2024 Spotlight Award Recipient

Sara Donnelly, DNP, MS, CPNP

The purpose of the Spotlight Award is to recognize an APSNA member who demonstrates involvement in pediatric surgery above and beyond the usual job expectations.

Sara Donnelly has been working as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner for Columbia University/Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital NY/Presbyterian since 2013. Ms. Donnelly joined APSNA, Inc. the same year. Her title as an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Columbia University Medical Center, carries a heavy weight both in and out of the classroom. Dr. Donnelly serves as an annual guest lecturer to the Columbia University School of Nursing (CUSN), speaking about pediatric surgical conditions. She serves as a clinical instructor to DNP students and surrounding university NP students.

Dr. Donnelly’s passion and dedication for pediatric surgical patients, staff, and her students is not unnoticed. Her mentorship and warmth are demonstrated by Ms. Donnelly’s ability to welcome any questions and provide guidance to all that knock on her office door, at any time.

Dr. Donnelly is most deserving of the Spotlight award for her unlimited kindness, intelligence, reliability and devotion to Pediatric Surgical Nursing. Ms. Donnelly’s positive outlook on all tough situations, with a simple smile, or few words, reminds us all how much we love pediatric surgical nursing.

Please join APSNA in congratulating Sara Donnelly for receiving the Spotlight Award for the first quarter of 2024.

To nominate someone for the Spotlight Award, please visit us here.

Past Recipients:

2023: Denice Twitchell

2023: Janet Kimble

2023: Andrea Reich

2022: Alicia McIntire

2022: Kim McHard

2021: Janelle Sherman

2020: Rachel E. Nettle

2020: Brigitte Staum

2018: Rebekah Barrette & Xoana Zampieri

2017: Tonya Stafford

2016: Anja Glassner

Past Spotlight Award Recipients

2023: Janet Kimble, RN, CPN

Janet Kimble, RN, CPN has served APSNA over the last year and a half by attending virtual meetings on a committee looking at standardizing practice when changing gastrostomy tubes. She has diligently reported the committee’s work to our ECAG group and kept us apprised of the progress of this group.

She recently retired as a nurse at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, where she coordinated outpatient services for pediatric general surgical patients. She was very involved in patient and parent teaching for preoperative and postoperative follow up. She has a special interest in gastrostomy tube education. She was a great candidate for the project as a long standing APSNA member who has helped foster a positive working relationship with the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN).

We look forward to hearing what Janet does with the group and the collaboration she has helped establish. She is an ideal candidate for the APSNA Spotlight Award as she has demonstrated involvement in this important project outside of her regular employment.

Please join APSNA in congratulating Janet Kimble for receiving the Spotlight Award for the second quarter of 2023.

2022: Alicia McIntire, MSN, CPNP-PC

Alicia McIntire, MSN CPNP-PC is employed at the Oregon Health & Science University Hospital [OHSU] in Portland, Oregon. As a long-standing member of APSNA, since 2017, Alicia has volunteered during unprecedented times of COVID and contributed her work in the Program Committee, helping to create APSNA’s virtual conference in 2021.

Alicia is described by her colleagues as the person on her team that holds everyone together, especially during all the changes through COVID. Alicia is the person whom everyone on the team can count on when a creative quick solution is needed. She is an astute clinician and provides excellent care to the pediatric surgical patients and families.

Alicia is the person who gets to know the residents on a personal level and incorporates them into the team. Alicia creates an environment where all are respected, welcome and contributes to the team.

Alicia’s involvement in Pediatric Surgery and APSNA meet far above expectations.

Please join APSNA in congratulating Alicia McIntire for receiving the Spotlight Award for the 3^rd quarter of 2022!

2022: Kim McHard, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC

Kim McHard, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC is employed at Children's Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. She is active with the Chest Wall Anomaly Program, the Department of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, and is the manager of the Office of Advanced Practice for General Surgery, Foster Care, and Gastroenterology in Plano, Texas.

As a long-standing member of APSNA, she has been a valued member. She has been very instrumental in increasing SIG involvement in the organization. She has also been essential in assisting the APSNA Board of Directors in mentoring the new Director of Practice and Quality (DPQ) after she completed her term as DPQ. She has remained a mentor even after her mentor year was completed.Kim is an active member of the Nominations Committee; she was instrumental in reaching out to members for potential board positions.These contributions to APSNA demonstrate her involvement in Pediatric Surgery and APSNA above and beyond the usual job expectations.

2021: Janelle Sherman, MSN, RN, CPN

Janelle Sherman MSM, RN, CPN is employed full time as a pediatric surgery nurse coordinator at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania.

Janelle has been an active member of the Program Committee for many years. She attends all meetings and recruits speakers & abstracts for conference. Janelle was instrumental in development of the highly successful Parent Panel at last year's Annual Scientific Conference. Janelle is also an active member of the APSNA nominations committee.

It is due to the engagement of members like Janelle that APSNA is such a success. Please join APSNA in congratulating Janelle for receiving the Spotlight Award for the 3rd Quarter of 2021. 

2020: Rachel E. Nettle, APRN

While fulfilling her responsibilities at the University of Florida, during this unprecedented time of a global pandemic, Ms. Nettle developed a new patient and teaching information sheet for APSNA on abscess diagnosis and management. As a common diagnosis that is frequently encountered by pediatric surgery providers, this information sheet will provide APSNA members with a new tool to provide education to patients and their families.

This contribution highlights Ms. Nettle’s commitment to support APSNA and her fellow members by extending herself during this very busy and demanding time. The desire to be more involved in APSNA work by completing this educational product is warmly acknowledged and truly appreciated. Please join APSNA in congratulating Rachel Nettle for receiving the Spotlight Award for the Fourth Quarter of 2020.

2020: Brigitte Staum, MSN, BC-FNP

Brigitte Staum, MSN, BC-FNP, is a Nurse Practitioner in the Pediatric Surgery Division at Maimonides Medical Center. Although the newest NP on the service she advocates for her patients and their families and enjoys her new role in the Division. Brigitte is bilingual in both English and Russian, which has been an asset. Recently, Mrs. Staum was asked to develop the Undescended Testicle Patient and Family Information Sheet for the APSNA website and did not hesitate to do so. She is a new addition to the APSNA organization and has jumped right in to serve the pediatric surgical patients and their families.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Brigitte was deployed to an adult service within the hospital and is handling it with professionalism and grace. She continues to be willing to advocate for her patients and their families at all times. This says a great deal about the person and nurse Brigitte is.

2018: Rebekah Barrette MS, RN, PCNS-BC, WCC and Xoana Zampieri BSN, RN, WCC, CPN

Rebekah Barrette MS, RN, PCNS-BC, WCC and Xoana Zampieri BSN, RN, WCC, CPN were approached by the APSNA ECAG and were asked to revise the Ostomy web pages on the APSNA website. They were both previous Foster Grant winners. They conducted a thorough literature review and preserved the work that Liz Foster had done previously. They went above and beyond, we are thankful to have wound, continence and ostomy leaders within our organization.

The nomination letter speaks clearly and fully supports that both deserve to receive the Spotlight award. Please join APSNA in congratulating Ms. Barrette and Ms. Zampieri for receiving the Spotlight Award for the third and fourth quarter in 2018.

2017: Tonya Stafford, BSN, RN, CPN

Tonya is a Clinical Nurse on the Pediatric Surgery & Trauma floor at UNC Chapel Hill. She is a member of the pediatric family advisory board, validator for pediatric competencies, frequent preceptors, retention and recruitment committee, and was voted Children’s Service Nurse of the Year in 2017. She is considered one of the “unit moms,” – she takes staff under her wings, is a mentor, and overall has a positive influence.

The nomination letter speaks clearly and fully supports that she deserves to receive the Spotlight award. Please join APSNA in congratulating Tonya for receiving the Spotlight Award for the first quarter.

2016: Anja Glassner, BSN, RN, CPN

Anja Glassner was nominated last quarter for the Spotlight Award. Anja works on the surgical ward at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. She is known to be a strong nurse that advocates for her patients. She enjoys being a nurse to the fullest. There have been many times that Anja goes above and beyond to care for her patients and ensures that they get the top of the line care that they deserve.

The nomination letter speaks clearly and fully supports that she deserves to receive the Spotlight award. Please join APSNA in congratulating Anja for receiving the Spotlight Award for the 2016 1st Quarter.