I have had the pleasure of working with Denise for the past several years but was lucky enough to have her assigned to me as my mentor for my CNS fellowship. Denise and I have met weekly over the past 7 months to discuss challenges, celebrations, and working toward my personal, professional, and leadership goals.

I started (and have now completed) this fellowship during a global pandemic and whilst implementing a new EHR. Needless to say, it’s been a crazy few months! I looked forward to my weekly meetings with Denise as a time to reflect on my week, prepare for the next week and work through any challenges I was currently experiencing. Having this time to connect with Denise on a personal level helped me to stay focused on my goals and at least partially helped eliminate my “imposter syndrome.”

Denise exemplifies our values of compassion and excellence. She always offers and takes the time to connect with me when needed. Additionally, Denise has provided great leadership in nursing-led research, EBP, and innovation.

I feel so lucky to have Denise as a mentor and a friend. Seattle Children’s Hospital is fortunate to have her as a leader in nursing research, leadership, mentorship, and professional development. I look forward to working with Denise for many years to come!