DAISY Award
The DAISY Award is an international program that rewards and celebrates the clinical skill and compassionate care delivered by nurses every day. The following DAISY Award winners are recognized as role models in our nursing community.
July 2024: Jake Moran, Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit
August 2024: Jada Abuhashish, Emergency Department
September 2024: Vanessa Sandoval, Labor & Delivery
October 2024: Katie Schipfer, Blood and Marrow Transplant and Hematology
November 2024: Katherine Qualley, Ante/Post Partum
Daisy Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity: Nicole Walkowiak, Wound, Ostomy and Continence
December 2024: Tyla Mapp, General Medicine
January 2025: Olivia Wirtz, Cardiosciences Intensive Care Unit
February 2025: Jessica Gbur, Medical Intensive Care Unit
March 2025: Allie Comes, Adult Intensive Care Unit
April 2025: Andrew Babochay, Interventional Services
May 2025: Nandini Patel, Cardiosciences Intensive Care Unit
June 2025: Marina Silva, General Medical-Surgical
Celebrating Advanced Practice Providers
Rush celebrates National Advanced Practice Provider, or APP, Week annually on the fourth week of September with the support of the Advanced Practice Executive Committee, or APEC. APPs are recognized for their many contributions to providing access to high-quality patient care.
*Award winner in bold
Jessica Cherikos DNP, WHNP, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Lory Arquilla-Maltby, DNP, APRN, ANP, BC, Internal Medicine/Geriatrics
Mary Freeman (Ross), DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, Rush Road Home Program
Ashley Menich, PA-C, MMS, Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
Katie Morris, PA-C, MS, BS, MA, Neuroscience ICU
Jonathan Schulz, PA-C, Substance Abuse Intervention Team
Monica Shah, PA-C, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Stephanie Snyder, FNP-BC, MSN, RN, Pediatric Neurology
Afia Ahmed, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Family Medicine
Amber Altidor, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, Supportive Oncology, Division of Hematology/Oncology
Jordan Elliott, DNP, AGPCNP-BC, RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center
JD Golon, PA-C, MSc, Urology
Elizabeth Hallau, PA-C, MS, BA, Rush University Family Physicians
Jenny Jothiyood, PA, NCCPA, Hematology/Oncology
Kelly King, DNP, FNP-BC, Rush Oak Park Family Medicine
Cindy Liu, PA-C, MS, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Alison Lubelchek, DNP, APRN, CPNP-P, Pediatric Neurology
Brendan Namoff, DNP, CRNA, Anesthesia
Kiara Perkins, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Rush School-Based Health Center, Wendell Phillips High School
Jamie Schanz, DNP, FNP-BC, OCN, MS, Hematology, Leukemia Team
Emily Sestak PA-C, MS, Transplant Program
Chloe Zito, PA-C, MMS, Bone Marrow Transplant
Hayley Altshuler, PA-C, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Dana Casalino, MSPAS, PA-C, Adult Psychiatry
Rick DiSanto, MPH, PA-C, Emergency Medicine
Maragaret Dolan, MMS, PA-C, OB/GYN
Kristin Gallas, MS, PA-C, Hematology/Oncology
Meghan Hoppes, PA-C, Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
Carmen Kaufman, MPAS, PA-C, Cardiology
Justine Lim, PA-C, Convenient Care
Ashley Menich, MMS, PA-C, Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
Joshua Mueller, PA-C, Family Medicine
Collen Reynolds, MPAS, PA-C, Dermatology
Stephanie Schroeder, MS, PA-C, Dermatology
Allison Terry, DMSc, PA-C, Orthopedics
Ellen Elpern Voice of the APRN Award
The Ellen Elpern Voice of the APRN Award is given annually to an Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, or 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, Radiation Oncology
Kimberly Blanchard, DNP, NP-C, Rush Memory Clinic
Elizabeth Breier, MSN, CNP, Rush Copley-Family Medicine
Susan Budds, DNP, ANP-BC, Hematology/Oncology
Emily Casselbury, FNP-BC, Substance Use Intervention Team
Elizabeth Day, MSN, CCNA, Adult Intensive Care Unit
Amy Folker, DNP, FNP-BC, Endocrinology
Casey Graff, MSN, NP-C, General Surgery
Megan Jones, MSN, NNP-BC, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Frances Lee, FNP-BC, Bariatric Surgery
Nicole Marks, FNP-BC, Emergency Medicine
Colleen Masters, MSN, ACNP-BC, Radiation Oncology
Kathryn McAndrews, MSN, ACNP-BC, Pulmonary Critical Care
Jennifer Sgro, FNP-BC, Family Medicine
Maria Stone, DNP, FNP-BC, Hematology/Oncology
Shellie Welch, MSN, AGACNP-BC, Cardiology
Danielle Wetzel, DNP, CPNP-PC, Pediatrics
Doshaine Williams, MSN, ACNP-BC, Cardiovascular Thoracic Intensive Care Unit
Lauren Wishne, DNP, FNP-BC, Gastroenterology
Veronica Yeung, MSN, WHNP, Obstetrics/Gynecology
Illinois Nurses Foundation 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leaders Award
The Illinois Nurses Foundation chose seven nurses and nursing faculty members as recipients for their annual 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leaders Award.
Sara Bynon Neely, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Kirsten Dickins, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC
Krzysztof Garbarz, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Laura Johnson, DNP, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, BMTCN
Kathleen Posa-Kearney, MSN, APRN, ACCNS-AG, CCRN
Bryce Silverlight, MSN, RN, CNE, CMSRN
Eric Widstrom, MBA, MSN, RN, NEA-BC
Nursing Wellness Awards
Rush Wellness continued its fourth year of the Nursing Wellness Awards, supporting innovative projects that promote physical, emotional, mental and environmental well-being in nursing staff. Made possible through a philanthropic donation, $100,000 was awarded to projects across the Rush University System for Health. Applications were reviewed by the Nursing Wellness Award Oversight Committee, which includes frontline nurses, nurse leaders across Rush, and representatives of Rush Wellness. Below are the Rush University and Rush University Medical Center selected recipients, along with their program descriptions.
Amy Manion, PhD: Online diversity, equity and inclusion communication platform for the College of Nursing. The platform encourages open communication, strengthening relationships and fostering cultural and mental wellness.
Soumya Padala, MDS, MS: Micro-breaks during work hours for critical care nurses. These short resets help staff provide quality care and decrease burnout.
David Steedly, RN: Snow City Arts hands-on artmaking workshops. Provides opportunities for creative self-expression, community building, resilience and restorative practices.
Magnet Course for Excellence Awards
The Rush Magnet Course for Excellence Award recognizes individual nurses or teams that exemplify the excellence conveyed by Magnet designation the highest honor in nursing.
*Award winner in bold
Maria Solonynko, RN, Medical Intensive Care Unit
Kelly McCann, BSN, OCN, RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center
Nicole Walkowiak, BSN, RN, CRRN, CWOCN, Professional Nursing Practice
Brittany Wells. BSN, RN, CCRN, Critical Care Outreach Team
Head and Neck Cancer Team
Operating Room Wellness Committee
Professional Nursing Staff Recognition Committee
UKG Nursing Team
House-wide Fall Oversight Committee
Lung Cancer Screening Program
Critical Care Outreach Team
Glycemic Taskforce
Nurses Helping Nurses
Medical Intensive Care Unit
Interventional Care Team
Adult Intensive Care Unit Progressive Mobility Team
Benign Infusion
Cardiology Electrophysiology Nursing Team
Cardiology Heart Failure Nursing Team