UTHealth Houston nurses honored by The Good Samaritan Foundation of Texas for its 20th annual Excellence in Nursing Awards

UTHealth Houston nurses honored by The Good Samaritan Foundation of Texas for its 20th annual Excellence in Nursing Awards

Written by: Shelley Vanker | Updated: October 16, 2024

Nurses from UTHealth Houston, including five from UT Physicians, were named as recipients of The Good Samaritan Foundation of Houston's 20th annual Excellence in Nursing Awards. (Photos by Brad Driver, UT Physicians)Linda Cole, DNP, RN, won a silver award from the Good Samaritan Foundation of Texas. (Photo by UTHealth Houston)

Nurses from UTHealth Houston's Behavioral Sciences Campus, UT Physicians, and Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston have been selected by The Good Samaritan Foundation of Texas for its 20th annual Excellence in Nursing Awards.

"Good Samaritan Foundation Award recipients exemplify the very best in professional nursing expertise and dedication," said Beth Maree, RN, chief nursing officer at UTHealth Houston Behavioral Sciences Campus. "UTHealth's Houston Behavioral Sciences Campus honorees embrace the challenges of their role with positive energy and commitment to direct patient care, staff and student teaching, and pursuit of new knowledge. The campus team is grateful for their contributions and proud to join the Houston community in celebration of their accomplishments."

Reflecting on the long-standing partnership with a vital supporter of nursing education, Diane M. Santa Maria, DrPH, MSN, dean of Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston, expressed her gratitude.

"The Good Samaritan Foundation has steadfastly supported nurses and nursing education for more than 70 years," said Santa Maria, The Jane and Robert Cizik Distinguished Chair and Huffington Foundation Endowed Chair in Nursing Education Leadership. "The organization has provided scholarships to hundreds of nursing students and recognized the exceptional work of thousands of practicing nurses."

The award honors nurses who stand out as leaders in their field, provide excellent patient care, consistently work to improve health outcomes and pay outstanding attention to clinical operations.

"This prestigious recognition honors nurses for their exceptional contributions in multiple settings, whether with employees, students, or patients," said Kimberly Alleman, MBA-HM, BSN, RN-BC, chief nursing officer of UT Physicians, the medical practice of McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. "This is about how they deliver care, and I think that's truly inspiring."

The nurses include silver award winner Linda Cole, DNP, RN, an associate professor with Cizik School of Nursing, and 19 bronze-level honorees.

"Houston is home to the Texas Medical Center, the biggest and best medical center in the world, so to have this many people recognized in a competitive field is very prestigious," said Amanda Ordonez, PhD, RN, senior nurse manager with UT Physicians Internal Medicine - Texas Medical Center. "We are proud of all our honorees. This award highlights their high standards for medical care, patient-centered priority, and focus on the university's mission. These honorees are role models."

The 2024 university recipients of the Good Samaritan Foundation's Excellence in Nursing Awards are:

UT Physicians

• Michele Borel, LVN | UT Physicians Internal Medicine - Texas Medical Center
• Amanda Gregg Stevenson, BSN, RN | UT Physicians clinical operations
• Deanna LeBlanc, BSN, RN | UT Physicians Cardiology - Texas Medical Center
• Shannon Mezak, LVN | UT Physicians Internal Medicine - Texas Medical Center
• Billie Moy, LVN | UT Physicians Center for Autoimmunity

Cizik School of Nursing

• Linda Cole, DNP, RN
• Kelly Kearney, DNP, RN

UTHealth Houston Behavioral Sciences Campus

• Raichel Abraham, RN
• Elsanett Alexander, BSN, RN
• Jena Blake, RN
• Binumon Chelackal, BSN, RN
• Claudia Chua, BSN, RN
• Geraldine Fortune, BSN, RN
• Jeslin Johny, BSN, RN
• Bibia Joy, MSN, BSN, RN
• Kathryn Manning, RN
• Teri Moore, RN
• Daniel Obodo, BSN
• Chinwe Okwulehie, BSN, RN
• Michael Rojas, BSN, RN

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