Georgia's nurses honored at third annual Nurse of the Year Awards in Atlanta.

The March of Dimes Georgia Chapter announced the winners of the 3^rd Annual March of Dimes Nurse of the Year held November 17^th at the Hyatt Regency – Downtown Atlanta.

The Nurse of the Year is a state-wide event that recognizes exceptional nurses, creates awareness of professional excellence and promotes the future of the nursing profession, while helping to advance the mission of the March of Dimes.

The event, co-chaired by Marilyn Bowcutt, Sr. Vice President and COO of University Hospital, and Dr. Roy Simpson, VP of Nursing for Cerner Corporation, had over 700 attendees and raised over $175,000, making the Georgia Nurse of the Year Awards the biggest and most successful in the country!

Over 750 Nurse of the Year nominations were submitted across the state and from those, over 350 finalists emerged. The Nurse of the Year selection committee reviewed these applications across 16 categories ranging from Critical Care to Women’s Health. All finalists represented the March of Dimes vision for a healthier, stronger generation of babies and families.

“The March of Dimes could not have accomplished its initial goal of conquering polio nor could we continue to fight for babies without the support of the most compassionate, caring and devoted members of the healthcare community – nurses,” said Sheila Ryan, State Director of the March of Dimes. “The Nurse of the Year event is a chance to recognize these heroes who have made an impact on the lives of so many.”

The Nurse of the Year Awards is supported by partners Emory Healthcare and Northside Hospital, along with media sponsors Atlanta Magazine, WXIA 11-Alive and Atlanta Hospital News. Additional partners include: Atlanta VA Medical Center, Grady Health System, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Aramark Healthcare, BDR Partners, McCarthy Building Companies, Emory Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, WellStar Health System, The Medical Center of Central Georgia, Georgia Baptist College of Nursing of Mercer University, VITAS Innovative Hospice Care, University Hospital, Kimberly-Clark, GasSouth, and Georgia State University School of Nursing. 

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find us on  Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

2012 Nurse of the Year Winners

Photo courtesy of Atlanta Magazine. See more photos from the event at Atlanta Magazine's Nurse of the Year Gallery!

Carolyn Holder, Emory University                           
Category: Advanced Practice, sponsored by Aramark

Dr. Ursula Kelly, Atlanta VA Medical Center         
Category: Behavioral Health, sponsored by Atlanta VA Medical Center

Sikangezile Pauline Zulu, Grady Health System
Category: Critical Care, sponsored by Grady Health System

Dr. Sally Lehr, Emory Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
Category: Education, sponsored by Emory Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing

Cheryl MacMillan, Gwinnett Medical Center         
Category: Emergency Care, sponsored by Mercer University’s Georgia Baptist College of Nursing

Melissa Gordon, Emory Healthcare           
Category: General Medical, sponsored by Emory Healthcare

Hazel Jackson, Atlanta VA Medical Center
Category: Hospice/Home Health/Palliative/Long Term Acute Care, sponsored by Kimberly-Clark

Dr. Sarah Myers, Atlanta VA Medical Center
Category: Informatics, Research and Evidence-Based Practice

James Carey, Medical Center of Central Georgia
Category: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, sponsored by Medical Center of Central      

Kathy Williams, Atlanta VA Medical Center
Category: Nursing Administration, sponsored by BDR Partners and McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.

Dr. Tesla Graham, Atlanta VA Medical Center
Category: Oncology, sponsored by WellStar

Mary Lou Oliver, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Category: Pediatrics, sponsored by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Dr. Lynn Sibley, Emory University
Category: Public Health, sponsored by Gas South

Larry Lassiter, University Hospital
Category: Rising Star, sponsored by University Hospital

Amy Fischer, Emory Hospital Johns Creek
Category: Surgical Services, sponsored by VITAS

Vickey Vaughan, Medical Center of Central Georgia
Category: Women’s Health, sponsored by Northside Hospital