December 2023 Honoree
Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit 2023
Stacy Foertsch, RN, Nurse Manager • Melissa Vincent, RN, Assistant Nurse Manager • Dorothy Almony, RN • Jameel Anderson, RN • Lars Kemp Bacwaden, RN • Melissa Beil, RN • Demetri Bezzek, RN • Ryan Bolger, RN • Emma Braun, RN • Chase Brown, RN • Emily Brown-Umosella, RN • Juaqueta Bullock, PCT/CNA • Victoria Cappuccilli, RN • Brenton Carobini, RN • Tanveer Chahal, RN • Anita Chebahtah, Student Nurse • Danielle Clark, RN • Cindy Clemente, RN • Sophia Cologer, RN • Kirian Corbett, RN • Claire Cornell, RN • Amanda Craft, RN • Amy Cunningham, Student Nurse • Kelly Cunningham, RN • Lauren Davis, RN • Lequana Deloatch, RN • Margaret Doll, RN • Raychel Doverte, RN • Grace Drab, RN • John Driscoll, RN • Michael Driskill, RN • Erica Ennis, Unit Secretary • Kathryn Ertel, Student Nurse • Lanita Fleming, Admin Assistant • Jay Friedman, RN • Zachary Gailes, RN • Hannah Gates, RN • Joseph Gnahoui-David, RN • Kathryn Gordon, Student Nurse • Elizabeth Green, RN • Elizabeth Haas, RN • Rai Harrison, RN • Naomi Hart, Unit Secretary • Rachel Heisler, Student Nurse • Alexander Hernandez, RN • Ryan Hood, RN • Kyrsten Hughes, RN • Danielle Jeong, RN • Caroline Johnson, RN • Clara Johnson, RN • Karin Jones, RN • Darnisha Keels, PCT/CNA • Tarryn Kelly, Unit Secretary • Arom Kim, RN • Joon Kim, RN • Ernst Lamothe, RN • Samantha Lemaster, RN • Nicholas Lloyd, RN • Sandra Lovelace, RN • Christine Ly, RN • Rachel Maj, RN • Navneet Mann, RN • Natalie Marowski, RN • Olivia Messina, RN • Jodi Miller, PCT/CNA • Matlin Morris, RN • Sage Mosavi, RN • Roberta Myers, RN • Norah Nakijoba, RN • Fatou Ndiaye, RN • Brittany Nixon, RN • Danielle Nolan, PCT/CNA • Annya Pereira, RN • Jennifer Perry, RN • Mark Perry, RN • Michael Plakosh, RN • Paula Protani, RN • Michael Pugaczewski, RN • Charmaine Jane Rafael, RN • Michelle Ramirez, Student Nurse • Sunaina Rana, RN • Casey Reedy, RN • Adham Rezk, RN • Brittany Robinson, RN • Tyarra Rodgers-Nelson, RN • Brittany Rossi, RN • Lacey Monahan Ruiz, RN • Jason Rush, RN • Arwa Salhab, RN • Melody Sangster, RN • Justin Savakinus, RN • William Schrenk, RN • Nikolas Scott-Coreas, RN • Yekaterina Semenova, RN • Latasha Simon, PCT/CNA • Daniel Skahan, RN • Michael Smolin, RN • Alyxis Staten, PCT/CNA • Steffanie Steward, RN • Audrea Thomas, RN • Craig Thomas, Supply Coordinator • Thevella Thomas, Patient and Family Care Liaison • Jessica Todd, RN • Adrea Toliver, PCT/CNA • Genevieve Tolson, Unit Secretary • Jessica Tuer, RN • Christine Vaaler, RN • Jeril Varghese, RN • Brendan Jerard Ventura, RN • Suzonne Vickers, Unit Secretary • Melody Walton, RN • Lindsey Whitling, RN • Danielle Willett, PCT/CNA • Shekeilia Yates, RN • Amanda Zambrano, RN • Anika Zamurd, RN • Sarah Zorn, RN
The CSICU embraces and lives our values of care and compassion, discovery, excellence, diversity, and integrity. Over the past two years, the staff and faculty participated in the first and second genetically modified pig heart transplant, known as xenotransplantation, for end stage heart failure. This is a monumental and ground-breaking achievement for global discovery. The United States Food and Drug Administration granted emergency authorization for this experimental surgery in the hope of extending life for these two patients. The commitment to compassion, excellence, and discovery, in addition to the expert skill and depth of knowledge the nurses, APPs, faculty, and support possess, is beyond comparison.
In addition to clinical expertise, the collective team displayed extreme empathy and compassion for the patients, families, and one another. This level of skill and excellence is displayed day in and day out with even the most conventional cardiothoracic -disease processes requiring surgical intervention. In addition to xenotransplantation, the team cares for patients requiring the most complex of surgical procedures to include but not limited to: extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), ventricular assist devices (VAD), heart and lung transplants, aortic dissections and aneurysms, coronary artery bypass grafts and valve repairs.
Most recently, when rounding, a family and patient were cared for in the CSICU and Cardiac Surgery Progressive Care Unit (CSPCU). The wife of the patient mentioned that she was so touched by the care her husband received from the nurses and support staff that it moved her to tears. She was awestruck by how the team cared for her husband, a stranger like he was family. Overwhelmed with gratitude, she asked if she could give me a hug! The answer was a resounding YES! This is just one of many examples of how this team compassionately cares for this critically ill specialized patient population and why they are receiving the DAISY Team Award.
In addition to clinical expertise, the collective team displayed extreme empathy and compassion for the patients, families, and one another. This level of skill and excellence is displayed day in and day out with even the most conventional cardiothoracic -disease processes requiring surgical intervention. In addition to xenotransplantation, the team cares for patients requiring the most complex of surgical procedures to include but not limited to: extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), ventricular assist devices (VAD), heart and lung transplants, aortic dissections and aneurysms, coronary artery bypass grafts and valve repairs.
Most recently, when rounding, a family and patient were cared for in the CSICU and Cardiac Surgery Progressive Care Unit (CSPCU). The wife of the patient mentioned that she was so touched by the care her husband received from the nurses and support staff that it moved her to tears. She was awestruck by how the team cared for her husband, a stranger like he was family. Overwhelmed with gratitude, she asked if she could give me a hug! The answer was a resounding YES! This is just one of many examples of how this team compassionately cares for this critically ill specialized patient population and why they are receiving the DAISY Team Award.
Thank you for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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