Awards and Recognition

Awards and recognition

St. Louis Magazine Excellence in Nursing awards

Each year, St. Louis Magazine recognizes the remarkable efforts of nurses throughout the St. Louis region, including Metro East. A distinguished selection committee chooses the finalists and winners.

In 2025, four Memorial Hospital nurses were recognized as finalists in their respective categories:

  • Rachel Schaefer BSN, RN, CPAN (Ambulatory Surgery/PACU Assistant Nurse Manager) in the category of Community/Ambulatory Care
  • Barry Payne BSN, RN, CCRN (ICU Assistant Nurse Manager) in the category of Intensive Care
  • Emily Heslop MSN, RN, CCRN (3 South Nurse Manager) in the category of Medical-Surgical
  • Kelly Crawford DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CNOR (Clinical Education Specialist) in the category of Educator

A special congratulations to Kellyy Crawford who was also the winner in her respective category.

In 2024, two Memorial Hospital nurses were recognized as finalists in their respective categories:

  • Cassandra Schmaltz, RN (2 South Clinical Nurse) in the category of Medical-Surgical Nursing
  • Ashley Tasso, BSN, RN, RN-BC (1 Center Assistant Nurse Manager) in the category of Medical-Surgical Nursing

Internal nursing awards

Each year, Memorial Hospital recognizes and honors excellence among Memorial Hospital in Belleville and Memorial Hospital in Shiloh nursing staff through the Excellence in Nursing Awards.

The award was established to recognize nurses who demonstrate excellence and leadership in their role and practice setting. Colleagues, physicians, or patients may nominate nurses. The recipients are selected by the awardees from the previous year based on the Magnet® domains of Transformational Leadership (TL); Structural Empowerment (SE); Exemplary Professional Practice (EP); New Knowledge, Innovations, and Improvements (NK); and Empirical Outcomes (EO).

Nurses who receive these awards are role models for nursing excellence, providing excellent care in a professional and competent manner while demonstrating a holistic approach to caring. They have personal qualities that enhance practice and relate to patients, families, and their peers. They participate in quality research and strive for professional development through certification and education. They are nurses who truly advocate for patients and their families.

March of Dimes’ Heroes in Action (Nurse of the Year Awards)

Each year the March of Dimes recognizes extraordinary nurses in efforts to help moms and babies across Missouri and the Metro East Illinois. The March of Dimes organization takes nominations for outstanding nurses in multiple disciplines and hosts an annual Nurse of the Year Awards banquet and dinner to celebrate nursing achievements. When a nurse is nominated for an award, they are required to fill out extensive documentation of their achievements within nursing including professional development, patient care, and community service/outreach. Finalists are chosen in each of the different disciplines, and then one winner is selected in each group.

In 2025, five Memorial Hospital nurses were recognized as finalists in their respective categories:

  • Elizabeth Pardee BSN, RN, C-EFM (Family Care Birthing Center) in the category of Charge Nurse and Front-Line Supervisor
  • Miranda Lauf RN (3 South) in the category of Mental/Behavioral Health
  • Denise Burns BSN, RN, CGRN (Endoscopy) in the category of Surgical Services, category winner
  • Rene Kruse MSN, RN (Ambulatory Surgery) in the category of Surgical Services
  • Shelby Fanshier BSN, RN (Operating Room) in the category of Surgical Services

2025 Excellence in Nursing awards recipients

Transformational Leadership

  • Shelby Fanshier BSN, RN

Structural Empowerment

  • Alicia Stevens BSN, RN, CAPA

Exemplary Professional Practice

  • Kristen Burke RN

New Knowledge, Innovations, & Improvements

  • Kristina Schmuck MSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC

Empirical Outcomes

  • Aimee Foehrkolb BSN, RN

Rookie of the Year

  • Abbagail Olmstead RN

2024 Excellence in Nursing Awards recipients 

Distinguished Magnet Nurse of the Year

  • Barry Payne BSN, RN, CCRN

Transformational Leadership

  • Kelly Crawford, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CNOR

  • Julia Lesicko, BSN, RN, CPAN

     

Structural Empowerment

  • Maria Ballard, DNP, RN, NPD-BC

  • Ofelia Harvey, BSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC

Exemplary Professional Practice

  • Carrie Guthrie, BSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC
  • Christina Stiles, BSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC
  • Rachel Schaefer, BSN, RN, CPAN

New Knowledge, Innovations, and Improvements

  • Susie Paszkiewicz, RN
  • Melinda Wilson, BSN, RN

Empirical Outcomes

  • Gail Oldehoeft, BSN, RN, CWOCN
  • Ashley Zimmer, BSN, RN

Rookie of the Year

  • Keiona Robinson, RN
  • Riley Brooks, BSN, RN
  • Rachel Massey, RN

Relationship-Based Care

  • Emily Heslop, MSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC
  • Philip Sinn, BSN, RN, CCRN
  • Kelly Preston, BSN, RN

Health Equity

  • Tami Johnson, MSN, RN, CDCES

Interprofessional Collaboration Award: Medical Stabilization Team

  • Emily Heslop, MSN, RN-BC
  • Kristin Atchisson, BSN, RN-BC
  • Lacy Otten, LCSW
  • Sheena Langhauser, MSW
  • Alyssa Jarvis, Peer Recovery Specialist
  • Cassandra Baca, Peer Recovery Specialist
  • Diane Ashmann, DNP, RN-BC
  • Geri Sova, MSN, RN-BC
  • Bailey Vardsveen, PharmD