Awards and Recognition

The UT Southwestern Health System fosters the personal and professional excellence of nurses by recognizing their continuous efforts to advance practice, improve outcomes, and promote well-being. The administration of nursing excellence supports the ongoing professional development of nurses at all levels by advancing the practice of nurses and providing a platform to recognize and reward their achievements. The focus of those efforts is established through the collective work of sections within nursing excellence, including:

Clinical Education and Professional Development
Magnet Program Criteria (which encompasses Shared Governance)
Nursing Research
Rewards and Recognition

In 2023, the successes of our amazing nurses were recognized and rewarded in many ways, in part through accolades such as the awards that we proudly feature in this section.

Nurse working at a computer with "PACT" in text in the corner

PACT Awards

The PACT program recognizes employees who exhibit exceptional behaviors that achieve the goal of “excellence in patient care and customer service that we would be proud for our families, friends, and selves to receive.” The program provides a way for patients, co-workers, and physicians to recognize PACT behaviors “on the spot” and is designed to create a culture of praise and recognition.

The PACT program is a year-round campuswide initiative that encourages employees, patients, and visitors to recognize staff and physicians for their demonstration of PACT standards, which are:

Problem Solving
To achieve excellence in patient care and service, we take ownership for solving problems through innovation and discovery, developing solutions to the satisfaction of patients, customers, or managers.

Ability, Attitude, and Accountability
We adhere to best practices in our daily work, honor the dignity and diversity of each person, and are accountable for our actions. We will appear and conduct ourselves in a professional and positive manner.

Communications and Compassion
All of our communications are open, clear, timely, and delivered with respect and confidentiality. We are sensitive to the physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, and cultural needs of every individual.

Teamwork
We collaborate as one team to deliver patient-centered care with integrity, trust, and confidentiality. We value the exchange of diverse ideas.

Nurse PACT Awards

Nurses across the organization are recognized daily with PACT cards, submitted either electronically or on paper. In 2023, inpatient, ambulatory, and advanced practice nurses were honored in large numbers for receiving Blue (four recognitions), Silver (eight recognitions), Gold (16 recognitions), and Platinum (five Gold recognitions within their career) Pin Awards:

988 nurses received the Blue PACT Pin Award.

577 nurses received the Silver PACT Pin Award.

373 nurses received the Gold PACT Pin Award.

13 nurses received the Platinum PACT Pin Award.

To nominate a nurse for the PACT award, email pact@utsouthwestern.edu.

Meritorious Service Awards 2023

An important part of our culture of excellence is to recognize and reward those who have gone above and beyond in their work. The Meritorious Service Award is conferred annually to UT Southwestern nurses and other employees who have provided extraordinary service and care to our patients and demonstrated an excellent work ethic and performance. Employees throughout the system are recognized for this award and nominated by patients, families, clinical or departmental staff, or leadership. Nurses are often honored among the recipients, who both exemplify PACT standards and serve as role models to the campus.

The 2023 nurse recipients were:

Gerald Adams, RN
Emergency Department

Mylyn Agpawa, B.S.N., RN, CMSRN, CCRN
2 Orange, SICU

Soby Andrews, B.S.N., RN
11 Orange, Surgical Oncology

Lilie Anne, B.S.N., RN, CMSRN
7 Green, Solid Organ Transplant

Taylore Aure, B.S.N., RN, AMB-BC
Ambulatory Float Pool

Marie Ballesteros, B.S.N., RN, CMSRN
12 Green, CUH Med-Surg

Brittanie Baskin, B.S.N., RN, CMSRN
10 Green, CUH Med-Surg

Jeanette Batingana, RN, PCCN
6 Orange, CUH Med-Surg

Kelly Baxter-Duke, B.S.N., RN
7 Green, Solid Organ Transplant

Jinna (Paola) Beltran, B.S.N., RN
Float Pool

Arif Bhatti, B.S.N., RN
10 Blue, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery

Ashley Boothe, AGACNP-BC
Advanced Practice Provider

Alicia Bosse, B.S.N., RN, CMSRN
Ambulatory CEPD

Erica Brown, APRN, PNP-AC/PC
Advanced Practice Provider

Angela Buchman, B.S.N., RN, BMTCN, OCN
11 Blue, Bone Marrow Transplant/Oncology

Thomas Butler, B.S.N., RN, CMSRN
Emergency Department

Kelly Cale, B.S.N., RN
Emergency Department

Courtney Campbell, M.S.N., APRN, NNP-BC
Advanced Practice Provider

Kim (Hyun) Cha, RN
Kidney Transplant

Jenny Cheng, B.S.N., RN, AAACN
Radiation Oncology

Stephanie Cofer, B.S.N., RN
8 Orange, ASU/EMU

Meagan Contreras, B.S.N., RN
Neurological Surgery

Maria Crain, CPNP-PC
Advanced Practice Provider

Shellye Crawford, M.S.N., APRN, PNP-PC
Advanced Practice Provider – Pediatric Orthopaedics

Shereen Cruz, B.S.N., RN, CNOR
OR

Rosemary Davis, B.S.N., RN
Cath Lab

Marilyn Domangue, B.S.N., RN
Float Pool

Baleigh Duncan, RN
Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery

Rojimol Elengical, B.S.N., RN, RCIS
8 Green, Pulmonary/Telemetry

Anel Espinal, B.S.N., RN
Imaging Services, Vascular Access

Amabelle Garciano, B.S.N., RN-BC
12 Green, CUH Med-Surg

Kimberlee Giddens, LVN
Weight Wellness Clinic

Sadaf Gillani, B.S.N., RN
12 Green, CUH Med-Surg

Katie Ginder, M.S.N., APRN, AGACNP-BC
Advanced Practice Provider – Cardiology

Miriam Gonzales, B.S.N., RN, BMTCN
11 Blue, Bone Marrow Transplant/Oncology

Leslie Green, B.S.N., RN, CMSRN
11 Blue, Bone Marrow Transplant/Oncology

Kathleen Gruber, B.S.N., RN
8 Blue, MICU

Maribel Hamac, B.S.N., RN, SCRN
8 Orange, ASU/EMU

Leslie Harrison, RN, OCN
Transplant and Cellular Therapy Clinic

Diane Alexander Hartnell, RN
Richardson/Plano Medical Center

Jamie Hatley, B.S.N., RN
Patient Care Services Administration

Florence Hermosisima, B.S.N., RN
7 Orange, CUH Med-Surg

Risper Ireri, M.S.N., RN, PCCN
PACU

Mona Jackson, RN
Med Surg/Transplant

Dawn Jenkins, RN
Home Health

Christina Joe, B.S.N., RN
6 Green, Surgical Specialty

Amy John, B.S.N., RN-BC
12 Green, CUH Med-Surg

Shawnda Jones, B.S.N., RN, PCCN
10 Blue, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery

Kara Kelly, APRN, PNP-AC
Advanced Practice Provider

Lisa Kielpinski, RN, CMSRN
6 Green, Surgical Specialty

Jung Kim, A.D.N., RN
Ambulatory Float Pool

Megan Lamacki, B.S.N., RN
Advanced Heart and Lung Clinic

Julianna Lee, B.S.N., RN, AMB-BC
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Kamryn LeFan, B.S.N., RN, CMSRN
10 Green, CUH Med-Surg

Peyton Link, B.S.N., RN
Emergency Department

Barbara Lohrenz, A.D.N., RN
Dialysis

Regina Lowe, LVN
Urology Clinic

Valerie Madziar-Miller, B.S.N., RN, GERO-BC
12 Blue, CUH Med-Surg

Annette Mancuso, PMHNP-BC
Advanced Practice Provider

Betty Mathew, B.S.N., RN, SCRN
8 Orange, ASU/EMU

Minimol Mathew, B.S.N., RN
7 Orange, CUH Med-Surg

Priyanka Mathew, A.D.N., RN
Ambulatory Float Pool

Nicole Mosby Mayes, M.S.N., B.S.N., RN
Neurology

Mirella Mays, FNP-C
Advanced Practice Provider

Anne McCormack. B.S.N., RN
Heart/Lung Clinic

Marissa McDaniel, B.S.N., RN, SCRN
8 Orange, ASU/EMU

Monica Methi, B.S.N., RN
12 Orange, CUH Med-Surg

Kimberly Nelson, M.S.N., RNC-OB
Ambulatory CEPD

Trung Nguyen, B.S.N., RN, CCRN
Float Pool

Jessica Nowlin, A.D.N., RN
Ob/Gyn and MFM – Medical Center at Las Colinas

Kristie Nweke, B.S.N., RN
10 Green, CUH Med-Surg

Sandy Page, M.S.N., RN, OCN
Ambulatory CEPD

Jimmy Penn, M.S.N., APRN, FNP-C, CDCES
Advanced Practice Provider

Elizabeth (EJ) Phillips, M.S.N.-Ed., RN, BMTCN, NPD-BC
Ambulatory CEPD

Shiby Plackal, B.S.N., RN
6 Green, Surgical Specialty

Anita Ponce, B.S.N., RN
8 Green, Pulmonary/Telemetry

Jocelyn Ponce, B.S.N., RN, CMSRN
7 Green, Solid Organ Transplant

Meril Punnoose, B.S.N., RN, ONC
11 Green, Medical Oncology

Victoria Rudd, B.S.N., RN
11 Blue, Bone Marrow Transplant/Oncology

Nadiyah Sa'id-West, B.S.N., RN, LMSW
5 Blue, Fellow Graduate

Mark Snyman, B.S.N., RN
6 Orange, CUH Med-Surg

Lindsey Tanaka, B.S.N., RN
Patient Care Services Administration

Chanida “Apple” Tanghongs, B.S.N., RN, QIA
Apheresis

Sarah Tatlock, B.S.N., RN, BMTCN
11 Blue, Bone Marrow Transplant/Oncology

Kedrica Taylor, M.S.N., RN, PCCN
Float Pool

Haley Terry, B.S.N., RN
10 Blue, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery

Anitha Thomas, B.S.N., RN, PCCN
10 Blue, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery

Kaitlyn Thomas, B.S.N., RN
11 Blue, Bone Marrow Transplant/Oncology

Shanna Tims, B.S.N., RN
7 Green, Solid Organ Transplant

Hue Tran, B.S.N., RN, CCRN
9 Blue, CVICU

Kirsten Venghaus, B.S.N., RN
7 Green, Solid Organ Transplant

Jenny Vo, B.S.N., RN, BMSRN
8 Orange, ASU/EMU

Cecily Washington, RN
Mineral Metabolism Clinic

Megan Westing, B.S.N., RN, CNOR
OR

Lindsey Whitmeyer, B.S.N., RN
Emergency Department

Anna Williams, B.S.N., RN, AMB-BC
Park Cities Medical Center

Crystal Yates, RN
Aston Infusion Clinic

Fatemeh Youssefi, Ph.D., RN, OCN
Transplant and Cellular Infusion Clinic

Fiker Zeray, APRN, CPNP-PC
Advanced Practice Provider

Ronald Zuber, RN
Emergency Department

Alyssa Zuercher, B.S.N., RN
11 Blue, Bone Marrow Transplant/Oncology

2023 DAISY Award Honorees

The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Award was established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at age 33 of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), an autoimmune disease. After witnessing the skilled and compassionate nursing care Patrick received, the Barnes family created the DAISY Award to celebrate nurses for the profound and lasting impact they have on patients, families, and co-workers.

For more than 15 years, UTSW has partnered with the DAISY Foundation to honor nurses with the DAISY Award and to say “thank you” for the extraordinary work they do. The award committee selects nurses each quarter from a hospital or hospital-based clinic who exemplifies our mission. The recipient receives a DAISY Award pin, a Healer’s Touch hand-carved statue, and an award certificate. In addition, recognizing that excellence takes a team, the selected nurse’s unit receives a banner to post for the month and freshly baked sweet treats for everyone on the day the award is presented.

Any nurse working at UTSW can be nominated for the award. There are four different categories of DAISY Awards offered at UTSW, which are: the individual nurse award, the leader award, the team award, and the lifetime achievement award. To date, more than 100 nurses have been recognized as DAISY honorees at UTSW.

UT Southwestern DAISY honorees in 2023 were:

Paul Bosse, B.S.N., RN, CNML, CRRN
Nurse Manager, Inpatient Rehabilitation

Pat Branham, RN, OCN
RedBird Oncology

Tulip Bulactin, B.S.N., RN, PCCN
8 Green, Telemetry

Corrie Carley, B.S.N., RN, CMSRN
9 Blue, Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit

Julie Earnest, M.B.A., B.S.N., RN
Rapid Response Team, Lead Charge

Travis Gilmore, B.S.N., RN
Rapid Response Team

Leslie Green, B.S.N., RN, CMSRN
Float Pool – Bone Marrow Transplant

Tracy Ho, B.S.N., RN
5 Orange, Psychiatry

Darien Mullens, B.S.N., RN, CCRN
8 Blue, Medical Intensive Care Unit

Anna Ogden, B.S.N., RN
8 Blue, Medical Intensive Care Unit

Jennifer Oliver, M.S.N., RN
8 Blue, Medical Intensive Care Unit

Charlene Stein, M.H.A., B.S.N., RN, OCN
Director, Oncology Clinical Operations

Victoria Taite, RN
7 Blue, Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit

D Magazine 2023 Excellence in Nursing Awards

Every year, several dozen nurses from across the Metroplex are awarded the D Magazine Excellence in Nursing Award. Nominations are received from across the region and address three questions regarding how nurses have affected the lives of others through their communities and profession. The editors select the best nominations and send them to a panel of esteemed registered nurses in various fields to choose the final awardees for the year.

The three categories are: Direct Patient Care, Education/Research, and Leadership.

UT Southwestern is proud to salute our 12 recipients of the 2023 D Magazine Excellence in Nursing Awards. They are:

Direct Patient Care

Marie Cuffee, B.S.N., RN
Orange Acute Stroke Unit/Epilepsy Monitoring Unit

Joscelyne Dracca, M.S.N., RN, APRN, GNP-BC, ACHPN
Advanced Practice Provider, General Internal Medicine

Rebecca Eagle, B.S.N., RN, AMB-BC
Ambulatory RN, Internal Medicine – Pulmonary Clinic

Mary Mallory, RN, PPCNP-BC
Senior Advanced Practice RN – Pediatrics

Shauntel Oyewole, B.S.N., RN, CMSRN
6 Blue/Green, Medical Surgical

Caitlin Remaklus, B.S.N., RN
Ambulatory RN Coordinator, Neurological Surgery

Education/Research

Cara Hough, B.S.N., RN-BC
Clinical Nurse Educator, Ambulatory Nursing Operations

Elsa John, M.S.N., RN, CMSRN, NPD-BC
Patient Safety Coordinator, Health System Chief Quality Office

Leadership

Ruben Castillo, D.N.P., RN, CCRN, NE-BC
Director, Medical Services
Nursing Administration Support

Shari Ann Dino-Vu, B.S.N., RN, CCRN-K, NE-BC
Director, Inpatient Nursing Surgical Specialty Service Line

Carrie Pritchard, M.B.A., B.S.N., RN, CNOR
Operating Room Manager

Amber E. Ulate, M.S.N., M.H.A., RN, CSSGB
Manager Nursing Practice – Nursing Excellence

2023 Dallas-Fort Worth Great 100 Nurses

The DFW Great 100 Nurses Celebration annually honors 100 registered nurses who are selected for being role models, leaders, community servants, compassionate caregivers, and significant contributors to the nursing profession. Historically, UT Southwestern as an organization has a high number of nurses honored among the top 100 RNs from the area. In the past decade, 68 UTSW nurses have been celebrated for their contributions to the nursing profession and communities they serve.

In 2023, UT Southwestern was honored to have 11 of our nurses receive this award:

Patricia Branham, A.D.N., RN, OCN
Oncology, RedBird

Edie Brucker, M.S.N., M.P.H., AGPCNP-BC, ACOCPN
Manager, Advanced Practice Providers
Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center

Sherry Clark, M.S., B.S.N., RN
Director, Ambulatory Nursing
Occupational Health, Special Pathogens, Student Health

Elsa John, M.S.N., RN, CMSRN, NPD-BC
Patient Safety Coordinator
Health System Chief Quality Office

Renee John, M.S.N., RN, OCN
Certified Oncology RN
Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center

Angel Jyothi, M.S.N., RNC-NIC
House Staffing Supervisor
Patient Care Services

Chelsea La Fond, B.S.N., RN, OCN
Assistant Nurse Manager, 11 Orange Oncology

Nancy Palacios, D.N.P., APRN, FNP-BC, NE-BC
Manager, Zale Lipshy Pavilion Med/Surg Unit

Anjali Perera, B.S.N., RN, CCRN
Assistant Nurse Manager – Night Shift
3 Orange, Neurosurgery ICU

Kathrina Siaron, B.S.N., RN, CCRN, SCRN
Critical Care Rapid Response Team
Nursing Services

Whitney Veazey-Bisco, M.S.N., RN
Ambulatory Nurse Manager
General Internal Medicine

Great Nurses. Exceptional People.

2023 Diana & Richard C. Strauss Awards

The Strauss Award recognizes employees from all clinical settings who exemplify excellent care and service in a professional and positive manner, dedication to teamwork, and compassion for patients, guests, and co-workers. The awards are presented quarterly throughout the calendar year. Nurse honorees in 2023 were:

Rashanda Y. Eddington, RN
7 Green, Solid Organ Transplant

Susana Hernandez, B.S.N., RN, RNC-EFM
CUH-Clinical Education and Processional Development

Michael “Mike” Jhammat, B.S.N., RN, CCRN-CMC-CSC
RN Charge Nurse, Rapid Response Team

Kimberly Nelson, M.S.N.-Ed., RNC-OB
Ambulatory-Clinical Education and Professional Development

Gustavo Ortiz, D.N.P., RN, CCRN-K, CNRN (CEPD)
Nursing Professional Development Practitioner for Critical Care Clinical Education and Professional Development

Sarah Sperberg, B.S.N., RN, PMHRN-BC
5 Orange, Psychiatry Department

Rhonda White, B.S.N., RN
RN Care Coordinator
Zale Lipshy Pavilion, 5th Floor

UTSW 2023 Nursing Excellence Awards

During Nurses Week, in May 2023, UTSW bestowed its eighth annual Nurse Excellence Awards. In all, 102 potential recipients were nominated by their peers for exemplifying what it is to be a role model, a leader, a compassionate caregiver, and a significant contributor who works to improve patient care and outcomes. Nominees notably make UT Southwestern and the community better through effective listening, inspiring others, actively participating, and showing devotion and compassion in caring for patients and their families.

The seven categories are: Leader of Nursing Excellence, Ambulatory Nursing Excellence, Advanced Practice Nursing Excellence, Friend of Nursing Excellence, Clinical Educator of Nursing Excellence, Inpatient Nursing Excellence, and Rookie of the Year

The seven winners of the 2023 Nurse Excellence Awards are:

Leader of Nursing Excellence Winner

Lillian Otieno, B.S.N., RN
Assistant Night Manager for Nursing Services – Resuscitation Team

Ambulatory Nursing Excellence Winner

Winnie Wong, B.S.N., RN, COCN, CGRN
Multidisciplinary Surgery Clinic

Advanced Practice Nursing Excellence Winner

Fiker Zeray, APRN, CPNP-PC
Infectious Disease, Foster Care, and ARMS Clinic

Friend of Nursing Excellence Winner

Alex Huffman, LCSW, OSW-C
Assistant Director, SCCC
Support Services

Clinical Educator of Nursing Excellence Winner

Rincey Daniel, B.S.N., RN, CMSRN
8 Green, Pulmonary/Telemetry

Inpatient Nursing Excellence Winner

Kaitlyn Thomas, B.S.N., RN
11 Blue, Bone Marrow Transplant/Oncology

Rookie of the Year

Molly Ormand, B.S.N., RN
3 Orange, Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit

Clinical Awards and Achievements

Improving APP Engagement by Honoring the Best of the Best

The Office of Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) incorporates the specialty services of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants (PAs). One of the goals of the APP Engagement Committee, made up of 23 APPs representing diverse professional groups and clinical practices, is to increase the visibility of the more than 1,000 APPs at UTSW.

“We aim to provide support to APPs through championing and participating in APP recognition and wellness – inextricably linked, both within and apart from direct work responsibilities, in alignment with UT Southwestern’s mission, vision, and values,” says Committee Chair Tyonn Barbera, M.B.A., APRN, ANP-C. Since the committee was formed in 2020, it has accomplished several initiatives, including organizing a unified APP Celebration Week with award nominations submitted across the five professional groups that compose APPs: PAs, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Nurse Midwives, Nurse Anesthetists, and Nurse Practitioners.

More than 100 nominations were submitted for the inaugural Achievement Awards for APP Celebration Week. Five winners were selected: