2018 Awards Recognize Outstanding Care and Support
Congratulations to the award recipients who celebrated with colleagues and friends at a ceremony and reception on February 7!
Jeffrey Wayne, MD, Associate Director for Clinical Operations, welcomed guests to the event in Feinberg Pavilion’s Krumlovsky Atrium and introduced Leonidas Platanias, MD, PhD, Director of the Lurie Cancer Center. “Some days are better than others. This is one of my favorite days,” said Dr. Wayne. “We get to recognize the hard work of the people making an impact for our patients and staff.”
These awards allow us to recognize our cancer center’s faculty and staff for their outstanding contributions and commitment to our patients,” said Dr. Platanias.
Nancy Anderson Award for Excellence in Gynecologic Oncology Nursing
John Lurain, MD, presented the awards to:
| Nicole Tasker, MSN, FNP-BC, Division of Gynecologic Oncology Travel Award Established by Irving Stenn to recognize and support an outstanding clinician with opportunities for continuing education. |
| Nancy Anderson, MSN, ANP-BC, Division of Gynecologic Oncology Nancy Anderson Award for Excellence in Gynecologic Oncology Nursing Created by the family of Marcia Stenn, who died of ovarian cancer, the award was first established in Anderson’s honor in 2010. |
Nora Cooney Marra Compassionate Care Awards
Dr. Platanias thanked Charenton Zelov Drake, President of the Woman’s Board of Northwestern Memorial Hospital. “The Woman’s Board has been a great partner, providing support for programs at the Lurie Cancer Center over the years.”
The Woman’s Board established the Compassionate Care Awards in 1991. Designated in 2014 as the Nora Cooney Marra Compassionate Care Awards, the awards honor individuals who exemplify and serve as role models for their extraordinary service to oncology patients.
Joan McGrath, RN, and Natalie Weaver, RN, presented the following awards to:
| Katherine "Kari" Heideman, RN, BSN, OCN, Department of Medicine, Solid Tumor Oncology Nursing and Allied Health Professionals Award |
| Suneel Kamath, MD, Department of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology House Officers and Fellows Award |
| Julia Vermylen, MD, Department of Medicine, Hospital Medicine/Palliative Care Attending Staff Award |
Lurie Cancer Center Staff Awards
William Gradishar, MD, Chief of Hematology and Oncology, and Deputy Director for the Clinical Network of the Lurie Cancer Center, began the presentation by thanking the winners of the JoAnn Jones Support Staff Award for their “compassionate, caring way of making sure each patient is taken care of.” “You make our job easier,” he added. “If patients are in a good mood when they get to us, it’s because of people like you.”
William Gradishar, MD, Nisha Mohindra, MD, Mary Mulcahy, MD, Timothy Pearman, PhD, and Jeffrey Wayne, MD, presented the following awards to:
| Kimberly Hughes, Patient Service Representative, Lurie Cancer Center |
| Nina Mata, Patient Procedure Scheduler, Maggie Daley Center for Women’s Cancer Care JoAnn Jones Support Staff Award In recognition of outstanding patient service and performance excellence. |
| Robin Katz, MSW, LCSW, Supportive Oncology, Lurie Cancer Center Medical Professional Award In recognition of exceptional patient care by a clinical professional for their dedication, commitment and overall care of patients. |
| Kelly Harrington, RN, Lurie Cancer Center Vicki Maurer Clinical Cancer Center Nursing Award In recognition of nursing excellence, compassion and teamwork. |
| Danielle Basinger, RN, MSN, APN, Surgical Oncology, Lurie Cancer Center |
| Victoria Caulfield, APN, Maggie Daley Center for Women’s Cancer Care |
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