quality and Patient Safety, Caitlin Pugh, RN, Children’s Hospital.
- Research, Mary Jo Gilmer, PhD, MBA, RN, VUSN
- Women’s Health, Ginny Moore, DNP, APRN, VUSN
“It is my pleasure to offer congratulations to these remarkable nurses,” said Marilyn Dubree, MSN, RN, Executive Chief Nursing Officer. “At Vanderbilt, we work with the very best in the nursing profession.”
VUSN Dean Linda Norman, DSN, RN, the Valere Potter Menefee Professor in Nursing, complimented the March of Dimes for recognizing such a strong group of professionals.
“These are nurses changing lives in Middle Tennessee and beyond,” Norman said. “They represent the very best in patient care and in nursing education. I’m delighted to see so many alumni and faculty honored.”
The winners were chosen from more than 5,000 nurse nominees nationwide and 110 local nominees who represent the March of Dimes’ vision for a healthier, stronger generation of babies and families. Award recipients were determined by a selection committee comprised of nursing professionals who screened the nominations in a structured review process.
“These nurses are very deserving of this honor and we are pleased to play a role in saluting these patient champions for the care they provide daily,” said Pam Rudisill, senior vice president and chief nursing officer of Community Health Systems and 2017 Nurse of the Year event chairperson.
