Heroes in Action: Our healthcare workers take the spotlight at March of Dimes awards
On Oct. 28, March of Dimes recognized five winners and 22 finalists from our healthcare system at its 2021 Heroes in Action Awards ceremony. Our winners rose to the top out of more than 400 nominations and 50 finalists from across Minnesota, and we had more combined winners and finalists than any other healthcare system in the state.
This annual event provides the community with an opportunity to honor outstanding healthcare professionals in Minnesota who work tirelessly for the health of those they serve. Nurses and other healthcare professionals were nominated by colleagues, family, or friends. Finalists and winners were then selected by a team of qualified nurses.
More than 100 nurses and team members from our health system were nominated this year and 22 were finalists for the March of Dimes awards. “Our finalists come from many sites and roles. That demonstrates to me that we have highly skilled nurses and team members throughout our care continuum,” said Linda Wick, Associate Nurse Executive, who was a speaker at the event.
“We are incredibly proud of these health care heroes and their accomplishments,” said Laura Reed, System Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nurse Executive. “They are leaders in their field whose passion for patient care excellence is an inspiration.”
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Our 2021 Heroes in Action Award winners are:
Emma Elizabeth Beecher Fronz, RN
M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center
Mental Health Award
“Emma models compassion, creativity, and flexibility in working with patients. She enthusiastically embraces learning opportunities so that she can provide the best evidence-based care and is a role model to her colleagues. She sees even the most difficult patients through a lens of empathy and understanding and is able to understand how a patient's story impacts their difficult behaviors and other symptoms. Even on difficult days, working with her always makes things feel lighter.”
Chantelle French, RN
Fairview Range Medical Center
Public Health Nursing
“Chantelle has proven that her passion is coordinating the care that our patient's need. She demonstrates competency through providing the patient, their providers, our field nurses, and her leaders with the most accurate, detailed initial assessment of the patient to make transitioning to admission to services as smooth as possible.”
Stephanie Pierzina, RN
Fairview Range Medical Center
Innovative & Non-Traditional Nursing Award
“Stephanie exemplifies team, accountability, engagement, and high reliability. Stephanie always listens to understand and then assists the practitioner to meet the desired outcome. We are blessed to have her on our team and nursing is blessed to have her represent nursing in development and integration of a patient-safe EMR which creates continuity of care for our patients.”
Jody Walsh, RN, M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital
Pediatric Award
“Jody serves her patients with compassion, expertise, and personalized care. She creates meaningful and memorable relationships with patients, family, and staff. She mentors and trains both new and experienced staff, finding potential and fostering growth. She has a genuine passion to learn and seek excellence.”
Gregory Watson, Environmental Services
M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital
Friend to Nursing Award
“Gregory is more than an environmental services worker. He spends his day developing relationships with the patients that he comes across. It is amazing that he learns names and interests of the patients that he cleans rooms for. He goes above and beyond his duties that it makes a positive impact on patient care and patient satisfaction.”
Our 2021 Heroes in Action Award finalists are:
Critical Care
Jessica Franzen, M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital
Becky Frey, M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital
Laurie Siegel, M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital
Diversity & Advocacy
Dawn Kalka, M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital
Vi Siiro, M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital
Friend to Nursing
Debora Born, M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital
Bryan Jarabek, M Health Fairview
Innovative & Non-Traditional Nursing
Sue Nesheim, M Health Fairview
Stephanie Pierzina, Fairview Range Medical Center
Leadership
Allison Stratton, M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital
Mental Health
Emma Elizabeth Beecher Fronz, M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center
Janelle Carpenter, Fairview Range Medical Center
Sonja Haynes, M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center
Oncology
Christine Rigert, M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center
Pediatric
Rick Huewe-Vogen, M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital
Jaymie Meade, M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital
Jody Walsh, M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital
Public Health Nursing
Chantelle French, Fairview Range Medical Center
Rising Star
Amber Hancock, M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center
Distinguished Nurse of the Year
Deanne Horter, M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital
Amber Ries, M Health Fairview St. Joseph’s Campus
