For calendar year 2015, the Women’s Association of Morristown Medical Center awarded $25,000 in scholarships to eight very impressive employees pursuing degrees in health care. Each candidate received an excellent performance rating, outstanding recommendations from colleagues, continuously strove to enhance their skills, and were dynamically engaged in both the workplace and the community.
Christina Barter,(not in picture), a 10-year employee, began her career at MMC as a unit secretary in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) while attending nursing school. Her hard work and dedication resulted in a promotion to the position of Clinical Coordinator in the Medical and Surgical ICU. She is a Certified Critical Care nurse and holds additional certifications in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Trauma Care After Resuscitation. Christina currently chairs the hospital wide Clinical Coordinator Committee. She is the immediate past chair of the ICU Shared Governance Committee, a member of the Hospital Geriatric Resource Nurse Committee, a member of MMC Critical Care Practice Committee and assisted with Magnet Recognition Program® re-designation, which recognizes healthcare organizations for quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice. Christina was a 2014 WAMMC scholarship recipient and continues to pursue a RN-MSN degree in Leadership and Management at Walden University. Her supervisor describes Christina as an "emerging leader who has amazing potential. She is a hard worker, team player, dedicated and driven professional."
Lise Cooper (back center in picture above), has worked at MMC for seven years. She began her career as a staff charge nurse on Jefferson 4 and was recently promoted to Clinical Coordinator. She was American Nurses Credentialing Center board certified in 2010 and renewed the certification for another five years. She received a Master’s in Nursing Education and is currently enrolled as a doctoral candidate in Medical Humanities at Drew University. The Medical Humanities field is designed to teach medical students how to see compassion and empathy as an integral part of treating the person that is the patient. Lise believes this approach is equally important for nurses. She hopes to formulate a dissertation that uses Medical Humanities to improve the patient experiences in the patient units that tend to be primarily geriatric. She was past Co-Chair and is presently a member of the Jefferson 4 Shared Governance Council, Jefferson 4 Patient Satisfaction Committee and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. In 2012, Lise was awarded the Ben Lobel Award for nursing excellence. Her supervisors acknowledge Lise is a "hard working, self- directed, service driven nurse who strives to make sure that the patients are safe and cared for at the utmost quality level. She is a strong professional mentor to the nursing staff."
Amy De Leonardis (front left in picture above), an eight and a half year employee of MMC completed a nursing externship at MMC, began working on Franklin 3 in Cardiac Telemetry after graduating from nursing school. She transferred into the Cardiac Care Unit working as a CCU staff nurse. Amy is a certified Critical Care Registered Nurse and obtained a Cardiac Medicine Certification. In 2013, Amy was promoted to a Clinical Coordinator and Unit Educator. She is involved in various hospital committees including the Incident Based Peer Review, the Fellowship Clinical Competency Committee and the Induced Hypothermia Steering Committee. She also serves as the CCU team captain for the American Heart Association 5K Walk. Last year, Amy wrote a beautiful nomination involving the success story of a 40 year old patient’s cardiac arrest in CCU. The unit was awarded Best Nursing Team 2014 and was recognized hospital wide during Nurses’ Week. Her supervisor states, "Amy works hard both in CCU and in the community to improve the lives of others. She consistently goes above and beyond providing patient care as well as educating the CCU staff. She is generous and compassionate." Amy is working toward her Doctorate in Nursing Practice with a focus in Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesia at Rutgers School of Nursing.
Kelly Giacomaro (not in picture), a four year employee of MMC has worked in the Morristown Microbiology Lab for the past three years as a Clinical Lab Assistant. She is enrolled in the Hospital Elder Life program, which focuses on ensuring optimal care for older adults. She has received numerous PRIDE Awards at MMC. Her supervisor states, "Kelly has been great for morale in my department. She has a very positive attitude toward her work and to her peers. She is a quick learner." Kelly is currently pursuing her BSN degree at County College of Morris.
Doreen Rasp (back left in picture above), has worked at MMC for three years in the Center for Digestive Health. She is an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) with a national certification in Family Medicine. Presently, she is the Chair-elect for the hospital wide Shared Governance APN Council. Doreen has also been recognized by the monthly patient Press Ganey Surveys. Her patients describe her as warm, kind and caring. Her supervisor states, "She is hard working, diligent and her positive attitude is contagious. She demonstrates a high degree of leadership and professionalism. She takes ownership with a sense of pride while mentoring others which promotes a healing culture." Doreen is currently completing a Post Master’s Certificate in Mental Health at Wilkes University.
Roxanne Sabatini (front center in picture above), a 26 year employee of MMC is currently working as a Nurse Educator in the Nursing Education Department. She coordinates and teaches the nursing orientation program and is the hospital liaison for simulation. She developed specialized emergency training using the simulation lab. Roxanne is also the mentor and educator for new graduate nurses in the Hire Learning Nurse Residency Program. She is the current chair of the Evidence Based Practice Subcommittee of MMC Nursing Research Council and past Co-chair of the MMC Nursing Research Council. She is also the principal investigator in an open research study entitled "Nursing knowledge, attitudes, and practices in nursing research," a replication study of the 2009 research study. Roxanne received the NJ League of Nurses Educator Award in 2011 and is presently pursuing a doctorate degree in Nursing Education at Capella University. Her supervisor acknowledges Roxanne "is very hard working and is a motivation and inspiration to other nurses and nurse educators. The road she has taken has been long, but she has been persistent due to her love of learning and nursing."
Robyn Sarig (back right in picture above), a four year employee of MMC currently works as a unit nurse and educator in the Emergency Department. This year, she has taken on the Charge Nurse role and participates in the Charge Core Team Practice Committee and participated in the 2014 PACT. Robyn recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from Drexel University with a BSN and is currently obtaining her MSN as a Family Nursing Practitioner. Her supervisor states, "Robyn serves as a mentor for new RN’s and technicians. She is able to use her expertise to help them enjoy their orientation."
Nicole Stalter (front right in picture above), a four year employee at MMC works as a staff nurse on Jefferson 5. She has an interest in working in Occupational Medicine. She served on Shared Governance and took on the role of Employee Engagement Champion for the unit. She received the RN PACT 2014 award as well as numerous PRIDE Awards. Her supervisor acknowledges, "Nicole was a cheerleader for all our engagement efforts and made a difference for the whole team." She is enrolled at Walden University and is completing a Master’s of Science Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner degree. Her goal is to obtain a Doctor of Nurse Practice degree.
The WAMMC Scholarship Committee thanks all candidates who submitted an application and is very appreciative of the time and effort put in by the supervisors and colleagues on behalf of all the candidates.
The WAMMC Scholarship Program is funded entirely by donations. Contributions may be made online or by including a donation with your dues.
If you have any questions please email wammcscholar@gmail.com.