2015 Under Secretary for Health’s Excellence Awards announced
By Gerald Sonnenberg
EES Marketing and Communication
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Four VHA leaders were singled out for their expertise in leadership and mentoring in the field of clinical simulation training to earn the 2015 VA Under Secretary for Health’s Awards for Excellence in Clinical Simulation Training, Education and Research.
This award program recognizes clinical and executive leaders who have supported and advanced VHA’s strategic plan for clinical simulation.
James M. Hay, Ed.D, MSN, RN, CRRN, associate chief nurse for executive education at the VA Roseburg Healthcare System (HCS) in Oregon, was selected as the recipient of the Excellence in Clinical Simulation Training, Education and Research Executive Leadership Award.
Other nominees for this award were: Dr. Sheila Gelman, Dayton VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Ohio; Dr. Jack Hetrick, Dayton VAMC; and C. Diana Nicoll, M.D., Ph.D, MPA, San Francisco VAMC.
Judy Murphy, Ph.D, RN, cares for our Veterans at the Providence VAMC in Rhode Island. She was named the recipient of the Excellence in Clinical Simulation Training, Education and Research Practice Award.
Other nominees for this award were: Paula Carvalho, M.D., Boise, Idaho VAMC; Jessica Feinleib, M.D., Ph.D, CHSE, VA Connecticut HCS, Newington; Bob Gauder, MS, RN, CRRN, Dayton VAMC; Kyle Harrison, M.D., and Steven Howard, M.D., Palo Alto VAHCS, California; Dr. Brian Kaufman, VA New York Harbor HCS, Manhattan; Anneka Mikel, BSN, RN, Sioux Falls, South Dakota VAHCS; Bernadette Montano, RN, MSN, Southern Arizona VAHCS, Tucson; Amanda Morrow, RN, BSN, VA Roseburg HCS; Michelle Ralson, RN, BSN, VA Eastern Kansas HCS, Topeka; Norberto Rosado-Canales, MSN, RN, VA Caribbean HCS, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Nilam Soni, M.D., South Texas Veterans HCS, San Antonio; and Kami Willett, MSN, RN-BC, Nebraska-Western Iowa HCS, Omaha.
Agnes Urbas-Llewellyn, Ed.D, MSN, is chief of education learning resources at the Martinsburg, West Virginia VAMC. She was named the recipient of the Excellence in Clinical Simulation Training, Education and Research Champion Award.
Other nominees for this award were: David Adriansen, Ed.D, NREMT, Minneapolis VAHCS, Minnesota; Dr. Joyce Akwe, Atlanta VAMC, Georgia; Merry Kupyer-Carson, MSN, ACNS-BC, Boise VAMC; Edwin Negron-Cortes, MSN, RN-BC, VA Caribbean HCS; Saly Pius, MSN, RN, CCRN, CHSE, Atlanta VAMC; and LeAnn Schlamb, Cincinnati VAMC in Ohio.
Finally, Agustin Hernandez-Rovira is an education program specialist for the Resuscitation Education Initiative (REdI) at the VA Maryland HCS in Baltimore. He was selected as the recipient of the Excellence in Clinical Simulation Training, Education and Research Champion Award for the REdI program.
Other nominees for this award were: Marc Breslauer, RN, MSN, Southern Arizona VAHCS; Herbert Cooke, RN, BSN, MSA, CNOR, Hampton VAMC, Virginia; Debra Fisher, RN, Syracuse VAMC, New York; Linda Healy, MSN, ARNP, C-S, Orlando VAMC, Florida; Reggie Horwitz, PMC, MSN, RN-BC, Durham VAMC, North Carolina; Josie Iozzo, RN, BSN, MPH, Coatesville VAMC, Pennsylvania; and Rushikesh Shah, M.D., Syracuse VAMC.
Congratulations to all of the winners and nominees.
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