There’s no one way to be a nurse.  There is, of course, the familiar registered nurse, working at the bedside, facilitating care plans, and managing diagnostic tests and medications. But the field has broadened to include nurse educators and executives, surgical nurses, pediatric and natal specialists, informaticists, PhD-level nurses doing research, and advance practice nurses who independently treat patients.

What has not changed is the driving force behind becoming a nurse. Linda Cook, PhD, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing and a Baltimore Excellence in Nursing advisor (see our list of this year’s honorees, here), explains that most nurses have a personal connection with the field—a relative who was a nurse, or a health experience that brought them in close proximity to nursing.

“Others have chosen nursing as a second career wanting to have more contact with people and make a difference in their life,” she says, adding that she has students who shifted to nursing when their original degree didn’t provide the opportunity and fulfillment they’d hoped for. “They saw what nurses were able to achieve and wanted to be able to do the same.”

So what are the ideal traits for a nurse? Creativity, flexibility, patience, analytical prowess, and compassion, says Cook, as well as a deep commitment to care that often manifests in nurses routinely going above and beyond the bounds of their job.

Here, we meet four nurses who share—in their words—stories of how they have gone the extra mile to bring care and comfort to their patients.

DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

Jacqui Wienecke, System Director Utilization Management-Maryland Region, MedStar Health

There are so many ways to help outside of just the bedside. That is core to being a nurse, but there are all these other pieces that affect a patient’s ability to be successful when they’re finished in their hospital course. That’s case management.

We had a case where one of my team members reached out and said their patient wanted to leave [against medical advice] because they had been here for four days, and their dog was home, and they didn’t have anyone to care for it. We tried to find emergency fosters, but we didn’t have any luck. The dog was a pit bull mix, which unfortunately made it harder. I went to talk to the patient, and he was like, “I have to get home to my dog. She’s not going to have any food. There’s not going to be any water left.” So, I said, “Would you stay if we could find care for your dog?” And he said that he would.

He assured us that the dog, T-bone, had no history of aggression, so we decided that we were going to go to his house, which wasn’t far from Franklin Square, to let his dog out and feed it. Our chief nursing officer, another member of case management, and I stopped at PetSmart, got food, got treats, got all the stuff. We went to the gentleman’s house. We called him on FaceTime with his permission, so he could talk to the dog, and the dog could hear his voice.

The dog was perfectly sweet. We filled the food and water bowl, and she went outside and did her business. We considered the next steps and decided that I would come back again later that day, and then our CNO would come the next day, and we’d continue to care for this dog while the patient was in the hospital. Fortunately, he was cleared to leave later that evening.

It was so simple, yet so far out of the norm of what I think people consider part of hospital care. But his support system was that dog—he didn’t have anybody else. The importance of that dog to him was a barrier to his getting the care he needed, and we needed to look at how could we fix that.

We had another patient who’d been with us for six months and at Christmastime was asked what he wanted and all he wanted was a haircut. We got a volunteer stylist and created a salon and surprised him with his Christmas wish. He literally cried. He couldn’t believe that we cared enough to make that happen for him.

Nurses are just like that, we see a problem and we figure it out. We just do what needs to be done.

CREATING LASTING MEMORIES

Alexandra Page, Neonatal Nurse, Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital

Working with babies is super special for me. They’re so resilient. I look at it like I’m caring for one of my own babies. Their parents are going through so much that it’s hard for them to even take a break for a minute, so you’re providing care and comfort to them, as well. You’re not just caring for the baby; you’re caring for the whole family.

I have always loved crafting and doing anything to make a memory. These parents are just fighting for their babies. They forget or shouldn’t even have to think about documenting anything. As nurses, we can create a memory for them. I always loved photos, and I just thought if I see a special moment happening, I’d try to capture that for them. That’s what really started me wanting to offer photography for parents.

When I experienced my first loss [on the job], we took pictures for the family. That started the passion toward bereavement photography—trying to offer these parents something that they can take with them and hold onto when they can’t take their babies home.

But I also wanted to give them a sense of fun and normalcy. I’ve heard parents say, “I never got newborn pictures because we spent the first six months in the hospital.” So I want to give them that time to just have fun and to capture the little positive milestones if the babies are in the hospital and they’re in the process of getting better.

With bereavement pictures, I meet with [parents] and talk to them about their baby, and then I usually take pictures of the baby with them in the room, or I take the baby and take pictures privately. If they feel comfortable, I bring the baby in and do family pictures with them, as well. I did a session where I had taken pictures of the baby when she was born and she was doing really well, and gave the parents those pictures, and then she had a really bad day and was going to be taken off life support. The parents called me to come in, and I photographed that process—them saying goodbye. That was a really sad experience, but it gave them a concrete memory they could hold on to.

There was a baby I spent four hours with—just me and her family. Four nurses came in and helped me move her to a private room. We took a ton of pictures, and we spent time with her older brother. Her parents got to hold her and just be with her, and that was really special. She ended up passing a few days later, and her family had two big photo albums of every picture I took printed out at her service.

Nurses go through a lot of stressful, hard days, and even if it’s more work for me, I still feel like it’s also a healing process for me, giving these parents this gift. They email me afterwards and say, “I look at these pictures every day.”

In nursing, that’s all we want to do is comfort our patients and make sure they are feeling better. If these pictures make them feel better, it makes me feel better, as well.

CARING FOR THE OVERLOOKED

Shannon Tieman, Psychiatric and Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, BrightWell Health

I wanted to be a nurse my entire life. My father died of esophageal cancer when I was about two years old, and that introduced me to medicine. What drew me to addiction and mental health was seeing the need, the devastation, and the lack of treatment for these patients.

I worked in primary care for a number of years as a nurse practitioner, and I saw mental health and addiction in the clinic all day long. I’m drawn to patients who have a greater degree of illness. It is something that motivates me as they need the most help.

On any given day I see between 12 to 28 patients. It’s [what’s called] a low-barrier to care clinic, so we really don’t refuse anyone. Most of these patients have complex needs. It’s a vulnerable patient population, so they don’t have phones, there’s a lot of abuse, domestic violence, a lot of poor self-sufficiency skills. A lot of them are unemployed. A lot of them don’t have anybody but us to support them.

When I first started working here, we had a ton of patients who were on high-dose chronic benzodiazepines [a controlled substance medication often used to treat anxiety and seizures] from prescribers who no longer filled those prescriptions. And they can’t stop these medications, because benzodiazepines cause withdrawal and people can die from them. It’s really an epidemic; 68 million people are on chronic benzodiazepines, and most prescribers don’t know how to get them off. If you say you won’t fill the prescription, they go to the streets, and then they die with fentanyl use.

Some of these patients have been ruined by these medications. They’ve been on them since they were 25 years old, and are now 58. I really had no choice but to figure out what we could do to support them.

So I took them on as patients, and I worked to figure out an approach that could work while keeping them safe. BEST STEPS—Benzodiazepine Engagement and Safer Transition, Staged Tapering, Empower Patients, Success—is a protocol to wean people off. We’ve weaned about 70 percent of our patients. Patients who have felt helpless are starting to feel like they have control of their life back.

I’m happy to share this protocol. We’ve been talking about it at conferences, at events. I want people to know that they have options, that we don’t need to just dissolve from this benzo crisis.

What drives me is the patients. When I think about them and their struggles, that’s the thing that makes me work harder, that makes me want to help more. I absolutely love what I do, and it doesn’t burn me out. The patients are the reason why I’m here. They’re the reason why I’ve done all I’ve done. On my worst days, they bring me up.

COMPASSIONATE LISTENING

Brooke Harmon, Emergency Department, LifeBridge Health Sinai

My twin sister and I were the patients when we were younger, and all I can remember from those not-so-great times of our lives is the nursing staff who helped us. They would bend over backward to make sure we were getting the best care that we needed, and from a young age I realized that’s the career that I wanted. I strive to help other people, and that’s why I went into nursing.

When you work in the emergency department, you are usually seeing people on their worst day. They’re nervous, they’re scared, they don’t know what’s going on, or you have a chronic patient who is consistently in the ER due to health concerns.

What I try to do as a nurse is to make those individuals as comfortable as possible. Being able to care for patients who have positive outcomes makes me feel great as a nurse, to be a part of a care team to help make that person’s day and their hospital stay better.

But when you work in the emergency department, there are not always positive outcomes. We had a patient come in rather unexpectedly and the individual was not much older than me—it was not a positive outcome. When it came to the postmortem care and the wife came back to view her husband, all I could think of was that I could be in her shoes. I’m a mother. I have two very young kids. She has four very young kids who now have lost their father, and this is going to be a very big navigation change. So, in my head, I know for myself, I would need extra support in this time, in this transition, because it’s going to be a very long road ahead.

I wanted to make sure I was that person for her. She was obviously distraught, which comes with the territory of trauma nursing care. But when I saw her, I saw that I needed to be a support. And all she wanted to do was talk. So, we shared life stories about the patient. Sometimes listening is what these patients need, taking the time to just have that conversation goes a long way. And I was just sitting there actively listening. She was extremely grateful for that.

I would say probably 95 percent of individuals get into nursing because they want to be that person for other people. They want to help people in the times of their lives when they really need help the most.

* Interviews were edited for length and clarity.

Nursing has existed for centuries and can trace its roots back to the ancient Egyptians and Greeks. Florence Nightingale put a face on “modern” nursing in the 19th century, and the rise of antibiotics and formal education tracks—not to mention two world wars—shaped it in the 20th century. Even as nursing has evolved from its herbalism roots to a multi-faceted and highly respected career, an extraordinary commitment to the care of patients has remained consistent.

That is certainly the case for the 157 nurses recognized on this year’s list.

Year over year, we compile the Excellence in Nursing list from nominations submitted by nurse managers, colleagues—even members of the general public. The nomination form is comprehensive, asking for detailed evidence of what makes this particular nurse outstanding. And year over year, the nurse advisory panel responsible for selecting our winners (in this case, from nearly 600 nominations) says the same thing: It was so hard to choose; these are all such amazing nurses.

This year, we decided to delve deeper into the remarkable stories of some of our winning nurses. In our feature, “Beyond the Call,” we speak with four nurses who, in their own words, share just a few of the stories of how they’ve gone above and beyond what is asked of them in their daily round to ensure the safety and comfort of both patients and their loved ones. Read the full piece, here.

Amy Alsante, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CHEP, LSSGB, is the chief nursing officer at Sunburst Workforce Advisors with over a decade of progressive leadership in acute and ambulatory care. Alsante holds a BSN from Towson University, an MS from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and a doctorate in Executive Leadership from The George Washington University.

Linda K. Cook, PHD, is an assistant professor of nursing at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, where she teaches across all levels of nursing education. She has been a registered nurse for 48 years and is passionate about nursing. Her primary clinical background is critical care nursing.

Julia Irwin has been a nurse for 17 years, all at Mercy Medical Center on the Inpatient Oncology Unit. She was on the Clinical Ladder completing projects on medication reconciliation and group peer review. For the last seven years she’s been the clinical nurse manager and has enjoyed growing and supporting her staff. She’s a member of ONS and ANA.

Kara Ward, MSN, RN, CPN, serves as the director of clinical services at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital, bringing nearly 20 years of nursing experience to her role. Throughout her career, she has specialized in pediatric and women’s health nursing, with a professional trajectory that includes roles as a bedside nurse, nurse educator, and clinical leader.

Carlene Mello is the nurse manager of a med/surg telemetry unit at GBMC. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees through the University of Phoenix and was a 2016 recipient of Baltimore’s Excellence in Nursing award.

Dorhonja Nichols, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, is a nursing leader with extensive experience advancing quality and safety across complex care environments within a large academic health system and currently serves as director of Nursing for Critical Care and Behavioral Health Services at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center. She is an American Hospital Association Next Generations Leadership Fellow Graduate.

Sarah Porter is a director of nursing programs at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she is responsible for assisting the vice president of nursing with coordination of executive priorities and implementation of operational and strategic objectives.

Kaylene Ross works per diem in peri-op services at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, ensuring high-quality, safe patient care to surgical patients. Her more than 50 years of nursing experience include open heart surgery, pediatrics, labor and delivery, education, general and orthopedic surgery, ICU, and nursing leadership.

ACUTE CARE/FAMILY PRACTICE/GENERAL MEDICINE

SURYAMOL CHACKO
Family Nurse Practitioner, MedStar Health

JOOYOUNG LEE
AP II, Greater Baltimore Medical Center

JOEY LEE
Diabetes Educator, UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center

BRITTANY SOEUN
Clinical Nurse II, MedStar Health

SEAN SQUIRES
Director of Nursing Operations, Kaiser Permanente

ACUTE REHABILITATION

ILANA TUCHMAN
Nurse Manager, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

ADMINISTRATION

CLAIRE CAFIRMA
Director of Perioperative, Endoscopy, and Interventional Radiology Nursing Services, Greater Baltimore Medical Center

MARGARET (MEGAN) LYNN
Director of Nursing, University of Maryland Access Center University of Maryland Medical System

BRAIN HEALTH

SIDONIE LUSANGA
Assistant Nurse Manager LifeBridge Health, Levindale

ANABELLE MAQUILING
RN, Charge Nurse LifeBridge Health, Levindale

CARDIOVASCULAR

DORIS (DEE) HICKMAN
Staff Nurse II, MedStar Health

KATHERINE NEHRBASS
Senior Clinical Nurse, UM St. Joseph Medical Center

Kendra Coles

Director of Nursing, Women’s and Children’s Services
UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center

“There is something truly special about women’s and children’s health—supporting the arrival of new life while ensuring children have a strong and healthy start. In the midst of today’s maternal health crisis, it is essential that we continue working to improve outcomes for women and infants while addressing disparities that exist across racial and socioeconomic groups.

“My leadership in the pediatric space also gives me the opportunity to invest in the health of the next generation. The care we provide to children today has a lasting impact on the overall health of our communities tomorrow.”

CASE MANAGEMENT

KRISTIN KREMER
Registered Nurse Care Manager, Greater Baltimore Medical Center

KRISTINE MAULDIN
Senior Nurse Care Manager, Kennedy Krieger Institute

SHANA ROBERTSON
Nurse Case Manager, UM Upper Chesapeake Health

LISA WETZELBERGER
Nurse Care Manager. Kennedy Krieger Institute

JACQUI WIENECKE
System Director.  Utilization Management-Maryland Region MedStar Health

COMMUNITY CARE/ AMBULATORY CARE

TIFFANY VICKERS
Nurse Manager, Kaiser Permanente

STEFANIE WIDNER
RN, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

COORDINATION OF MEDICAL CARE/TFC

BARB OBST
Nurse Coordinator, Kennedy Krieger Institute

EDUCATOR

JEANIE ANASTASI
Clinical Simulation Lead Educator, Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Nursing

SHELBY CAHILL
Nursing and Professional Development Specialist, Johns Hopkins Health System

EMILY CIMIRRO
Education Specialist, Greater Baltimore Medical Center

KELLY DORAN
Associate Professor, UM Baltimore Community Engagement Center

JACKQUELINE EASLEY
Nurse Educator, VA Maryland Healthcare System

JOSIE GORMAN
Professional Development, Specialist MedStar Health

HELEN HART
Nurse Educator, VA Maryland Health Care System

MICHELLE HOPSON
Clinical Program Manager, Nurse Residency Program, Greater Baltimore Medical Center

BARBARA SMITH
Nurse Coordinator LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Brooke Harmon

Emergency Department
Lifebridge Health, Sinai

“Nursing is an ever-growing field. We’re always learning. We’re always trying to do better and trying to do the best for our patients, and especially in the Emergency Department, to assist individuals who need help who aren’t the patient, to make sure the family is comfortable and supported, as well.”

Read more about Harmon, here. 

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

EVELYN ALVARADO
RN, Mercy Medical Center

ANNIE BELIN
RN, LifeBridge Health, Grace Medical Center

IAN BERNARD
RN, LifeBridge Health, Grace Medical Center

TONYA BETHEL
Nurse Manager. LifeBridge Health, Grace Medical Center

BOBBY BINKO
RN, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

CASEY DAVIS
Pediatric CUC Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital

BROOKE HARMON
RN, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

LUKE HARNED
RN, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

JOSHUA KIM
RN, Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital

TRISHA KIREJCZYK
RN II, MedStar Health

MARY KONOPACKI
RN, BSN, Mercy Medical Center

DEANA KRUG
Clinical Nurse, MedStar Health

ARIEL LEONE
Nurse Manager, Greater Baltimore Medical Center

RUBY LIN
Assistant Nurse Manager, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

BRITTANY LOOKINGBILL
RN, LifeBridge Health, Carroll Hospital

IMANI MULZAC
RN, LifeBridge Health, Grace Medical Center

EMMA PELLER
Clinical Nurse, MedStar Health

NENA TAVEIRA DA SILVA
Assistant Director of Nursing, MedStar Health

PETER TINUOYE
RN, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

REBECCA WILLINGER
Clinical Coach, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Fernando “Tony” Johnson

Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
Medstar Harbor Hospital

“I was drawn to nursing a very long time ago. I was trained as a special forces (green beret) medic in the United States Army. What I love about the PACU is the fluidity of the environment. The patients who I see come directly to the recovery room after a surgical procedure. Their condition can be anything from conscious and stable to unconscious and sometimes requiring considerable support and interventions. There’s never a dull moment.”

EMPLOYEE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

CARRIE MONE
Occupational Health Nurse RN, BSN, University of Maryland Medical System

HOSPICE/HOME HEALTH/PALLIATIVE CARE

JENNIFER BROTHERTON
Case Manger, Johns Hopkins Care at Home

ASHLEY ENGLISH
RN Homecare, Clinical Lead, MedStar Health

MARJORIE SIMPSON
Inpatient Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, LifeBridge Health, Carroll Hospital

ICU STEPDOWN, INTERMEDIATE CARE

ADEYINKA (JESSICA) ADEDEJI
RN, UM R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center

ICU STEPDOWN, VASCULAR ACCESS

JOHN JOSEPH DE GUZMAN FACUNDO
Clinical Nurse IV, Charge Nurse, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

INFECTION CONTROL

TONGELA RUSSOE
RN, Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital

INTENSIVE CARE

RICHARD ALVERO
RN, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

BROOKE ANDERSEN
Director of Advanced Practice Education, CRNP, UM R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center

ZACHARY BENSLEY
Assistant Nurse Manager, UM R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center

LINDA BROOKS
Senior Clinical Nurse II University of Maryland Medical Center

RYAN DE TORRES
Clinical Ladder Registered Nurse IV, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

JENNIFER WHITCOMB
RN, Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital

KATIE WICKLEIN
Clinical Nurse Expert, LifeBridge Health, Northwest Hospital

SAMANTHA YOUNG
Clinical Nurse Specialist, The Johns Hopkins Hospital

INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY

CHERRY JUAKAY
RN, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

KATIE KALMANOVICH
RN II, Greater Baltimore Medical Center

BRITTANI REID
RN, Mercy Medical Center

CHRISTINE TAN
RN, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Ethan Bryant

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
The Johns Hopkins Hospital

“Successful nurses are compassionate, adaptable, and strong communicators. Critical thinking is essential, especially in high-acuity environments like the PICU, where situations can change quickly. A willingness to continue learning and growing professionally also helps nurses remain effective and resilient throughout their careers. Equally important is teamwork—no one provides care alone in healthcare.”

LABOR AND DELIVERY

GIGI CATLIN
Clinical Nurse II, UM St. Joseph Medical Center

MANAGEMENT/NURSE EXECUTIVES

ATINUKE AWOSIKA
Nurse Executive, LifeBridge Health, Levindale

MARIVIC BACWADEN
Assistant Director of Nursing, MedStar Health

BARBARA BOSAH
Nurse Manager, University of Maryland Medical Center

RAILENE BROSEGHINI
Nurse Manager Mercy Medical Center

JESSICA BRUZDZINSKI
Assistant Nurse Manager, The Johns Hopkins Hospital

ETHAN BRYANT
Assistant Nurse Manager, The Johns Hopkins Hospital

KENDRA COLES
Director of Nursing, Women’s and Children’s, UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center

ELIZABETH DIPIETRO
Assistant Vice President of Inpatient Nursing, Kennedy Krieger Institute

CHRISTA FEOLA
Sr. Director of Nursing, MedStar Health

ROSINA GONZALES
Manager of Accreditation and Certifications, UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center

NADINE HENRY THOMAS
Director Nursing MedStar Health

JEAN JAUREGUI
Director of Nursing, Critical Care and Behavioral Health, UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center

AMANDA SHROUT
Vice President of Patient Care Services, Chief Nursing Officer, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital, Grace Medical Center

MARIE LILETTE “MILETTE” SORIANO
Nurse Manager LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

ARIEL WOODWARD
Director of Nursing, Disease Specific Programs MedStar Health

ASHLEY YOUSEFIAN
Director of Quality Improvement, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING

JOJO ABRENICA
RN, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

AMELITA BAGAY
RN, MedStar Health

FUNMI BALOGUN
RN, MedStar Health

RAJHEA BENNETT
RN, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

ASHIYA CARTWRIGHT
RN, MedStar Health

PERLITA CHIN
RN, MedStar Health

LAURA CHOWDHRY
Clinical Nurse III, Mercy Medical Center

JULIE COSIMANO
Nurse Navigator, MedStar Health

GRETCHEN DARROCA
RN IV, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center

BRITNEY HUFHAM
RN II, Greater Baltimore Medical Center

KYA JOHNSON
RN, Mercy Medical Center

RASHIDAT LARSAH
RN, UM Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Institute

KAREN MUNOZ
Clinical Nurse University of Maryland Medical Center

OLIVIA RANKIN
RN III, The Johns Hopkins Hospital

JOANNA SANCHEZ
RN, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

ROSELYN SEBASTIAN
Nurse Manager LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

SOPHIA SKELLY
RN, MedStar Health

NEUROLOGY/ PSYCHOLOGY/ BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

MERLE AMPARO
Lead Clinical Nurse, The Johns Hopkins Hospital

NICOLE GOFF
Comprehensive Stroke Nurse Navigator MedStar Health

CHRISTA PAGE
RN II, MedStar Health

LENA SUTCH
Stroke Program Coordinator, UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center

ONCOLOGY

ERNEST LAURENCE CABAÑAS
RN, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

CIARA MCHUGH
Nurse Manager, The Johns Hopkins Hospital

SYDNEE SAPACK
Clinical Nurse II, Mercy Medical Center

MEGAN SCHOLLENBERGER
Senior Nurse Practitioner, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

MEGAN SCHWARTZ
Nurse Manager, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

SONJA VOZNIAK
Nurse Manager, Apheresis/HATS, The Johns Hopkins Hospital

ALEDA WALTERS
Oncology Clinical Educator, Ascension Saint Agnes Cancer Institute

MAYA WASHINGTON
Clinical Nurse II, Mercy Medical Center

MONICA WILT
Clinical Program Director, Johns Hopkins Health System

OPERATING ROOM

STEVEN ADAMS
Nurse Manager, Sterile Processing Department, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

ANNET ADEGBOYEGA
Clinical Outcomes Specialist, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

SHEILA ANGOBUNG
Vascular Surgery Coordinator, University of Maryland Vascular Surgery

RACHEL HELLMANN
Nurse Manager, General Operating Room and Surgical Posting, Greater Baltimore Medical Center

LAUREN MASSER
Clincial Nurse II, Mercy Medical Center

MARY FRANCES MONTE
Clinical Nurse II, Mercy Medical Center

SILVANA WILLOUGHBY
Clinical Program Manager and Education Specialist, Greater Baltimore Medical Center

Alexandra Page

Neonatal Nurse
Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital

“With neonatal babies, I always look at it like I’m caring for one of my own babies. And their parents are going through so much that it’s hard for them to even take a break for a minute, so you’re providing care and comfort to them, as well.”

Read more about Page, here. 

ORTHOPEDICS

NORIS GALEDO
RN, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

TROY HERAMIA
RN, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

NEYSA OLID
RN, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

PEDIATRICS: NEONATAL

OLIVIA HALABY
RN, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

ZOE OGDEN
RN II, Greater Baltimore Medical Center

ALEXANDRA PAGE
RN, Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital

ALLISON SCHMIDT
Clinical Outcomes Specialist, LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

PEDIATRICS: NON-NEONATAL

LIANE BRUTON
RN, Mercy Medical Center

CAPUCINE DINGLE
RN, Kennedy Krieger Institute

TINA HUMBEL
Nurse Manager University of Maryland, Golisano Children’s Hospital

LAURA MCNABB
Nurse Coordinator, Kennedy Krieger Institute

LISA SHOEMAKER
Nurse Manager, The Johns Hopkins Hospital

PERIANESTHESIA

SANDY RAMOS
Perianesthesia, Nurse Educator, Mercy Medical Center

ALEXANDRA TALBOTT
Clinical Nurse II, Mercy Medical Center

POST ANESTHESIA UNIT

FERNANDO (TONY) JOHNSON
Clinical Nurse, MedStar Health

PREADMISSION TESTING

TANJA GROSS
RN, Mercy Medical Center

PSYCHIATRIC

SURYAMOL CHACKO
DNP, FNP-C, PMHNP-C MedStar Health

SHARON CARROLL
Nurse Practitioner, Sheppard Pratt

CATHY FIELD
School Nurse, Sheppard Pratt

LISA HOFFMANN
Nurse Pracitioner, Sheppard Pratt

ALLYSON KEMP
Nurse Pracitioner, Sheppard Pratt

GELILA RETTA
Nurse Practitioner, Sheppard Pratt

LAURA STARTZMAN
Sr. ECT Nurse, Sheppard Pratt

SHANNON TIEMAN
Lead, Co-occurring Behavioral Health, BrightWell Health

REHABILITATION

STACY GUERIN
Director of Nursing, UM Rehabilitation & Orthopedic Institute

RESEARCH

MARIK MOEN
Associate Professor, UM Addiction Treatment Programs

SCHOOL NURSE

GAIL HALL
School Nurse, Baltimore County Public Schools

MARY KONOPACKI
RN, BSN, St. Joseph School-Fullerton

TRANSPLANT

MARY JOHNSON
Post Lung Transplant RN, University of Maryland Heart and Lung Transplant

TRAUMA

KAREN MCQUILLAN
Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist, UM R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center

WOMEN’S HEALTH

MELISSA JOHNSON
Director of Nursing, The Johns Hopkins Hospital

MEGHAN MINOR
Senior Clinical Nurse II, UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center

JULIE PLESCIA
Nurse Educator, Mercy Medical Center

STEPHANIE WILLIAMS
Nurse Navigator, Ascension Saint Agnes Breast Center

WOUND CARE

JESSICA SIMKINS
RN, BSN, WCC UM Upper Chesapeake Health

Each year, it’s our privilege to recognize a fraction of the thousands of nurses working in the area every day to make  patients’ lives healthier, safer, and happier. Without their skill and expertise, where would we be?

It is often said that nurses are “unsung heroes.” In this year’s feature story, we hear from nurses who are particularly unheralded, as they work outside the bright lights and camaraderie of hospital and community care settings—home health nurses.

In “Healing at Home,” writer Christina Breda Antoniades explores life for nurses who take care of patients who have been released to home but are not quite able to manage on their own. It’s a field that is only going to expand as the population ages, chronic conditions worsen, and more people require care outside the hospital.

Choosing these 158 nurses from the more than 600 nominations we received during our online submission period was a Herculean task undertaken by our panel of registered-nurse advisers, who gave their time and expertise to the selection process. Without their counsel, this list would not exist and we’re grateful for their time and insight.

DR. AMY ALSANTE
DNP, RN, NE-BC, CHEP, LSSGB
is the Chief Nursing Officer at Sunburst Workforce Advisors, with more than a decade of progressive leadership in acute and ambulatory care. Alsante holds a BSN from Towson University, an MS from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and a Doctorate in Executive Leadership from The George Washington University. She is passionate about cultivating cultures where exemplary professional practice can flourish, mentoring emerging nurse leaders, and creating innovative, fiscally sustainable care and staffing models.

LINDA K. COOK
PHD
is an assistant professor of nursing at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, where she teaches across all levels of nursing education. She has been a registered nurse for 48 years and is passionate about nursing. Her primary clinical background is critical-care nursing.

JULIA IRWIN
is has been a nurse for 17 years, all at Mercy Medical Center on the Inpatient Oncology Unit. The oncology population has a special place in her heart and she enjoys providing patients and their families excellent, compassionate care. She was on the Clinical Ladder, completing projects on medication reconciliation and group peer review. For the last seven years, she’s been the Clinical Nurse Manager and has enjoyed growing and supporting her staff. She’s a member of ONS and ANA.

JESSICA DECKER
RN, BSN, CPN
is the manager of the Pakula Infant Specialty Care Unit at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital. She is also a member of the Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital Vizient Nurse Residency Advisory Board.

CARLENE MELLO
is the nurse manager of a medical/surgery telemetry unit at GBMC. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees through the University of Phoenix and was a 2016 recipient of Baltimore’s Excellence in Nursing award.

DORHONJA NICHOLS
DNP, RN, NEA-BC
is the director of nursing for critical care and behavioral health services at the University of Maryland St. Joseph’s Medical Center. She is also a 2023 American Hospital Association Next Generation Leaders fellow and University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center Lean for Leaders graduate.

SARAH PORTER
is a director of nursing programs at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she is responsible for assisting the vice president of nursing with coordination of executive priorities and implementation of operational and strategic objectives.

KAYLENE ROSS
works part-time in perioperative education at MedStar Harbor Hospital, ensuring high-quality, safe patient care to surgical patients. Her more than 45 years of nursing experience includes open-heart surgery, pediatrics, labor and delivery, education, general and orthopedic surgery, ICU, and nursing leadership.

ACUTE CARE/FAMILY PRACTICE/GENERAL MEDICINE
Kayla Taylor
RN, Gilchrist Integrative Medicine at GBMC

ACUTE REHABILITATION
Lisa Leyrer
Nursing Director MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital

AESTHETICS
Kara Bagranoff
Aesthetic Registered Nurse Belcara Health

Amanda Pittillo
PA-C, ProMD Health Bel Air

CARDIOVASCULAR
Kim Caldwell
Charge Nurse MedStar Union Memorial Hospital

Kathleen “Kate” Jacober
Clinical Nurse MedStar Union Memorial Hospital

Kristen Reynolds
Nurse Case Manager UM St. Joseph Medical Center

Norma Velasco-Flores
Nurse Practitioner/Advance Practice Provider Heart Failure Clinic UM St. Joseph Medical Center

CASE MANAGEMENT
JoAnn Parr
Senior Director of Care Management, Utilization Review, and Care Transitions Greater Baltimore Medical Center

Jacqueline “Jacqui” Wienecke
Director of Case Management MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center

CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 
Lily Grybauskas
Nurse Practitioner LifeBridge Health, Center for Hope

COMMUNITY CARE/AMBULATORY CARE
Ashley Clark
Nurse Navigator LifeBridge Health, Carroll Hospital

Carrie Mone
Registered Nurse University of Maryland Medical System

Priya Nair
Nurse Manager University of Maryland Medical Center

Eileen Simione
Registered Nurse Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

COMPREHENSIVE STROKE
Lindsay Goff
Stroke Coordinator BSN,RN,NRP UM Upper Chesapeake Health

Ariel Woodward
Stroke Program Coordinator MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center

EDUCATOR
Jane Balkam
Professor of Nursing Notre Dame of Maryland University

Catherine Case
Clinical Affiliations Coordinator and Nurse Educator LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Carolyn Cash
Clinical Practice & Development Coordinator University of Maryland
Medical Center

Rodnita Davis
Post-Baccalaureate Registered Nurse Residency (PB-RNR) Program Manager, Program Manager, Nursing Affiliations, Coordinator, Pathway to Excellence Baltimore Veterans Affairs of Maryland Healthcare System

Maria Julienne Diloy
Nursing Practice and Professional Development Specialist The Johns Hopkins Health System

Jennifer Dinoto
Professional Development Specialist MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center

Julie Ellis
Education Specialist Johns Hopkins Care at Home

Sarit Fleishman
Clinical Practice and Education Specialist University of Maryland Medical Center

Jessica Johnson
Professional Development Specialist MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center

Kasey Mundell
Clinical Nurse II & Clinical Instructor University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center

Sarah Steward
Supervisor – Clinical Excellence LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

BENJAMIN TIMSUREN
INTERVENTIONAL PULMONOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER

“The absolute best part of nursing is the daily opportunity I get to help someone feel better, improve their symptoms, or facilitate their treatment and recovery. I really value being able to pair the education and technical knowledge I’ve learned as a nurse with my personality and feel like I’m being my best self.”

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
Lydia Bonvillain
RN, Forensic Nurse Examiner Greater Baltimore Medical Center

Sara Burchill
Nurse Manager LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Donna Criss
Staff nurse LifeBridge Health, Carroll Hospital

Pattie Diegert
Senior Director, Nursing UM Upper Chesapeake Health

Corinne Ebert
RN LifeBridge Health, Carroll Hospital

Ajitha Mattathil
Lead Clinical Nurse Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center

Ami Miles
ED Nurse Manager UM St. Joseph Medical Center

Alma Ta-asan
RN IV LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Kristi Twigg
Director of Nursing MedStar Harbor Hospital

JOHN JOSEPH FACUNDO
INTENSIVE CARE
LIFEBRIDGE HEALTH, SINAI HOSPITAL

“Throughout the years, I have held many fearful hands, been someone’s voice, witnessed families grieve. My patients might forget my name, and that’s okay, but not the way I made them feel. That’s how I know I’m doing it right.”

ENDOCRINOLOGY
Amy Wenz
Senior Nurse Practitioner The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

GERENTOLOGY
Maurine Gabriels
Registered Nurse LifeBridge Health, Levindale

HOSPICE/HOME HEALTH/PALLIATIVE CARE
Barbara Bell
Registered Nurse CMAG Health Solutions, LLC

Eyerusalem Hagos
NP Greater Baltimore Medical Center

Darleen Sullivan
Hospice Clinical Manager Gilchrist Integrative Medicine at GBMC

INFORMATICS
Connie Gibbons
Senior Clinical Systems Analyst LifeBridge Health

Ashley Shelter
Clinical Nursing Informatics Specialist MedStar Union Memorial Hospital

INTENSIVE CARE
Jennifer Delaney
Registered Nurse Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital

John Joseph Facundo
Charge Nurse, RN III, PCCN-CMC LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Amie Hyle
RN UM St. Joseph Medical Center

Melissa LaRue
Critical Care Registered Nurse Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital

Everette Livado
Registered Nurse LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Kayla Mandrykin
Registered Nurse LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Margaret McGregor
Charge Nurse LifeBridge Health, Northwest Hospital

Larisa Pokras
RN LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Amanda Zambrano
Senior Clinical Nurse II University of Maryland Medical Center

INTERMEDIATE CARE
Fely Carillo
Clinical Nurse MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital

INTERVENTIONAL PULMONOLOGY
Ben Timsuren
Senior Clinical Nurse I University of Maryland Medical Center

INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY
Jessica Dunn
Inpatient Nurse Navigator Interventional Radiology Greater Baltimore Medical Center

Holly Thorn
Interventional Outpatient Nurse Navigator Greater Baltimore Medical Center

LONG TERM CARE/POST-ACUTE
Lisa McKoy
Certified Nurse Educator LifeBridge Health, Levindale

MAGNET CORDINATOR
Abby Brzezenski
Magnet Coordinator MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital

MANAGEMENT/NURSE EXECUTIVES
Ashley Bandurchin
Assistant Director Professional Practice, Education, & Research Greater Baltimore Medical Center

Kristen George
Nurse Manager University of Maryland R  Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center

Andrea L’Heureux
RN, BSN LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Cathy Mays
Chief Nurse Officer CMAG Health Solutions LLC

Glynda Murphy
Nurse Manager LifeBridge Health, Northwest Hospital

Sharon Owens
Executive Director of Nursing for Surgery The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Cindy Roles
Assistant Vice President of Nursing Operations MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center

Kristen Sudano
Nurse Manager UM St. Joseph Medical Center

Leslie Taylor
Manager and Provider LifeBridge Health

GAIL ZEPHYR
MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING
MEDSTAR FRANKLIN SQUARE MEDICAL CENTER

“Nursing is synonymous with being empathetic, compassionate, caring, and being in service to others…I’ve learned to be grateful that I was able to care for patients and their families, to be gracious that on my next shift I would care for the same patient once they remained hospitalized, and grateful that they went home to continue their recovery.”

MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING
Sibley Barnes
Clinical Nurse IV MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center

Nancy Bloom
RN LifeBridge Health, Carroll Hospital

Louela Cari-an
Registered Nurse II LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

David Hiett
Clinical Nurse MedStar Union Memorial Hospital

Melanie Hullana
Registered Nurse LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Leah Lewis-Garber
Nursing Outcomes Leader LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Hyeyon Kwon
Registered Nurse Baltimore Veterans Affairs of Maryland Healthcare System

Morgan Lutz
Charge Nurse LifeBridge Health, Northwest Hospital

Katie Pasqualini
Registered Nurse IV Greater Baltimore Medical Center

Karen Ponlaroche
Charge Nurse LifeBridge Health, Northwest Hospital

Gherell Regalado
Staff Nurse LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Sharon Romero
RN III Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center

Alyssa Wilkerson-Dietz
Clinical Nurse II UM St. Joseph Medical Center

Duncan Zeller
Clinical Nurse II University of Maryland Medical Center

Gail Zephyr
Director of Nursing MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center

JODI FELIPE
WELLNESS NURSE
BRIGHTVIEW SENIOR LIVING ANNAPOLIS

“I’m a caregiver. I do whatever my residents need done and always smile, be kind. I believe the residents’ appearance and mood are a direct reflection of the care I’ve provided.”

MEMORY CARE/ASSISTED LIVING/GERIATRICS
Jodi Felipe
Wellness Nurse Brightview Senior Living Annapolis

NEUROLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Edwin Juma
NP University of Maryland Medical Center

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
Christie Simon-Waterman
Nurse Practitioner The Johns Hopkins Hospital

ONCOLOGY
Kristie Davalli
Nurse Practioner LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Angela Galoppo
RN III The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Carol LaMere
Quality and Safety Nurse Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital Cancer Institute

Emily Little
Senior Clinical Nurse The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Matthew Magness
Registered Nurse UM Upper Chesapeake Health

Kimberly Mildner
RN Ascension Saint Agnes Cancer Institute

Kathy Mooney
Clinical Program Director Cellular Therapy The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Neelam Saini
RN I LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Kirsten Tomaschefsky
Assistant Nurse Manager/Interim Nurse Manager University of Maryland Medical Center

OPERATING ROOM
Jake Allam
BSN, RN Mercy Medical Center

Jeanne Delaney
RN, Assistant Nurse Manager University of Maryland Medical Center

Mac Gary Garcia
Senior Clinical Nurse I University of Maryland Medical Center

Nancy Gonzales
Clinical Nurse II MedStar Harbor Hospital

Donna McCormack
Clinical Nurse MedStar Union Memorial Hospital

Marshelle Morlock
BSN, RN Mercy Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction

Sarah Prock
OR RN II Greater Baltimore Medical Center

Clare Zimmerman
RIAO RN Team Leader LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Holly Watson
Clinical Nurse MedStar Union Memorial Hospital

ORTHOPEDICS
Rachel Nazareno
Registered Nurse LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Bianca Tilkens
Clinical Unit Coordinator Ascension Saint Agnes

Sara Trone
Staff Nurse LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY ICU
Candace Spock
RN II The Johns Hopkins Hospital

PEDIATRICS
Vicki Lowe
Lactation Specialist Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center

Thomas Shelley
Ambulatory Nurse Manager LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

PEDIATRICS EMERGENCY
Jenna Spencer
Clinical Nurse Specialist The Johns Hopkins Hospital

PEDIATRICS: NEONATAL
Dorothy Jones
Clinical Nurse II MedStar Harbor Hospital

Angel Masemore
Clinical Practice Manager MedStar Harbor Hospital

Lindsay Sneller
Senior Clinical Nurse I University of Maryland Medical Center

PEDIATRICS: NON-NEONATAL
Samantha Amedore
RN Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital

Kim Bilott
RN LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Tina Humbel
Nurse Manager University of Maryland Children’s Hospital

Jennifer Knox
Clinical Nurse II University of Maryland Children’s Hospital

Amanda Morris
Nursing Professional Development Specialist Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital

Hannah Riffey
Clinical Nurse IV – Inpatient Kennedy Krieger Institute

Emily Steer
CNII University of Maryland Children’s Hospital

Daisy Valladeres
CNII University of Maryland Children’s Hospital

PERIOPERATIVE SERVICES
Sara-Ann Ballard
BSN, RN, FNE-A, CAPA Mercy Medical Center

Annajeane Chua
RN LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Angela England
Assistant Nurse Manager LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Patty Guthrie
RN III The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Everlyne Onyango
RN LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Lisa Wisniewski
RN LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

PSYCHIATRY
Janice Binns-Hines
RN I LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Tracey Burdock
Clinical Nurse II MedStar Harbor Hospital

Jamie Cherry
Psychiatric Nurse Coordinator – Outpatient Kennedy Krieger Institute

Andrew Fausto
Nurse Coordinator University of Maryland Medical Center

Davinder Varde
Registered Nurse LifeBridge Health, Carroll Hospital

Tina Vest
Nurse Practitioner The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

RADIOLOGY
Caitlin Kwedar-Wamba
Interventional Radiology RN III
Greater Baltimore Medical Center

CAROL LAMERE
ONCOLOGY
ASCENSION SAINT AGNES HOSPITAL CANCER INSTITUTE

“We’re always told: Don’t get too attached. Don’t care too much, because you have to be objective. But it doesn’t matter. You do care too much. And if you didn’t care too much, you wouldn’t be a nurse, you’d be something else.”

REHABILITATION
Jessica Leeper
Clinical Nurse MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital

STROKE COORDINATOR
Lindsay Goff
Stroke Coordinator BSN,RN,NRP UM Upper Chesapeake Health

SUPPLY CHAIN
Stacy Fisher Hill
Value Analysis Coordinator LifeBridge Health

SURGERY
Valerie Elliott
Lead Nurse Practitoner The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Tikiki Linston
RN III The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Cindy Walker
Wound Care Specialist Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center

SURGERY/MANAGEMENT/NURSE EXECUTIVE
Heather Cullen
Assistant Nurse Manager The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Kim Damon-Gant
Assistant Patient Care Manager Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center

Rose Karlan
Nurse Manager The Johns Hopkins Hospital

SURGICAL INTENSIVE CARE
Symone Everrett-Day
Clinical Nurse Specialist The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Madison Goundry
Lead Clinical Nurse The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Shannon Trainor
Lead Clinical Nurse The Johns Hopkins Hospital

TRAUMA
Farah Wittmeyer
Clinical Nurse II University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center

TRAUMA/SURGERY
Christina Interrante
Trauma Prevention Coordinator The Johns Hopkins Hospital

WOMEN’S HEALTH: GENERAL
Alexius Hall
Director of Nursing MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center

Ashley McAree
Forensic Nurse/ Human Trafficking Liaison Greater Baltimore Medical Center

Leah Ruppe
Director of the Perinatal HIV Practice University of Maryland Medical Center

WOMEN’S HEALTH: LABOR AND DELIVERY
Michelle Hayes
Clinical Nurse II MedStar Harbor Hospital

Heather Johnson
RN LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

Florence Okeke
Clinical Nurse II MedStar Harbor Hospital

Heidi Ransford
Clinical Nurse II MedStar Harbor Hospital

Summer Twist
RN LifeBridge Health, Sinai Hospital

WOUND, OSTOMY, CONTINENCE CARE
Christina Encarnacion
Wound Care Nurse MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center

Sindhu Koneru
Wound Care Nurse MedStar Union Memorial Hospital