Seven Emory nurses received top honors in selected categories at the 2013 Nurse of the Year Awards, sponsored by the Georgia Chapter of the March of Dimes in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia. More than 800 nurses were nominated from across the state and from those, over 300 finalists emerged.
Through Nurse of the Year Awards, the March of Dimes recognizes nurses who demonstrate exceptional patient care, compassion and service. Whether serving as a health care provider, educator, researcher or chapter volunteer/advisor, these nurses have played a critical role in improving the health of Georgia’s residents. Emory nurses were awarded in the following categories:
Debbie Gunter, RN, Emory University Hospital - Category: Hospice/Home Health/Palliative Care
Roberta Kaplow, PhD, RN, Emory University Hospital - Category: Oncology
Mylinh Yun, RN, Emory University Hospital - Category: Rising Star
Mary Zellinger, RN, Emory University Hospital - Category: Advanced Practice
Mary Gullatte, PhD, RN, Emory University Hospital Midtown - Category: Administration
Angela Amar, PhD, RN, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing - Category: Behavioral Health
Tami Thomas, PhD, RN, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing - Category: Informatics, Research and Evidence-Based Practice
"We are extremely proud of our nurses and their exemplary leadership and dedication to health care," says Susan Grant, MS, RN, FAAN, chief nurse executive, Emory Healthcare. "We are honored that March of Dimes recognizes the hard work and tireless efforts of our Emory Healthcare nurses."
"Our awardees truly deserve this tremendous honor by March of Dimes,” says Linda A. McCauley, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of Emory’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. “The ongoing commitment to excellence in education, research and practice by our nurses makes them leaders in their fields."
The event, co-chaired by Kim Sharkey, Independent Leadership Consultant, and Linda A. Streit, dean and professor at Georgia Baptist College of Nursing of Mercer University, had over 600 attendees and raised over $160,000, making it one of the top Nurse of the Year events in the country.
"Nurses are the unsung heroes of the medical community and Nurse of the Year is a chance to honor those in the nursing profession who have dedicated their lives to ensuring that Georgia’s citizens have the best healthcare possible,” said Sheila Ryan, State Director for the March of Dimes. “The accomplishments of this year’s winners were incredible and highlighted the commitment to their respective fields and communities."
All finalists represented the March of Dimes vision for a healthier, stronger generation of babies and families.