Watch our amazing event celebrating nurses!
If you were not able to join us on Friday, Oct 23rd for our LIVE virtual Nurse of the Year Awards presented by M Health Fairview, you can still view the entire inspiring event. Please feel free to share the link below with all of your communities to celebrate nursing excellence and to come together in the fight for moms and babies!
Link to replay: https://vimeo.com/472210208
Please don't forget to donate! Our technology match runs through the end of October!
Text NICU (donation+name) to 41444 or donate above on this page (donate now button)!
Thank you in advance for your support of moms, babies and our local NICUs!
ABOUT THE EVENT
The Minnesota Nurse of the Year Awards-Presented by M HEALTH FAIRVIEW- provides the Minnesota community with a way to recognize local nurses who – especially during the COVID-19 pandemic – are on the front lines of caring for families. Whether serving as health care provider, educator, researcher, volunteer or advisor, nurses play a critical role in advancing the March of Dimes mission to fight for the health of every mom and baby.
There are 18 diverse categories (listed below), with 85 total finalists. Awards were presented during a special virtual ceremony on October 23rd, 2020 at 6:30PM. A replay of the event is open to ALL who wish to view (IT IS FREE) and support Minnesota nurses. Simply click the link above.
In addition to M HEALTH FAIRVIEW, the Minnesota Nurse of the Year Awards are supported by UnitedHealth Group, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, MEDICA, North Memorial Health, CentraCare, HealthPartners, HDR and Leighton Broadcasting
March of Dimes has worked closely with the healthcare community to provide critical support in response to COVID-19. March of Dimes is offering free weekly virtual support groups to pregnant and postpartum individuals, provides critical medical supplies to expectant mothers and families with newborns, and partners with health care officials in offering March of Dimes Facebook Live events to keep families up-to-date on the latest COVID-19 information and its impact on the health of moms and babies.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Rahul Koranne, M.D., MBA, FACP, is president and CEO of the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA). He guides the association’s work to advance the health of individuals and communities through leadership, advocacy and collaboration on behalf of Minnesota hospitals and health systems. Dr. Koranne joined MHA in February 2015, first serving as senior vice president of clinical affairs and chief medical officer before being named to his current position in February 2020.
Dr. Koranne has been active in leading health care transformation at a statewide level since 2008 and has 20 years of health care experience spanning the entire continuum of care. Prior to joining MHA, he was a vice president with HealthEast Care System. From 2000 to 2005, he served the residents of Starbuck, Minnesota, as a primary care physician at the smallest critical access hospital in Minnesota, Minnewaska Regional Health System.
Dr. Koranne is a faculty member at the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, where he received his MBA in 2008. He earned his medical degree at the University of Delhi in India and completed his residency in internal medicine at the State University of New York, Brooklyn, and his fellowship in geriatrics at the University of Minnesota.
TRIBUTE GIFTS HONOR NURSES AND SUPPORT LOCAL NICUS
March of dimes Minnesota has the incredible opportunity to close the technology gap felt by our families who are in local NICUs during the COVID pandemic. A partner is matching our donations through the month of October with tablets donated to NICU departments.
Goal for October: $60,000 (60 tablets)
Current status: $16,000 (16 tablets)
Still need: $44,000 (44 tablets)
Every $1,000 in donations provides a tablet to a local NICU
NICUs need technology so that parents of premature babies have access to their loved ones at home and necessary care support services at a time they need it most.
Total local need: 243
Our goal with the match: 60 tablets (or more!)
Children’s Hospital – Minneapolis & St. Paul: 172
Masonic Children’s Hospital: 71
Two easy ways to give a 100% tax deductible gift:
- Click the DONATE NOW button above on this website
- Text ‘NICU’ (your name)+ (donation amount) to 41444
TRIBUTE GIFT DESCRIPTIONS
$1000+ Year of the Nurse Tribute
- March of Dimes will deliver a one-of-a kind box filled with gifts provided by local businesses to a WINNER of a category of the Minnesota Nurse of the Year awards on your behalf
- You can share a message with your name to be displayed on our website, at the virtual event and in a post-event printed publication
$500 Healthcare Hero Tribute
- March of Dimes will deliver a Kowalski’s greenhouse fresh plant arrangement for a FINALIST of the Minnesota Nurse of the Year Awards on your behalf
- You can share a message with your name to be displayed on our website, at the virtual event and in a post-event printed publication
$250 Faces of the Frontline Tribute
- March of Dimes will deliver a Nurse of the Year Awards collectible pin to a finalist on your behalf
- You can share a message with your name to be displayed on our website, at the virtual event and in a post-event printed publication
$100 Thank You Tribute
- You can share a message with your name to be displayed on our website, at the virtual event and in a post-event printed publication
2020 Nurse of the Year WINNERS & FINALISTS
WINNERS & FINALISTS BY CATEGORY
DISTINGUISHED NURSE OF THE YEAR presented by M HEALTH FAIRVIEW:
WINNER: Ann Forster Page
M Health Fairview
ADVANCED PRACTICE
Ann Forster Page
M Health Fairview
Autumn Gode
Allina
Jane Sublette
M Health Fairview
WINNER: Michael Petty
M Health Fairview
Sarah Pangarakis
North Memorial Health/Maple Grove Hospital
CARE MANAGEMENT- PRESENTED BY UNITEDHEALTH GROUP
Dana Pitzen
Allina
Danielle Jones
M Health Fairview
Jennifer Stern
Allina
Jill Hanson
Hennepin Healthcare
WINNER: Sharon Bergmann
Allina
DIVERSITY AND ADVOCACY
Breanna Heisterkamp
Hennepin Healthcare
Danielle Wills
M Health Fairview
Hani Jacobson
CentraCare
Morgan Rock
HealthPartners
WINNER: Sarah Cassell
HealthPartners
EDUCATION & RESEARCH-PRESENTED BY HDR
Abby Spates
HealthPartners
Jamie Guertin
M Health Fairview
Karen Ryan
M Health Fairview
WINNER: Meghan Tierney
Allina
Rhianna Britton
M Health Fairview
FRIEND TO NURSING
Kristy Connors
M Health Fairview
Matthew Lillyblad
Allina
Michael Ward
HealthPartners
WINNER: Ryan Ruzicka
M Health Fairview
Solana Brinkman
HealthPartners
INNOVATIVE AND NON-TRADITIONAL NURSING-PRESENTED BY HEALTHPARTNERS
Beth Honkomp
Independent Business Consultant
Catherine J Standish
Allina
Jennifer Woolsey
HealthPartners
WINNER: Julie Philbrook
Hennepin Healthcare
Tucker Annis
M Health Fairview
LEADERSHIP-PRESENTED BY GILLETTE CHILDREN'S SPECIALTY HEALTHCARE
Angie Whitely
M Health Fairview
Bonnie Clement
M Health Fairview
WINNER: Maria Raines
M Health Fairview
Marin Hansch
M Health Fairview
Mary McMahon Bullis
M Health Fairview
LPN
Christine Neu
CentraCare
WINNER: Debra Mock
CentraCare
Kelly Rohde
M Health Fairview
Melissa Blake
CentraCare
Michelle Johnson
CentraCare
MENTAL HEALTH-PRESENTED BY MEDICA
Jennifer Sullivan
M Health Fairview
Kemi Adekanmi
HealthPartners
Nicole Blake
CentraCare
Rebecca Leischner
Allina
Reed Larson
HealthPartners
WINNER: Ruth Conoryea
M Health Fairview
NEONATAL-PRESENTED BY CENTRACARE
Breanna Obermann
North Memorial Health/Maple Grove Hospital
WINNER: Cameron Atkinson
CentraCare
Corrine Aarestad
CentraCare
Kim Welvaert
CentraCare
Stacy Kuechle
CentraCare
ONCOLOGY
Cindy Olive
HealthPartners
Helene McLaughlin
M Health Fairview
WINNER: Jill May
Allina
PEDIATRIC
Ashley Jenniges
M Health Fairview
Briana Simberg
M Health Fairview
Emilee Brouillette
M Health Fairview
Erika Rucks
M Health Fairview
WINNER: Kari Abraham
Hennepin Healthcare
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING
Dawn Rogosheske
North Memorial Health/Maple Grove Hospital
Elise Woodward
Hennepin Healthcare
Heidi Lohse
CentraCare
WINNER: Lori Steffen
CentraCare
Madeline Kuny
The Waters
RISING STAR-PRESENTED BY LEIGHTON BROADCASTING
Alexsandra Wenzel
Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare
Amanda Walz
CentraCare
Courtney Bevans
CentraCare
WINNER: Danyel Downs
M Health Fairview
Michelle Stingle
North Memorial Health/Maple Grove Hospital
STAFF NURSE – CRITICAL CARE
Allyson Fortin
HealthPartners
Kelley Anaas
Allina
WINNER: Leah Chapman
M Health Fairview
Pamela Roth
M Health Fairview
Sandra Fonkert
M Health Fairview
STAFF NURSE – GENERAL CARE
Bobbie Stier
Hennepin Healthcare
WINNER: Brianna Fedde
M Health Fairview
Katheryn Hagberg
M Health Fairview
Maggie McLaird
CentraCare
Valetta Massaquoi
HealthPartners
WOMEN’S HEALTH-PRESENTED BY NORTH MEMORIAL HEALTH
Deby Mullen
M Health Fairview
Jennifer Willmert
North Memorial Health/Maple Grove Hospital
Kallyne Harren
CentraCare
Lauren Stout
North Memorial Health/Maple Grove Hospital
WINNER: Melissa Bray-Erickson
CentraCare
TRIBUTE GIFT SUPPORTERS
$1000+ Year of the Nurse Tribute
- Jim Thomson
- "Thanks to all the front line staff that take care of those most in need."
- Jennifer Olson
- Miaja Cassidy
- "In honor of all the amazing nurses that made it so we go to take home our baby girl (who is now 18!!!)-thank you!"
-
$500 Healthcare Hero Tribute
- Employees at ELECTROLUX
- Michele Hermansen
- "Marin Hansch, we are SO proud of you! You have always been our Healthcare Hero! Love Mom, Mick and Michele
$250 Faces of the Frontline Tribute
- Ben Thietje on behalf of Beth Tidemann-Miller and the DalekoArts Trivia Extravaganza
- Sharon Bergmann
$100 Thank You Tribute
- Chris Terry
- Maari Simcox
- Pamela Marthaler
- Wolters Kluwer
- Cindy Olive
- Michael Ward
- Ruth Ann Conoryea
- Ion Skillrud
- Terri Soutor
- Kurt Edward Witte (2)
- Maria Raines
- Jennifer Stern
- "Congratulations to all of the Nurse of the Year finalists!"
- Betty Fedde
- "So proud of all of them!"
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IN-KIND
- Kowalski's Market
- Mary and Jerry Hanson
BECOME A SPONSOR
The March of Dimes celebrates nursing in the most meaningful way, through partnerships with hospitals, health care facilities, organizations, vendors and individuals. Sponsorship opportunities are available at a variety of levels for our Nurse of the Year event, providing integration and civic engagement while playing tribute to nurses. We look forward to discussing your partnership with the March of Dimes.
View our updated event acknowledgements and waivers here.
