Our honoree recipient was nominated by her colleagues for being a true mentor and patient a patient care advocate. This amazing nurse has taken lots of new to mental health nurses by the hand and built them up to be top caring performers like herself. I am a testament to that.

I first met Mrs. Tipo about 12 years ago, as a new RN, and not sure of what I had gotten into, I was worried that I might have made the wrong choice working in mental health. I remember it took me one shift of working with her to see how such a passion for the field took away all her fears and turned them into compassionate care.

Her teaching techniques, her knowledge in the field, and her confidence in her directives make any nurse under her guidance confident to take on anything. Let’s not forget her trial by fire techniques. Elaborate. But let’s circle back to the real reason we are here. We have in our team and presence a true pinnacle of mental healthcare.

Patients' worst days are met with her trust, compassion, and non-judgmental approach. Even the scariest, angriest person becomes calm and cooperative in her presence. They too sense and feel her genuine nurturing approach. Just like she’s made an impact on her colleagues, she lives in the hearts of those patients she treats.