Nebraska Hospital Association Honors Nebraska Health Care Heroes With “The Caring Kind” Award

The Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA) has recognized 83 Nebraska hospital employees for their exemplary service to health care by bestowing them with the organization’s prestigious The Caring Kind award.

For 43 years, The Caring Kind award has recognized Nebraska's most caring and compassionate health care heroes. This award honors outstanding health care employees who have demonstrated compassion for patients, cooperation with co-workers and dedication to excellence in their job responsibilities.

“This award demonstrates the kindness, caring, dedication and commitment these individuals make to their hospitals,” commented Jeremy Nordquist, President, NHA. “The Caring Kind award is a celebration of our Nebraska health care heroes and the extraordinary work they do each and every day to deliver top notch patient care in our hospitals.”

Hospitals across the state select one The Caring Kind award recipient from within their respective institutions to be recognized. Award winners were recognized at a special luncheon as part of the NHA Annual Convention this past Friday, October 21, at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in La Vista. More than 2,700 caring, skilled and dedicated health care professionals have received this award since its inception in 1979.

The NHA congratulates The Caring Kind award recipients for 2022:

Chellie Autrey, RT - Kimball Health Services, Kimball

Bonnie Baum, Health Information Management - Boone County Health Center, Albion

Hanne Beldin, Stroke Program Coordinator - CHI Health St. Elizabeth, Lincoln

Justin Beller, Café Station Cook, Nutrition Services - Methodist Hospital, Omaha

Sherri Billinger, Admission Specialist - Webster County Community Hospital, Red Cloud

Katie Blackwell, RT(R)(N)(ARRT), Nuclear Medicine Technologist - Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings

Michelle Blair, Senior Patient Access Associate - Nebraska Medicine, Omaha

Kim Brennfoerder, RN, Rural Health Clinic Supervisor - Thayer County Health Services, Hebron

Katie Bruenig, RDCS, AE, Limited Radiographer - Saunders Medical Center, Wahoo

Deborah Burmester, RN - Franciscan Healthcare Clinic, West Point

Holly Caballero, MA, Medical Assistant - OrthoNebraska, Omaha

April Campbell, COVID-19 Screener - Memorial Community Health, Aurora

Jared Carter, Dietary Services Assistant Cook - Box Butte General Hospital, Alliance

Marcie Chinn, CEST, Environmental Services Specialist - Providence Medical Center, Wayne

Thea Cole, Bereavement & Volunteer Coordinator/Activities Director - Cozad Community Health System, Cozad

Danielle Cooper, MA, Long-Term Care Medication Aide - York General Hearthstone, York

Kelley Creek, Phlebotomist - CHI Health St. Mary’s, Nebraska City

Angela Cunningham, LPN, Central Scheduler - Tri Valley Health System, Cambridge

Deborah Dahlke, Chaplain - CHI Health Nebraska Heart, Lincoln

Brooke Darby, RN, Progressive Care Unit - Kearney Regional Medical Center, Kearney

Larissa Diekmann, Respiratory Therapy Supervisor - CHI Health Immanuel Medical Center, Omaha

Jessica Douglas, Environmental Services Team Leader - West Holt Medical Services, Atkinson

Gloria Ferreira, Environmental Services Housekeeping Assistant - Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, Omaha

Diane Fort, RT(R), Radiology Technologist - Fillmore County Hospital, Geneva

Casey Fowler, MPA-C, Physician Assistant, Orthopaedic - Great Plains Health, North Platte

Wayne Franzen, CNA/MA, Activities Coordinator - Jefferson Community Health & Life Gardenside, Fairbury

Deb Frederick, Administrative Assistant - Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital, O’Neill

Betty Froehlich, RN, BSN, MS, Regulatory Compliance Coordinator - Faith Regional Health Services, Norfolk

Dejohn (DJ) Garrison, Respiratory Care Technician - CHI Health Lakeside, Omaha

Ryan Geiler, Director of Clinical Applications, Population Health, Data Analytics & Interim IT Director - Community Medical Center, Inc., Falls City

Jessie Gipfert, RT, Radiology CT Tech - Sidney Regional Medical Center, Sidney

Marisol Hackman, Coordinator, Clinic Operations - Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town

Angela Hartley, Environmental Technician - Bryan Health, Lincoln

Jessica Hartman, RN, Quality Analyst - Chadron Community Hospital & Health Services, Chadron

Carmen Heller, RN, Oncology Navigator - Methodist Fremont Health, Fremont

Kevin Henning, Materials Management Assistant - Crete Area Medical Center, Crete

Eddie Hernandez, Patient Services - Howard County Medical Center, St. Paul

Hannah Hild, RN, BSN Director of Outpatient Services - Lexington Regional Health Center, Lexington

Jody Hoffart, Department Support Assistant - CHI Health Schuyler, Schuyler

Laura Huber, RN, Staff Nurse - Henderson Health Care Services, Henderson

Sandy Jacobson, CDM, CMFPP, Nutritional Services Director - Gothenburg Health, Gothenburg

Claudia Javier, RN, BSN, Nurse - Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals, Omaha

Cassie Johnson, RN, Case Manager/Discharge Planner - Gordon Memorial Hospital District, Gordon

Mark Klabunde, PharmD, Director of Pharmacy - Kearney County Health Services, Minden

Josephine “Josie” Kopal, RN, Charge Nurse – ICU - CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center – Bergan Mercy, Omaha

Julie Krotzinger, RN, BSN, Director of Specialty Clinic - Brodstone Healthcare, Superior

Kayla Kusek, RN, House Supervisor - Jennie M. Melham Memorial Medical Center, Broken Bow

Candy Lussetto, RN, Specialty Clinic Director - Morrill County Community Hospital, Bridgeport

Charlotte Marks, RN, BSN, Transition of Care Nurse & Patient Educator - Community Hospital, McCook

Miranda Marlin, MSN, RN, Director of Quality Programs - Dundy County Hospital, Benkelman

Sally Marshall, Patient Access Representative - Memorial Community Hospital & Health System, Blair

Pam Meyer, RN, Medical Floor and ER - Avera Creighton Hospital, Creighton

Louis (Lou) Neujahr, Maintenance Mechanic - Annie Jeffrey Memorial County Health Center, Osceola

Tatum Pitkin, Physical Therapy Assistant - Pender Community Hospital, Pender

Stacy Polski, LPN, Specialty Clinic Nurse - Howard County Medical Center, St. Paul

Marvi Pruden, RN, Infection Control Director, Nursing Supervisor & Floor Nurse - Antelope Memorial Hospital, Neligh

Beau Rapien, RN, Charge Nurse - CHI Health St. Francis, Grand Island

Kristin Rasmussen, Registered Nurse - Columbus Community Hospital, Columbus

Kathryn Renning, RN, Director of Nursing - Cherry County Hospital & Clinic, Valentine

Sandra Rippe, Director of Community Outreach & Patient Relations - Syracuse Area Health, Syracuse

Israel Rodriguez, Phlebotomist III - Methodist Women’s Hospital, Omaha

Vickie Runyon, RN, Safety Officer - Harlan County Health System, Alma

Melissa Rupp, Lead Occupational Health Nurse - Regional West Health Services, Scottsbluff

RaeAnn Schlenker, ARDMS (AB BR OB/GYN), RVT (VT), Multi-Modality Tech II - Ogallala Community Hospital, Ogallala

Carol Schnell, Human Resources Assistant/Payroll Specialist - Memorial Health Care Systems, Seward

Leah Schultz, Cook - Osmond General Hospital, Osmond

Sharon Schuster, Chaplain - Beatrice Community Hospital & Health Center, Beatrice

KarNel Schwartz, CMA, Clinical Coordinator - Regional West Garden County, Oshkosh

Becky Shafer, RN, Associate Director of Nursing - Friend Community Healthcare System, Friend

Lorrie Shaul, Housekeeper - Rock County Hospital, Bassett

Theresa Shelton, Executive Administrative Assistant - Nemaha County Hospital, Auburn

Diane Sowden, Hostess - Phelps Memorial Health Center, Holdrege

Judy Spath, RN, Night Shift Nurse - Twelve Clans Unity Hospital, Winnebago

Nathan Suehl, Lead Lab Technologist - Butler County Health Care Center, David City

Elizabeth (Betty) Sutton, Nuclear Med Tech - CHI Health Midlands Hospital, Papillion

Sasha Taylor, RN, Staff Nurse - Brown County Hospital, Ainsworth

Megan Trout, MLT (ASCP), Medical Laboratory Technician - Johnson County Hospital, Tecumseh

Sonja Ventura, Patient Care Technician - Grand Island Regional Medical Center, Grand Island

Cindy Walters, Dietary Manager - Pawnee County Memorial Hospital, Pawnee City

Julie Wells, LPN, Staff Nurse - CHI Health Plainview, Plainview

Erika White, DPT, Physical Therapist - Valley County Health System, Ord

Kassie Young, CNA, Certified Nursing Assistant - Merrick Medical Center, Central City

Paul Zapata, Maintenance Mechanic - CHI Health Good Samaritan, Kearney

The Nebraska Hospital Association’s mission is to serve its members by being the trusted leader to improve the health, wellbeing and quality of life of all Nebraskans. Its vision is to be the state’s most influential, trusted and respected voice in health care policy and advocacy, a valued resource for information and knowledge and a leader in patient safety.