Terri Spitz, March of Dimes, 602-287-9929, tspitz@marchofdimes.com.
Phoenix, Arizona, July 16, 2012 —

March of Dimes Arizona Chapter is happy to announce the finalists for the 9th Annual Nurse of the Year Awards Gala. The statewide event will be held on Saturday, August 25th at the Sheraton Downtown Phoenix, 340 North 3rd Street.

ADVANCING THE PROFESSION THROUGH EVIDENCE BASED RESEARCH                             

Shelly Fleiner - Cardon Children's Medical Center

Teresa Reyburn-Orne - Cardon Children's Medical Center

Carol Stevens - Arizona State University College of Nursing and Health Innovation                                                                             

BROOKLINE COLLEGE CLINICAL EDUCATOR                                     

Suzanne Marie Buchanan - Maricopa Medical Center/Arizona Burn Center

Sheryl Parfitt - Scottsdale Healthcare Shea

Karen Seifert - Mayo Clinic Arizona                                                                             

CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE OF NURSING ACADEMIC EDUCATION                                 

Melissa Stahmer Goldsmith - University of Arizona College of Nursing  

Janine Hinton - Scottsdale Community College

Diana Jacobson - Arizona State University College of Nursing and Health Innovation               

FEDERAL/MILITARY

Laurel Fountain-Beilfuss - ICF, International / Luke Air Force Base

Melisa Glass - Tucson Medical Center

Michael Jernigan - Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center

Robert  Muzzy, Jr. - United States Air Force Reserve                                              

GlaxoSmithKline ADVOCACY FOR PATIENTS                                      

Denise Giannascoli Link - Arizona State University College of Nursing and Health Innovatio

Suzanne Clinton - Banner Desert Medical Center

Sherry Schultz  - Flagstaff Medical Center                                               

INNOVATION/CREATIVITY                                                                        

Sherry Ann Mace - Flagstaff Medical Center

Leigh Small - Arizona State University College of Nursing and Health Innovation

Linda Voyles - Banner Estrella Medical Center                              

LEADERSHIP                                                                                     

Karla Baning - Chandler Regional Medical Center

Diane Cox - Maricopa County Department of Public Health Services

Joan Dodgson - Arizona State University College of Nursing and Health Innovation                           

MENTORING                                                                   

Cindy Helmich  - Banner Baywood Medical Center

Ellen O'Connor - Banner Baywood Medical Center

Bella Panchmatia - Mayo Clinic Arizona                                            

PATIENT CARE IN CLINICAL ROLE                                              

Iris Delfakis - University of Arizona Cancer Center North Campus

Pauline Lentowski - Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center

Anne-Marie Lutrick - Mayo Clinic Arizona

Katherine Munson - Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center                                          

PRENATAL/PEDIATRIC                                                                         

Gail Petersen Hock - Arizona State University College of Nursing and Health Innovation

Amy Olson - Tucson Medical Center

Patricia Scull - Banner Estrella Medical Center                                              

RISING STAR                                     

Desiree McGrew - Tucson Medical Center                                    

Laura Frances Opfel - Flagstaff Medical Center

Margaret Ann Varner - Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn                                           

RURAL NURSE                               

Kelly DeGraff  - Flagstaff Medical Center

Maria Gwen Gallegos- Carondelet Health Network

Jill Rable - Scottsdale Healthcare                                                                             

ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER PATIENT CARE – ADVANCED PRACTICE ROLE                        

Traci Arney - Crazy About Kids Pulmonary Services

Judith Harris - Phoenix Children's Hospital

Jennifer Keuth  - Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center                                       

DISTINGUISHED NURSE OF THE YEAR                                     

Rosemary Cooper - St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center

Wendy Lyons - Scottsdale Healthcare

Stephanie Ann San Felice - Verde Valley Medical Center

This year’s theme, Arizona Nursing - A Centennial of Care, will pay tribute to nurses throughout Arizona who continue to deliver the highest standard of care to their patients. Guests and honorees will be taken back through time to revisit major milestones in the Arizona history of nursing.

For more information on the event, please contact Michael Simoni at 602-287-9927.