Founders Award

The purpose of the Founders Award is to recognize an individual’s significant contributions to the advancement of the care of pediatric surgical patients and exemplary service to the APSNA organization.

Eligibility Criteria

Nomination Guidelines

Send the following information electronically to: info@apsna.org.

An online application → will be submitted for all award nominations.
All required application elements will be turned in by the due date. Please forward to info@apsna.org
- Founders Award Application Guidelines:
- The nominator will be a professional peer.
- The nominator will submit at least one letter of support using the Scoring Criteria → to guide the letter of support and highlights APSNA contributions
- The nominator is encouraged to gather significant supportive data → regarding the nominee’s clinical practice and professional accomplishments with additional letters of support. Activities for which an individual may be nominated may include but are not limited to clinical expertise, research, authorship, mentorship, teaching, program development or professional leadership.
The Awards Chair contacts the nominee of the nomination, and requests a recent copy of their curriculum vitae. The nominee is advised that the Scoring Criteria → will be used to award the Founders Award.

Application Dates / Deadlines

Award Winners:

2026 Founders Award Recipient

Lori Lynch, DNP, APRN, CPNP, CBN

Our Founders Award recipient received 4 letters of support. These letters of support were written by Dr William Middlesworth, Interim Chief, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Jeanne Rubsam Kane, MS, APRN, PNP-BC, Jennifer Berkbigler, MSN, RN, PNP-AC, Rachael Reif, RN,CBC, C.L.C.

Our recipient has devoted more than 30 years to pediatric nursing. Her clinical career includes roles from NICU, PICU, PACU to Nurse Practitioner in Pediatric Surgery at NYP-Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital where she practiced since 2007. Since 2013, she has been an instruction in Clinical Nursing at Columbia University. She has been a member of APSNA since 2008. She served as APSNA’s Director of Development 2015-2017, Chair of Obesity Special Interest Group 2017-2021, Nominations Committee 2019-2021 and President 2023-2025.

Rachael Reif, RN, CBC, CLC, Univ of Pittsburgh Medical Center, APSNA Secretary 2023-2025
Lori demonstrates an unwavering commitment to APSNA’s mission and values. Lori’s leadership an encouragement were inspiring to me. Her ability to make others feel welcomed and valued set the tone for my experience. Under her guidance, APSNA has strengthened its educational initiatives, planned fantastic conferences, and fostered collaboration among members, ensuring that our organization remains a trusted resource for excellence in pediatric surgical nursing.

Jeanne Rubsam Kane, MS, APRN, PNP-BC
Lori, new to her outpatient NP role in 2008 quickly became an expert on outpatient issues and became the G-Tube Queen, pilonidal expert, and VAC/ostomy master. Additionally, she also worked with the Pediatric Bariatric program and bowel management care which she mastered. She is one of the kindest, most compassionate nurses who will spend time on the phone counseling families with bowel management difficulties or speak with a discouraged bariatric patient when they need a pep talk.

Jennifer Berkbigler, MSN, RN, PNP-AC,2024-2026 APSNA Director of Development
Her scholarly contributions included multiple peer-reviewed publications and national poster presentations. These publications address complex pediatric surgical conditions, obesity bias, gastrostomy complications, and long-term outcomes of adolescent bariatric procedures. Her leadership during my time on the board was steady and transformative. She is consistently encouraging, empowering and genuinely supportive of each individual she works with. She leads with intention, brings people along with her vision and creates space for others to grow. She is forward thinking and innovative. She is continually challenging traditional approaches to develop meaningful sustainable solutions for APSNA and its members.

William Middlesworth, MD, Interim Chief, Division of Pediatric Surgery
It has been my privilege to work with Lori. Lori never backs away from a challenge. From the gastrostomy tube that won’t stop leaking, through the wound that won’t heal, to the stoma appliance that won’t stay put, Lori finds a solution. She has been a shinning example of integrity for our fellows, and continues to be a huge positive impact on the professional development of our fellows, residents and nursing students that she is constantly precepting.