35th Annual Nursing Excellence Awards

UHCMC Update | May 2021

The 35th Annual Nursing Excellence Awards were held on May 12 in the Ruhlman Conference Center. These awards recognize nurses who demonstrate clinical expertise and patient care. These individuals, nominated by their peers and supervisors, have exemplified professional nursing practice at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. Forty-six nurses across all service lines were recognized in the following categories:  Clinical Excellence, Preceptor, Collaborator, and Leadership.

Due to social distancing regulations, families of the awardees joined via Zoom to congratulate the nurses receiving these prestigious awards. Please congratulate your fellow nurses on this outstanding recognition!

The 2021 awardees include:

Behavioral Health
Clinical Nurse Excellence – Mary Ojnik, BSN, RN - BC
Preceptor – Dana Poling, ADN, RN
Collaborator – David Pinkham, ADN, RN
Leadership – LaVonn Smith, BSN, RN

Women’s Health
Clinical Nurse Excellence – Stephanie Harper, BSN, RN
Clinical Nurse Excellence – Ashley Rawlings, MSN, RN, C-EFM
Preceptor – Melissa Beyersdorfer, BSN, RN
Collaborator – Audrey Kolozsi, RN
Leadership – Deborah Hines, BSN, RN - BC

Emergency Medicine
Clinical Nurse Excellence – Kathryn Lee, BSN, RN
Preceptor – Sarah Elliott, BSN, RN CEN
Leadership – Amber Keith, ADN, RN

Rainbow Babies & Children’s 
Clinical Nurse Excellence – Danielle Beckwith, BSN,  RN - BC
Clinical Nurse Excellence - Kaona Williams, BSN, RN - BC
Preceptor – Morgan Burge, BSN, RN
Collaborator – Barbara Philpotts, BSN, RN
Leadership – Deborah Prusak, BSN, RN

Skilled Nursing Facility
Clinical Nurse Excellence – Lisa Biniek, BSN, RN
Preceptor – Lisa Biniek, BSN, RN
Collaborator – Stacey McCartney, BSN, RN

Ambulatory Services
Clinical Nurse Excellence – Michelle Stone, ADN, RN
Preceptor – Kara Ponzo, ADN, RN
Collaborator – Diego Paulett, BSN, RN
Leadership – Lori Paulsen, ADN, RN

Advanced Practice
Clinical Nurse Excellence – Dedra Teel , MSN, APRN, NNP-BC
Preceptor – Yessica Robinson, MSN, APRN-CNP
Collaborator – Tiffanie McCourt, MSN, APRN, CPNP- AC/PC
Leadership – Julie Herzog, MSN, APRN, ACNP-BC, CCRN

Seidman Cancer Center
Clinical Nurse Excellence Ambulatory – Tracy Kustra, BSN, RN, OCN  
Clinical Nurse Excellence Inpatient – Kelly Pask, BSN, RN
Preceptor – Tricia Beck, BSN, RN, OCN
Collaborator – Melissa Lindley, BSN, RN, OCN
Leadership – Richard Miller, BSN, RN, OCN

Critical Care
Clinical Nurse Excellence – E.J. Masters, BSN, RN, CCRN
Preceptor – Nicole Fazio, MSN, RN
Collaborator – Linda Scavnicky, BSN, RN CCRN
Leadership – Chris Ladaika, BSN, RN, CCRN

Acute Care
Clinical Nurse Excellence – Nicole Kettel, BSN, RN 
Preceptor – LaTanya Thomas, BSN, RN-CMSRN
Collaborator – Bridgette Click, BSN, RN
Leadership – Jordan Rapp, BSN, RN, PCCN

Operative Services
Clinical Nurse Excellence – Kimmy Marko, BSN, RN
Clinical Nurse Excellence – Nathan Lengvarsky, BSN, RN
Clinical Nurse Excellence – Lori Bednarski, BSN, RN, CAPA
Preceptor – Deirdre Lanigan, BSN, RN
Collaborator – Melissa Koteles, BSN, RN - BC
Leadership – Patty Conroy-Smith, BSN, RN