Awards were presented to 14 nurses from communities statewide, Health Net of Arizona funded $24,000 in scholarships to six Arizona nursing colleges and the University of Phoenix announced a new March of Dimes scholarship for continuing education for nurses.

Health Net of Arizona President Chuck Sowers presented $4,000 scholarships to nursing schools at Arizona State University, Grand Canyon University, Maricopa County Community Colleges, Northern Arizona University, Pima Community College and the University of Arizona.

Charlotte Saylors, Vice President of Strategic Development of Healthcare for University of Phoenix, announced the establishment of a March of Dimes scholarship for full tuition and fees for continuing nursing education.  Applications are available at marchofdimes.com/arizona.

Patients, peers and supervisors nominated 83 nurses, and 14 were selected by a panel of healthcare professionals to receive awards in a wide range of categories. 

2007 March of Dimes “Arizona Nurses of the Year”Awards honorees included:

“Legend of Nursing,” Peggy MacMacken, Chief Nursing Officer, Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital, Tucson;
 
“Distinguished Nurse,” Vicki Began, Vice President of Women’s and Children’s Services, University Medical Center, Tucson;

“Advocacy for Patients,” Dorothy Fitzsimons, Case Mgr., Banner Baywood Medical Center, Mesa;

“Community Service,” Jeanne Fenn, Clinical Nurse Specialist, University Medical Center, Tucson;

“Education,” Rita Jury, Director of Clinical & Patient Education, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix;

“Innovation/Creativity,” Adda Alexander, Executive Vice President, Arizona Hospital & Healthcare Association, Phoenix;

“Leadership,” Charmaine Leoni Coombs, Director of Nursing, Banner Baywood Medical Center, Mesa;

“Mentoring,”  Julie Fleury, Associate Dean for Research & PhD Program Director, Arizona State University College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation, Phoenix and Kathleen Werner, Director of Professional Practice, Banner Baywood Medical Center, Mesa;

“Military and Government,” Major Deborah R. Lehker, U.S. Air Force Reserves, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix;

“Patient Care,” Gail Priestley, Clinical Nurse Specialist, University Medical Center, Tucson;

“Prenatal/Pediatric Care,” Jennifer Seemann, RN, Pediatric ICU, Flagstaff Medical Center, Flagstaff;

“Research/Advancing the Profession,” Colleen Keller, Professor & Director, Center for Health Outcomes in Aging, Arizona State University College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation, Phoenix; and

“Rising Star,” Diana Price, RN, Medical-Surgical RN, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix.

Other “Nurses of the Year” sponsors included TriWest Healthcare Alliance, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, and KTVK-3TV.  In addition to funding scholarships, the event raised funds to benefit the March of Dimes mission of preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality through research, education, community service and advocacy.

For more information about each of the honorees, check Community Highlights at www.marchofdimes.com/arizona.