CentraCare Nurses Receive March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Awards

CentraCare was honored to have 12 nurses who were selected as finalists for the 2019 March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Award. Out of more than 300 finalists, Kim Welvaert, Neonatal lactation nurse, was named the 2019 Distinguished Nurse of the Year.

Out of the distinguished finalists, CentraCare also had four category winners: Jessica Thoma, Education & Research category; Diane Pelant, Leadership category; Melanie Odden, Neonatal category and Sara Maciej, Oncology category.

The March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Award ceremony was held Oct. 25 in the Twin Cities, where our nurses were recognized with many others from across the state.

The additional Nurse of the Year finalists from CentraCare were:

• Andrea Gravley, Advanced Practice
• Mallory Mondloch, Innovative and Non-Traditional Nursing
• Barbara Stanley, Neonatal
• Catherine Bowe, Neonatal
• Nicolette Leaders, Public Health Nursing
• Holly Mondloch, Rising Star
• Lisa Kilgard, Staff Nurse – General Care

The March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Awards celebrates the health care community in recognizing nursing excellence and achievements in research, education, quality patient care, innovation and leadership.