RICHMOND — The Virginia Nurses Foundation announced the recipients of annual awards honoring those in the commonwealth who made special contributions to the nursing profession, including a number of local recipients.
Winners were announced at the annual VNF Gala, held at the Renaissance Portsmouth-Norfolk Waterfront Hotel on Nov. 15. Drs. Marianne Baernholdt, dean of the UVA School of Nursing; Kathy Baker, chief nursing officer of UVA Health University Medical Center; Frankye T. Myers, chief nurse executive of Riverside Health System and Aileen Cassada, director of nurse excellence of Centra Health served as honorary chairs.
Former VNA and VNF Chief Executive Officer Janet Wall was recognized with the Champion of Nursing award “for her commitment to advancing nursing excellence, empowering future leaders, and improving the health and well-being of all Virginians” according to the foundation.
Calling her a “steadfast advocate for health equity, access to care, workforce protection, and the advancement of nursing,” VNF said Wall “elevated the voice of more than 140,000 registered and advanced practice nurses across Virginia through strategic advocacy, education, and coalition building.”
Also honored at the Gala:
Winners of the 2025 Magnet Consortium Excellence Awards:
- Transformational Leadership – Katie Buckler, VHC Health – 22205
- Structural Empowerment – LeAnna Harris, Sentara Health – 23452
- Exemplary Professional Practice – Emily Tremper, VCU Health – 23225
- New Knowledge Innovations and Improvements – Amy Taylor, Sentara Health – 23188
- Empirical Outcomes – Jessica Duke, UVA Health – 23093
Winners of the 2025 Virginia Nurses Foundation Leadership Excellence Awards:
- Chief Nursing Executive
- Erin Keister, HCA Healthcare Capital Division – 23114
- Chief Nursing Officer of a Hospital
- Sadie Thurman, Riverside Regional Medical Center – 23601
- Direct Patient Care – Patient Experience
- Chloe Cuff, VCU Health Children’s Hospital of Richmond – 22408
- Tobias DeLoatch, Centra Health – 24502
- Debbie Denmark, Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center – 23116
- Sherri Mikolon-Santuk, Richmond Veterans Administration Medical Center – 23116
- Effie Onuh, Sentara Leigh Hospital – 23455
- Judy Ward, Centra Health – 24551
- Wes Weber, HCA LewisGale Hospital Montgomery – 24060
- Direct Patient Care – Patient Safety
- Laila Bailey, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus – 22033
- Rebekah Blitch, Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center – 23831
- Valerie Carroll, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital – 23507
- Victoria Davis, Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Williamsburg – 23185
- Shannon Lubin, VCU Health – 23298
- Mimi Pohl, UVA Health, University Medical Center – 22901
- Holly Samuelson, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus – 22043
- Nurse Educator
- Amy Boitnott, University of Virginia School of Nursing – 22932
- Sharon Bragg, University of Virginia School of Nursing – 22938
- Zelika Hargrove, HCA Capital Division – 23219
- Michelle Maiers, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus – 22042
- Charlene Morris, Bryant & Stratton College – 23063
- Jessica Parrot, Old Dominion University – 23320
- Laurel Pope, Paul D. Camp Community College – 23851
- Nurse Manager/Director
- Stephanie Adams, HCA LewisGale Hospital Alleghany – 24426
- Tess Bilyeu, Sentara Leigh Hospital – 23454
- Chris Boxley, Sentara CarePlex Hospital – 23666
- Ashland Burch, Riverside Regional Medical Center – 23180
- Kristie Casey, Centra Health – 24574
- Shelly Dean, UVA Health University Medical Center – 24431
- Katie Elmore, HCA LewisGale Hospital Alleghany – 24457
- Jennifer Evans, Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital – 24091
- Angie Howell, Inova Health System – 20147
- James Kelley, Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center – 23009
- Nicholas Marks, Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center – 23116
- Jennifer Martin, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital – 23451
- Megan Payette, Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center – 23111
- Angela Romero, Riverside Regional Medical Center – 23061
- Rebecca Sutter, George Mason University – 23601
- Nurse Researcher
- Tina Gustin, Old Dominion University – 23451
- Nursing Informatics
- Megan Franklin, Centra Health – 24550
- Nursing School Dean/Director
- Judith Rogers-Fruiterman, Marymount University – 20176
- Cynthia Rubenstein, Randolph Macon College – 23005
- Public Health Nurse
- Joanna Cirillo, the Virginia Department of Health – 23219
- Ashley Lancaster, the Virginia Department of Health, Richmond & Henrico Districts – 24019
- Ottilia Lewis, Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital – 24018
- Erin Maughn, George Mason University – 22030
- Katie Page, Centra Health – 24503
