Baltimore Magazine's Excellence in Nursing Winners

May 6-12 – also known as National Nurses Week – is a time I look forward to every year. Although we aim to recognize and thank our nursing staff year-round, Nurses Week gives us an extra opportunity to shine the light on our amazing nursing staff, which makes up the largest portion of our workforce.

As we gear up for Nurses Week, it seems fitting to congratulate eight of our GBMC HealthCare nurses who are being recognized publicly for their leadership, compassion, and excellence in providing patient care of the highest quality. Out of hundreds of nominations, the following nurses were selected as 2023 Excellence in Nursing winners by Baltimore magazine and are featured in the May issue of the magazine.

• Claire Cafirma, DNP, MSN, RN, CNOR, Director - Perioperative, Interventional Radiology & Endoscopy
• Jennifer D., BSN, RN, CEN, FNE-A/P, Sexual Assault Examination Program
• Judith Doverte, BSN, CMSRN, Women's and Outpatient Surgical Center
• Diane Fish, BSN, RNC, Labor & Delivery
• Nancy McAleer, BSN, RN, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• Stephanie R., MSN, RN, CNOR, FNE-A/P, Sexual Assault Examination Program
• Holly Thorn, MSN, RN, CRN, Interventional Radiology
• Courtney Charest, BSN, RN, Gilchrist

I’m excited to congratulate even more members of the nursing staff next week. As part of our Nurses Week celebration, we’re presenting the annual Art of Nursing Awards, which is composed of nine categories: nurse clinician of the year, clinical assistant support (inpatient and outpatient), nurse leader, nursing graduate, evidence-based practice, patient- and family-centered care, diversity and inclusion, and the Nightingale Award (which is our voter’s choice award). Click here to watch videos about each of our Nightingale Award nominees and cast your vote by Wednesday, May 10 at 5 p.m.

We’ll be making daily Art of Nursing Award winner announcements next week, so I encourage employees to stay tuned to their email to stay updated. Or, anyone can follow our social media channels for winner announcements and photos we’ll share as we celebrate our nurses.

A number of activities are lined up to bring more joy during Nurses Week, including surprise cavalcades to the units of our Art of Nursing Award winners, food trucks on campus, GBMC HealthCare employee discounts, and much more. Employees, please be sure to check your email and the Infoweb (or talk with your leader) for details and timing of activities.

Kudos to Our Cochlear Implant Center and Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head and Neck Center

I’d like to take a moment to recognize our Cochlear Implant Center and Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head and Neck Center teams. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) recently shared two videos featuring GBMC to tell the stories of interprofessional practice teams helping two patients: one who received cochlear implants and one recovering from head and neck cancer. For ASHA – a large national professional, scientific, and credentialing association – to spotlight our programs is a testament to the quality of the services led by Brian Kaplan, MD, Chair of Otolaryngology; and Regina Presley, Au.D., FAAA, CCC/A, Director of Audiology; Ray Blanco, MD, Medical Director of the Dance Center; and Brandon Costantino, Administrative Practice Manager of the Dance Center. The multidisciplinary teams they lead are truly impressive.

A Successful Golf Classic

Thank you to everyone who helped to make this year’s GBMC Golf Classic a success. Even though the weather didn’t fully cooperate, I enjoyed the day of golf, good company, and raising necessary funds for Continuing Medical Education, Clinical Education and The John E. Savage Medical Library. Special thanks to Morgan Varley, Director of Annual Funding, for organizing the Golf Classic and to this year’s chairs, Laurie Beyer, MBA, CPA, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and Yuliya Klopouh, MH, PharmD, Executive Director of Pharmacy Services.