Portland, OR May 10, 2018 — Approximately 650 guests from throughout Oregon and southwest Washington are expected to attend the 2018 March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Awards. The event is June 1, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. Marilyn Deutsch from Fox 12 is serving as event emcee.
Ruth Williams-Brinkley, RN will be the keynote speaker. Williams-Brinkley is the president, Northwest, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals. In this role, she oversees all of Kaiser Permanente’s care delivery and health plan operations in Oregon and markets in Vancouver and Longview/Kelso, Washington. She holds bachelor’s and Master of Science degrees from De Paul University, an honorary doctoral degree from Spaulding University, and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Williams-Brinkley has consistently appeared on Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Women in Healthcare and Top 25 Minority Executives in Healthcare, and was named one of Becker’s Most Admired CEOs.
At the breakfast, March of Dimes will present a total of 16 awards to nurses who exemplify an extraordinary level of patient care, compassion and customer service in their specific disciplines. A total of 325 finalists will be recognized for their outstanding contribution to the profession.
March of Dimes received a record number of nominations for its 8th annual Nurse of the Year. Nurses employed in the state of Oregon and Southwest Washington were eligible. A selection committee comprised of health care professionals reviewed and scored the confidential nomination forms.
Victoria King, Senior Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer, PeaceHealth is serving as revenue chair of the event. Members of the committee include Debbie Buchwach, Director of Professional Practice, Ambulatory Nursing & Optimization; Megan Boyle, Regional Director for Clinical Operations, Providence Health & Services; Shari Davis, Critical Care Director, RCH Nursing Services; Deborah Eldredge, Director, Quality/Research/Magnet Recognition Program at OHSU; Ben Farber, Chief Nursing Officer at PeaceHealth; Cindy Hill, Nursing Chief Executive Office at Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel; Trece Gurrad, Vice President of Patient Care Services at Columbia Memorial Hospital; Lisa Ketchum, Director, Women & Children Service Line at Salem Health; Melisa Linnman, Senior Clinical Manger- Pacific NW at Hill-Rom; Ashlee O’Meara, Nursing Professional Development Consultant, Ambulatory Nursing & Optimization; Regina Rose, Chief Nursing Officer at Bay Area Hospital, Donald Wenzler, Chief Nursing Officer at Mid Columbia Medical Center, and Florence Wallace, Professional Development Consultant, Ambulatory Nursing & Optimization at Kaiser Permanente.
Whether serving as health care provider, educator, researcher, volunteer and/or advisor – nurses play a critical role in advancing the mission of March of Dimes. The mission of the March of Dimes is to fight for the health of all moms and babies. The Nurse of the Year initiative supports this mission while recognizing exceptional nurses throughout the state, celebrating the profession, and creating awareness of the strides made in this growing field.
The 2018 Nurse of the Year is sponsored by Providence Health & Services, Cambia Health Foundation, PeaceHealth, Legacy Health, Kaiser Permanente, OHSU, and Life Flight Network.
