Excellence in Nursing Past Honorees
2022 Nurses
Maureen Cooney, RN, BSN, ANP, PMN, CFNP, ACHPN
Westchester Medical Center
Sharlene Crawford-Barrett, RN, BSN, IP, NE
The Pines at Poughkeepsie Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation
Martha Elliot, RN, BSN, OCN
NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital
Patricia Gandia, LPN
Sun River Health
Alison Green, BSN, MSN, NP
Hudson Valley Hospice & Hudson Valley Health Choices
Alyssa Grillo, RN, BSN, PED-BC
NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital
Jill Guercio-Niebling, RN, BSN, RNC-NIC, CBC, CT-STORK
White Plains Hospital
Eibhlis Hopkins, RN, DNP, FNP-BC, APRN
White Plains Hospital
Catherine Kingsley, RN, CCRN, CSN
Vassar Brothers Medical Center/Nuvance Health
Jeannemarie Kolka, BSN, CPAN
Good Samaritan Hospital
Patty LaRose, RN, BSN, CHPN
Hudson Valley Hospice
Laura McDonald, RN, BS, CIC
Putnam Hospital/Nuvance Health
Linda McEwan, RN
Columbia Memorial Health
Sandra Mintz, RN, BSN
Good Samaritan Hospital
Alexandra Monell, RN, BSN, OCN
Garnet Health Medical Center
Christopher Rhynehart, RN, BSN
Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall
Soraya Urban-Bell, RN
Garnet Health Medical Center
Mary Waldron, RN
Anderson Center for Autism
Meghan Walter, RN, MSN, CEN, PCCN, NPD-BC
Northern Westchester Hospital
Mirta Zapata-Popoca, RN
Sun River Health
Behavioral Health Center
Dana Fitzpatrick, BSN, RN
Bon Secours Community Hospital Port Jarvis
Christine Strohmeier, RN, BSN, CMSRN
Columbia Memorial Health
Kerry Byrne, LPN
Cynthia Friedman, CNM
Ray Mingua, BSN, TNCC, ENPC, BCEN, ACLS, PALS, BLS, NRP
Edward Murach, BSN
Meghan Rothrock, PNP
The Center for Discovery
Diane Goldberg, BSN, RN
Melissa Pena, BSN, RN
Family Services
Mary Hess, RN
Garnet Health Medical Center
Marina Carbone, BSN
Pamela Pugliese, BSN, RN, CMSRN
Hudson Valley Hospice
Kaitlyn Allen, RN, BSN, CHPN
Laura Baird, RN
Kelley Bentley, RN, CHPN
Nicole Grijnsztein, RN
Kimberly Hone, RN, CHPN
Shannon Johns, RN, CHPN
Amorosia Kowalski, RN
Kelly Kuhnle, RN
Jennifer Minckler, RN
Anne O’Brien, RN
Susan Patterson-Gallagher, RN
Courtney Powell, RN, CHPN
Ann Rand, RN, CHPN
Melissa Reyes, RN, CHPN
Samantha Suddoth, LPN
Ahava Tsuroff, RN, CHPN
Morgan Waser, RN, CHPN
Hudson Valley Medical Health Choices
Lauren Lundy, RN, MSN, FNP-C
JANCARE Private Health Services
Janice Green, RN, BSN, MBA, DPS, CEO
Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital
Cara Nemeth, BSN, RN, PEDN
MidHudson Regional Hospital
Kimberly Powell, RN
Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall
Andy Chen, BSN
Ashley Ladka, RN, BSN
New York Oncology Hematology’s Hudson Cancer Center
Melissa Heartquist, LPN
Melissa Thompson, RN, CMSRN
NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital
Margaret “Maggie” Adler, RN-BC, MSN, NEA-BC
NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital
Martha “Marty” Elliot, RN, BSN, OCN
Martha Frenzel, RN
Kaicee Gallo, RN, BSN
Jade Lugtu, RN, BSN
Aoife Rattigan, RN, BSN
Northern Dutchess Hospital/Nuvance Health
Emy Sinagra, RN
Northern Westchester Hospital
Meghan Walter, RN, MSN, CEN, PCCN, NPD-BC
Premier Medical Group of the Hudson Valley
Nerina Rivera, LPN
Putnam Hospital/Nuvance Health
Rose McNerney, RN
St. Anthony Community Hospital
Sara Pembridge, BSN, RN
Genevieve Rebaya, BSN, RN
Sun River Health
Linda Dolson, LPN
Norma Lewinson, LPN
Carmen Santos, LPN
Vera Wisniewski, FNP
Vassar Brothers Medical Center/Nuvance Health
Catherine Davidson, RN
Christine Forman, RN
Jessica Snyder, RN
Wartburg
Virgie Valentin, RN
Westchester Medical Center
Una Kaseta, BSN, RN
White Plains Hospital
Yahaira Fernandez, RN, BSN
Christine Heflin, RN, BSN, CCRN
Susan Jacobson Mayer, RN, NP
Amanda Raiano, RN, BSN, NE-BC
Willcare Home Care (LHC Group)
Sandra Herbert-Berg, RN Tammy Kucharik, LPN
Nursing Administrators
Columbia Memorial Health
Ginni Keyser, RN, BSN
Anne Trowbridge, RN
Hudson Valley Hospice and Hudson Valley Medical Health Choices
Maureen McCarthy, RN, CHPN, HCS-H
Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall
Margaret Deyo Allers, RN, BSN, MSN, ANP
New York Oncology Hematology’s Hudson Cancer Center
Melissa Thompson RN, CMSRN
2021 Nurses
Blessy Benjamin-Mammem, RN
NewYork-Presbyterian
Hudson Valley Hospital
Deborah Berrios, LPN
CareMount Medical
Meghan Betanzos, RN
Cornerstone Family Healthcare
Mara Canlas
Hudson Valley Hospice
Jean Casadone, RN
Putnam Hospital–Nuvance Health
Ella Chasse
Putnam Hospital–Nuvance Health
Sue Curry, RN, MSN, APRC,
ACNS-BC, RN-BC, AE-C
Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall
Lynette DeBellis, BSN
MidHudson Regional Hospital of
Westchester Medical Center
Dawn Filippone, RN, CCRN
St. John’s Riverside Hospital
Karley Flinn, RN, OCN
Northern Dutchess Hospital–Nuvance Health
Jennifer Hamm, RN
Northern Dutchess Hospital–Nuvance Health
Tami Harrah, ADN, BSN
Trinity-Pawling School Health Center
Monica Houshower RN, BSN
PAZ Management
Jerelyn Osoria Julian, MSN, RN, OCN
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center-Westchester
Erica Knapp, RN, BSN, TNCC,
ACLS, BLS, PALS, CEN
Vassar Brother Medical Center–Nuvance Health
Matt Lazarski, ICU, CCU, RN
Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall
Barbara Marshall, RN
The Pines at Poughkeepsie
Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation
Melissa Morales, ICU, RN, BSN
Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall
Cheryl Rifenburgh, LPN
ArchCare at Ferncliff Nursing Home
Gina Williamson, BSN, RN
Anderson Center for Autism
Debbie Amico, RN, CCRN, ACLS, PALS, BLS
Vassar Brothers Medical Center-Nuvance Health
Mary Arnold, RN,CHPLN
Hudson Valley Hospice
Nikia Blauvelt, RN, BSN
Vassar Brothers Medical Center-Nuvance Health
Erica Bradley, RN
Hudson Valley Hospice
Rebecca Butler, LPN
Hudson Valley Hospice
Danica Deldin
Hudson Valley Hospice
Tara Doran
ENT & Allergy Associates
Jolene Gaer, RN, CHPN
Hudson Valley Hospice
Michele Hoopnarine, LPN
Westmed Medical Group
Ricardo King, LP
Hudson Valley Hospice
Courtney Kurkela, LPN
Premier Medical Group
Kevin Levack, RN, BSN, CHPN, WCC
Hudson Valley Hospice
Kathleen Lowing, RN
Hudson Valley Hospice
Jennifer Minklker, BSN
Hudson Valley Hospice
Innoh Ngbodi, RN
Vassar Brothers Medical Center-Nuvance Health
Matilda Osei-Afriyie, LPN
Westmed Medical Group
Courtney Powell
Hudson Valley Hospice
Thomas Schwarz, RN, CHPN
Hudson Valley Hospice
Danielle Scofield, LNP, CHLPN, WCC
Hudson Valley Hospice
Hope Streeter, LPN, CHLPN
Hudson Valley Hospice
Joel Strock, RN, CHLPN
Hudson Valley Hospice
Coreena Valentino, LNP
Premier Medical Group
Michael Williams, LNP
Hudson Valley Hospice
2020 Nurses
Matthew Agazzi-Cowton, RN, LPN
Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall
Vana Cabibbo, BSN, RN, OCN, ONS-ONCC
WESTMED Medical Group
H. Janelle Carr, DNP
Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall
Debbie Chakansky, RN
New York-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital
Patrica Churna, BSN, RN
MidHudson Regional Hospital
Kim Connelly, RN, BSN, MSN
St. Anthony Community Hospital
Donna Engle, RN, BSN, CHPN
Hudson Valley Hospice
Nancy Fox, MS, RN, NPD-BC, NEA-BC, CNML
Phelps Hospital Northwell Health
Kim Jablonski, MSN, CMRSN
Garnet Health Medical Center
Eileen Karle, LPN, CHLPN, BS
Hudson Valley Hospice
Roberta Keogan, RN, RNC-OB
CareMount Medical
Lori Lang, BSN, RN, OCN
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Paula Nigri, LPN
CareMount Medical
Tafford Oltz, RN, TCRN, CFRN, CCRN
MidHudson Regional Hospital
Stephanie Paruolo, MSN, RN
Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall
Andres Salcedo, RN, BSN
White Plains Hospital
Karen Schaffer, RN-BC
Good Samaritan Hospital
Susan Siew, RN
WMC Health Alliance
Marissa Tamburi, RN, MSN, MED
Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at WMC
Kayla Valentine, RN
WMC HealthAlliance: Broadway Campus
Sunshine Abel, LPN
WESTMED Medical Group
Miriam Arroon BSN, MSN
The Lutheran Care Center
Matthew Agazzi-Cowton, RN, LPN
Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall
Courtney Brenner, LPN
The Thompson House (Nuvance Health)
Ashonte Brown, LPN
Golden Hill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
Sharol Burney, BSN, RN
Westchester Medical Center
Rebecca Butler, LPN
Hudson Valley Hospice
Vana Cabibbo, BSN, RN, OCN, ONS-ONCC
WESTMED Medical Group
Eileen Capulli, LPN
Premier Medical Group of The Hudson Valley
H. Janelle Carr, DNP
Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall
Evelyn Caska, BSN, RN, AHNCC
The Center for Discovery
Debbie Chakansky, RN
New York- Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital
Renoka Chandra, LPN
WESTMED Medical Group
Patrica Churna, BSN, RN
MidHudson Regional Hospital
Annie Collabatista, BSN, RNC-MNN
White Plains Hospital
Jeannette Colon, BSN, RN
Westchester Medical Center
Weny Comier, LPN
Middletown Medical PC
Kim Connelly, RN, BSN, MSN
St. Anthony Community Hospital
Aimee Croce, BSN, RN
Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall
Katie Dingersen, BSN, RN-BC
White Plains Hospital
Zephyr Dresser-Peck, RN
WMC HealthAlliance: Broadway Campus
Kathleen Dwy, BSN, MPH, RN
Westchester Medical Center
Stacey Edwards, LPN
CareMount Medical
Donna Engle, RN, BSN, CHPN
Hudson Valley Hospice
Merritt Featherston, RN, ACLS, BLS
Vassar Brothers Medical Center (Nuvance Health)
Diana Fernandez, RN
Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall
Aviva Fisher, BSN, MS, CADC, RN-BCLPN
NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Behavioral Health Center
Michele Flores, LPN
Golden Hill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
Nancy Fox, MS, RN, NPD-BC, NEA-BC, CNML
Phelps Hospital Northwell Health
Shirley Gill, RN, BA
The Pines at Poughkeepsie Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation
Amanda Graner, RN
Mid Hudson Regional Hospital
Nora Higgins, BSN, CMSRN
Garnet Health Medical Center
Frances Hogan, RN, AS
The Brookmeade Community
Kim Jablonski, MSN, CMRSN
Garnet Health Medical Center
Kathleen (Kathy) Johnson, RN, CHPN
Hudson Valley Hospice
Eileen Karle, LPN, CHLPN, BS
Hudson Valley Hospice
Roberta Keogan, RN, RNC-OB
CareMount Medical
Lori Lang, BSN, RN, OCN
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Patty LaRose, RN, BSN, CHPN
Hudson Valley Hospice
Cynthia Marsilio, RN, MSN, APN
Bon Secours Community Hospital
Danille Mayo-Fucile, BSN, RN
NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital
Kathleen McKenzie, BSN, RN
Putnam Hospital Center (Nuvance Health)
Maria Menjivar, ASN
The Surgery Center at Orthopedic Associates
Gretchen Montazella, RN, BSN
Putnam Hospital Center (Nuvance Health)
Carrie Mosley, BSN
Woodland Pond
Alyssa Mouro, BSN
NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital
Emily Muzyka, RN, BSN, RN-BC
NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital
Innoh Ngbodi, BSN, RN-BC
Vassar Brothers Medical Center (Nuvance Health)
Ivelyn Nichols,BSN, RN
Westchester Medical Center
Paula Nigri, LPN
CareMount Medical
Tafford Oltz, RN, TCRN, CFRN, CCRN
MidHudson Regional Hospital
Megan Osofsky, RN, BSN,CHPN
Hudson Valley Hospice
Anna Panek, BSN, RN, CLC
Westchester Medical Center
Stephanie Paruolo, MSN, RN
Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall
Barbara Reynolds, MSN, MA, RN-BC
NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital
Isabella Robisheaux, RN, ASN
CareMount Medical
Jennifer Ross, BSN, RN
Vassar Brothers Medical Center (Nuvance Health)
Gigi Roy, BSN, MPH, RN
Westchester Medical Center
Jennifer Rubeo, RN
Premier Medical Group of The Hudson Valley
Sarah Ruggiero, BSN, CRNI, VA-BC
Garnet Health Medical Center
Jamie Rusek, RN, BSN, CHPN
Hudson Valley Hospice
Andres Salcedo, RN, BSN
White Plains Hospital
Catherine Sanabria, BSN
White Plains Hospital
Jackie Savino, RN
Hudson Valley Hospice
Dana Sceppaquercia, BSN, RN
White Plains Hospital
Karen Schaffer, RN-BC
Good Samaritan Hospital
Althea Scott Bonaparte, BSN
NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital
Susan Siew, RN
WMC Health Alliance
Margaret Speedling, RN
Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall
Marissa Tamburi, RN, MSN, MED
Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at WMC
Georgette Taylor, BSN
NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital
Sarah Thompson, AASN, RN
Cornerstone Family Healthcare
Michelle Tierney, RN
Putnam Hospital Center (Nuvance Health)
Kristine Turcy-Cahill, BSN, RN
Northern Dutchess Hospital (Nuvance Health)
Kayla Valentine, RN
WMC HealthAlliance: Broadway Campus
Margaret Walotsky, RN
NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital
Kim Walsh, RN
CareMount Medical
Donna Warfloor, ASNC, RN
Westchester Medical Center
Dorota Wasila, RN, LPN, AND
CareMount Medical
Vanessa Weber, LPN
Premier Medical Group of The Hudson Valley
Sophie Williams, RN, BSN
The Thompson House (Nuvance Health)