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Broward Health North

Elizabeth Taylor, RN
 
Elizabeth Taylor has been on staff at Broward Health North since 2000 when she was hired as patient care associate. In 2005, she received her nursing degree and was hired as a registered nurse on the neuro/orthopedic trauma unit.
 
Elizabeth is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care for patients and their families.
 
Elizabeth has always had a natural instinct to help people. She loves working with her patients to help them regain their mobility and return to their optimal level of health. She enjoys connecting with her patients on a personal level and takes the time to form a bond with each of her patients. Elizabeth is devoted to keeping her patients safe and enjoys teaching both patients and family members how to take care of themselves when they leave the hospital.
 
When asked, Elizabeth says the best part of her job is treating a patient back to health and having them thank her because she left such a lasting impression on them.
 
Laura Simpson, RN, BSN
 
Laura Simpson began her career at Broward Health North in 2003, when she was hired as a registered nurse on the sixth floor neuro-telemetry unit. Laura’s passion for the profession of nursing is evident in all aspects of her practice. Laura shows true dedication when caring for her patients and their families.
 
Laura is dedicated to educating staff about best practices and collaborating with physicians to ensure patients receive the highest quality care. She has a passion for orienting new graduate nurses successfully and they always recognize Laura for her patience, professionalism and above all commitment to her patients. Laura is consistently recognized by patients, families, coworkers and administration for the excellent care of her patients.
 
Broward Health Coral Springs
 
Anish Alexander, RN
 
Broward Health Coral Springs announces Anish Alexander, RN, as the 4th Quarter Shining Star Winner.
 
Anyone who does not work in a hospital may fail to understand that situations occur where an employee must make a decision to set aside their personal safety for the safety of their patient and/or co-workers. That decision is made in a split second based on the RN’s assessment of the situation and any secondary factors that may affect the outcome. 
 
When the Code Assist was called, Anish Alexander, along with others from throughout the building responded to the unit. With so many staff involved, there were several suggestions made regarding the safest way to reduce the potential for patient or staff harm while expediting removing the patient from this public environment.
 
Anish calmly made suggestions on strategies to accomplish our goal of getting the patient to his room. Once the patient was safely in bed, Anish remained at his bedside where he continued evaluating the situation, reducing environmental stimuli to the patient and assisting in developing a plan of action for the next shift.  From start to finish, about 90 minutes had gone by before Anish left the unit to return to his own workload. There was no mention of what work was being delayed on his unit, the entire time he focused on the needs of this patient and the staff on this unit.
 
Valerie Wilson, RN
 
Broward Health Coral Springs (BHCS) is pleased to announce that Valerie Wilson, RN, from the Emergency Department, was selected as the February DAISY Nurse. . Valerie was hired as a new grad in the ED a little less than 2 years ago.  Routinely new grads are not hired into that area because of the acuity but Valerie demonstrated qualities both then and now that have proven to be successful. 
 
She was nominated by a patient’s son and his heartfelt nomination:
“In January my mother was brought to Broward Health Coral Spring. On arrival to the Emergency Room she was greeted by her nurse, Valerie.  Valerie was very compassionate and acted quickly using her nursing skills.  The entire team acted efficiently getting her blood work done and sent her off to the CT scanner within minutes.  Upon my mother’s return from CT scan Valerie greeted her back to the Emergency Room in a cheerful friendly manner, got her on the monitor and sat with me and my mom explain everything to us in full detail.  She held my mother’s hand and kept reassuring her. The entire treatment was great in helping us during this trying time of extreme duress. My mother and family and I would like to commend Valerie in particular for being such a competent, professional, compassionate, caring and warm, and very helpful.”
 
Broward Health Imperial Point
 
Eddy Beauzil, RN, BSN
 
Eddy Beauzil, BHU assistant nurse manager, has worked for the last four years at Broward Health Imperial Point’s (BHIP) Behavioral Health Unit on the 6th floor. Coming to the United States 10 years ago from his native country of Haiti where Eddy was a lawyer, a judge and a prosecutor looking for opportunities for his family in the United States. Upon returning to school for continuing education for his law career, Eddy decided that nursing presented a great opportunity and made the switch. Since joining BHIP in 2013, Eddy completed his BSN and is currently enrolled in a Master’s level program in nursing leadership. In October 2016, he was promoted to Assistant Nurse Manager. Eddy is a clinical and administrative leader on the unit and is a mental health resource for the entire hospital. To honor his caring spirit and excellence in nursing, Eddy was the first nurse on the Behavioral Health Unit to receive the nursing “Daisy” award. Realizing that he has many career opportunities within the organization, Eddy hopes to grow in nursing leadership at Broward Health.
 
Memorial Healthcare System
 
Memorial Regional Hospital
 
Joshua Caballero, RN, CCRN
 
There are many occasions when Josh Caballero is happy to have become a nurse, the most recent when he helped save the life of a 33-year-old, mother of three that was dying of respiratory failure.
 
“The gratitude she and her family showed will always stay with me,” said Caballero, who works at the Memorial Cardiac and Vascular Institute’s Intensive Care Unit at Memorial Regional Hospital. “So many things in life have little meaning, but the care we provide is real, and it matters.”
 
Caballero has been a nurse for nearly nine years, all of them in the Memorial Healthcare System, where his own mother worked for three decades and his parents met. The work in the CVICU is challenging, but something the former paramedic feels prepared to handle. “It’s the art of balancing the emotional and clinical aspects. Showing compassion while also staying focused on critical hourly tasks.”
 
Caballero, a graduate of Broward College, appreciates the patient and family-centered care Memorial strives to provide. “We’re staffed well, funded appropriately, and given the time to really care for patients,” he said. “We never have to prioritize one person over another because there’s not enough nurses in the unit. It’s a good feeling to be able to get everything done for those who are nearly always critically ill and in need of constant attention.”
 
It’s safe to say that many others, including a mom and her three kids, are happy about that too.
 
South Broward Community Health Services
 
Barbara Cole, RN
 
Barbara Cole’s patients are often in challenging situations. Many of those she sees at the South Broward Community Health Service’s OB/GYN clinic are uninsured and without money for even the most basic pre-natal care. She worries about their health, and their unborn babies, if they aren’t aware of the availability of programs that provide the necessary care, regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.
 
“They’d be in danger, especially those with high-risk pregnancies, and the chances of having a positive outcome would be significantly less,” said the clinical nurse manager. “I’m fulfilled when we’re able to share the journey and help women and a community that needs the services we provide.”
 
Cole’s clinic provides comprehensive, well-rounded pre-natal care that includes fetal monitoring, labs, and ultrasounds. It’s all part of patient and family-centered care that, in this case, hopefully leads to a healthy baby and mother. “When we accomplish that goal, it’s proof that our efforts weren’t in vain,” Cole said.
 
Cole has been a nurse for nearly 30 years, all of them in the Memorial Healthcare System. She worked with moms and babies in labor and delivery at Memorial Regional Hospital for the first nine years of her career before moving to community health services. “When I was first starting out, my thinking was that this type of nursing would be a happy place to be. I’ve since seen some things that certainly weren’t positive, but it still brings me joy knowing we did the best job we could and made a difference for those who didn’t have much else in their favor.
 
It’s my way of giving back to society.”
 
Memorial Regional Hospital South
 
Sara Fandino, RN
 
Sara Fandino, a nurse at the Memorial Rehabilitation Institute at Memorial Regional Hospital South, says the job of attending to patients who have suffered strokes, lost limbs, or had traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries has taught her a lot about life.
 
“You realize that any of us could be in that same situation,” said Fandino, the nurse leader of the stroke council at Memorial Regional Hospital South. “People fall of ladders and have car accidents every day and you see the world in a different way when you understand that not everyone can take breathing or walking for granted.”
 
Fandino, a Broward College graduate, says many of those who begin rehabilitation at the in-patient facility can’t talk or move and are often confused by their circumstances. In those cases, it’s especially important that individuals keep a positive attitude and are open to the possibility of recovery.
 
“We recently had a young patient, probably 19 or 20, that was in a car accident, couldn’t move his legs, and was wondering whether he’d ever be able to walk again,” said Fandino. “He was overwhelmed by his situation and not interested in trying to move, but we challenged him to match what an older patient was able to accomplish.
 
His attitude changed and he embraced three-hour daily therapy sessions. The patient progressed to a walker and, five weeks later, left our facility with only a cane assisting him. That was the moment I knew that all of us – nurses, doctors, therapists, and the entire MRI team – had transformed a life.”
 
Memorial Hospital West
 
Kathleen Fox, BSN, RN-C
 
Kathleen Fox invokes the words of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill when asked if there is a philosophy that guides her nursing. “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
 
It’s a mindset that has served her well in the 13 years she’s spent in the Memorial Cardiac and Vascular Institute’s catheterization lab at Memorial Hospital West. She also cites the need for compassion, understanding, and a willingness to listen as the keys to thriving in the high-pressure environment.
 
“Patients come in near death every day,” said the native of the Bahamas who came to the U.S. to study at Barry University. “We shock them, bring them back to life, and provide whatever care is needed. Two weeks later they walk out and resume their lives.
 
It’s an awesome responsibility, but I’m happy we’re there to make a difference for them.”
 
Fox was the first nurse hired in the cath lab at Memorial Hospital West and says the TotalHeart comprehensive care team has become her family. She most appreciates the friendliness of the staff and their willingness to help those who may be struggling. “The culture is different in this healthcare system. The administration has an open-door policy and everyone is happy to be here.”
 
Memorial Hospital Pembroke
 
Jose Garcia, RN
 
Jose Garcia had plans to follow in his brother’s footsteps and become a firefighter, but life, and his mother, had another path in mind.
 
“I had completed my training but, at that time, there were no jobs available,” said Garcia. “My mom always thought I should be a nurse and encouraged me to go back to school for that. Unfortunately, she passed away shortly thereafter, but I did take her advice.”
 
After graduating from Miami-Dade College and working for another healthcare provider, Garcia joined the Memorial Healthcare System two and a half years ago. His daily focus is on stroke telemetry and heart patients at Memorial Hospital Pembroke, although he’s also a PICC line and resource nurse. Another role he fills is as a preceptor, working with both experienced nurses and younger ones just beginning their careers. “I enjoy working with new grads and watching them evolve. They keep my mind fresh during the training process, since they’ve just come from the classroom and remind me of things I may not be currently doing,” said Garcia.
 
His favorite part of the day, however, is caring for patients at the bedside. Garcia’s goal is to create a healing environment through communication, relationship-building, and attending to the mind as well as the body. He firmly believes in Memorial’s mission to provide patient and family-centered care and says joining Memorial Hospital Pembroke has been a life-changing experience. “We’re a smaller facility and very much like a family. It’s a team effort where the individual nurses are always pushed to get better. I love working here.
 
I guess mom always does know best.”
 
Memorial Pembroke 24/7 Care Center
 
Elina Goldenberg, RN, BSN, CEN
 
Elina Goldenberg is passionate about the teaching aspect of nursing and happiest in front of a group of young professionals hungry to learn and improve. She compares her desire to lead to the captain’s role on a sports team, a position she held as an athlete at the University of Maryland.
 
“The captain is a teacher, sharing techniques, drills, and strategies they’ve mastered with others who aren’t as experienced,” said the ER-certified nurse at Memorial Hospital Pembroke’s 24/7 Care Center. “In my current situation, I get great satisfaction sharing knowledge and having new nurses become more confident in their skills.”
 
That confidence is a key to success at the 24/7 Care Center, which Goldenberg says is comparable to a stand-alone emergency room. “Every day is different and there are always unknowns,” she said. “You have to be ready for anything, be both patient and aggressive, and can’t be frightened by the situations we face.”
 
Part of that preparation comes through education, something Goldenberg has pursued zealously. She attended nursing school at Broward College and earned her BSN at the University of Central Florida. This month she expects to earn a master’s degree from UCF and is on course to complete post-master’s requirements in August. Goldenberg’s focus has always been on learning new things, avoiding boredom, and accomplishing goals.
 
Goldenberg spent two years on staff at Memorial Regional Hospital before switching to the 24/7 Care Center, which provides outpatient minor-emergency care in a convenient location at Memorial Hospital Pembroke. Walk-ins are usually seen and treated in a shorter time frame than traditional emergency rooms, with the goal to have patients on their way in two hours or less.
 
Memorial Hospital Miramar
 
Courtney Korf, RN
 
Courtney Korf knows the work she does with patients in the (adult) emergency department is some of the most stressful nurses encounter. That’s why a sense of humor is an important part of the skill set she brings to Memorial Hospital Miramar.
 
“It’s an emotional release and something coworkers can share during breaks to decompress from tense situations,” said the graduate of Nova Southeastern University and Broward College’s nursing program. “It’s part of the flexibility required for a job where situations are always changing.”
 
Korf says the patient is always priority number one and stabilizing their situation is her team’s goal. Keeping calm, not letting emotions take over, and delivering results is on the daily to-do list in the ER.
 
That’s why it’s so important to have a family-like atmosphere among those in her department. They are there to listen, help process emotions, overcome challenges, and provide counsel, something the relatively new nurse appreciates. “I’ve fallen in love with nursing and the environment I work in,” said the one-time dental school student. “You can have a really bad day and still be excited to return to work tomorrow.”
 
It’s that loving, caring environment that makes Korf an enthusiastic part of the Memorial Healthcare System, a place she’s worked for the past two years. She says superiors have always been supportive of efforts to advance her knowledge and pursue additional education.
 
That encouragement, along with all the positive patient outcomes, reinforce Korf’s decision to dedicate her professional life to caring for those who need it most.
 
Memorial Manor
 
Mona Metayer, RN
 
An immigrant from Haiti that came to the U.S. in 1986, Mona Metayer was in school for business and worked in banking before seeing opportunities in nursing that would change the course of her life. Now, 25 years later, the decision to switch careers is one she’s never regretted.
 
Metayer, a nurse at the Memorial Manor nursing home, works with residents that need long-term convalescent care and short-term rehabilitative services. It’s an essential role that she’s fulfilled for more than 12 years, helping facilitate the patient and family-centered care that Memorial Healthcare System prioritizes. “No matter how busy any of us are, there is always time to care, and we share that responsibility at all levels. Empathy and compassion are a critical part of all we do.”
 
A ‘typical’ shift for Metayer includes charting with floor nurses, receiving and filing reports, and working with doctors and nurse managers. Her work involves consulting with social services, rehab, dietary, and environmental departments, and, of course, the families of her patients. She also coordinates admissions every other weekend.
 
“We get tremendous support from management,” said Metayer, who is currently pursuing her master’s degree. “They provide the supplies we need, are available to discuss issues, and have an open-door policy that means we aren’t carrying issues home with us. I feel the administration and my fellow nurses always have my back.
 
It feels like family.”
 
Memorial Cancer Institute
 
Natalie Pellicer, RN, CRRN
 
The desire for new challenges and the opportunity to have impact for patients coping with the most difficult situations is what first attracted Natalie Pellicer to nursing.
 
“I was a medic in the military before going into construction and then accounting,” said Pellicer. “But I didn’t feel I was giving enough back to the community, so I made the switch to nursing where I knew there would be more human interaction.”
 
That was more than 17 years ago. A certified rehabilitation nurse, Pellicer worked at Memorial Regional Hospital South and Memorial Regional Hospital before joining the Memorial Cancer Institute last July. She says working with oncology patients at one of the largest cancer centers in Florida (4,300 new cases each year) has its own unique rewards. “It’s a very special interaction. We’re part of their daily or weekly routines during what’s usually a slow process. You experience the ups and downs of treatment, hold hands with those who are crying or scared, and get in tune with what’s needed at any given moment. The human contact is what makes it special.”
 
An open heart and ears that listen without judging are some of what Pellicer brings to Memorial’s patient and family-centered care. She knows cancer forever changes the individuals in her care while also changing her. “They’re not a number or client, but a person, a person that needs me. We feed off each other’s strength and I treat them like I’d want to be treated if the roles were reversed.
 
When I get a hug each time they come in and each time they leave, I know I’m making a difference.”
 
Memorial Home Health
 
Nancy Sens, RN
 
Nancy Sens hasn’t regretted even one day of the 32 years she’s been a nurse in South Florida. “I’m proud to be in a profession that teaches tolerance and compassion,” said the Memorial Home Health nurse.
 
A former critical care specialist, Sens has been with Memorial Healthcare System for the past 16 years. She loves working directly with patients and their caregivers and seeing different cultures on display at the homes she visits. “Each have their own customs and it’s part of my job to adapt to them. It’s a privilege to experience different environments.”
 
Sens, who attended the University of South Florida and graduated from Jackson Memorial Hospital’s nursing school, provides care, education, and assistance to individuals immediately following their discharge from a hospital in the Memorial Healthcare System. She sees herself as an advocate for them and works with others on the medical staff to provide the best possible care.
 
Some of the patients Sens sees are fellow healthcare employees and she focuses on helping them get back to work as soon as possible.
 
“Memorial is a great place to work,” said Sens. “There are lots of opportunities for nurses, both clinical and administrative, and, for me, home health is a perfect fit.”
 
Memorial Home Health is committed to delivering the same patient and family-centered care offered throughout the Memorial Healthcare System. It provides a variety of nurses, aids, and therapists to those who have been treated at any of its facilities.
 
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
 
Courtney Trace, RN, BSN, CPHON
 
She didn’t know it at the time, but an illness in college would forever change the course of Courtney Trace’s life. It also turned out to be a blessing for the pediatric oncology patients she now cares for at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.
 
Trace aspired to be a television news anchor prior to getting sick, but was inspired to shift her focus to nursing by the quality of care she received during her convalescence.
 
“The strength and depth of the bonds that are formed with kids, families, and staff members is what’s so rewarding about this career. I can’t imagine doing anything else,” said the University of Florida graduate.
 
In addition to caring for patients with cancer, Trace is a nurse clinician at the children’s hospital that works with new staff members. Some of the onboarding process is task-oriented – orientation, scheduling, floor assignments – but Trace also focuses on helping young professionals overcome fears or doubts and grow emotionally. “There is a light underneath everyone,” said the four-year veteran of the Memorial Healthcare System. “We’re all challenged to learn and given room to grow. Our accomplishments are recognized, highlighted, and encouraged.”
 
While acknowledgment from superiors is always appreciated, Trace knows the most important feedback she receives is from the children she cares for. Properly accessing ports, knowing what medications are most tolerable, and singing favorite songs can be the difference between a happy, compliant patient and one who is miserable. Sometimes it can be knowing whether they prefer Jolly Ranchers or Starburst.
 
“When a parent says, ‘I’m so glad you’re here’ and you can hear the relief in their voice, I know I’m making a difference for that patient and family.”
 
Plaza Health Network
 
Plaza Health Network Administration
 
Ann-Lynn Denker, PhD, ARNP
 
Dr. Ann-Lynn Denker is the Chief Clinical Officer for Plaza Health Network.
 
Dr. Denker is a nurse educator, nursing consultant and health policy expert with extensive experience in clinical practice, education and research. She serves on the Board of the Health Council of South Florida and is the director of the Florida Action Coalition (Future of Nursing) statewide grant to develop leadership and diversity. A former president of the Florida Nurses Association, Dr. Denker also served for five years on the Florida Board of Nursing and is immediate past chair. She currently teaches graduate students at the Barry University School of Nursing.
 
Dr. Denker is an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner with B.S.N. and M.N. degrees from the University of Florida, and a Ph.D. in nursing from the University of Miami.
 
Claudia Innocent, FN, MSN
 
Claudia Innocent is the Director of Clinical Excellence for Plaza Health Network. In her role, she is responsible for driving the development, implementation and evaluation of operations and strategic initiatives designed to enhance the quality of patient care. Innocent played a pivotal role in all seven of Plaza Health Network’s centers receiving recent national recognitions, accreditations and awards for quality and performance excellence. She also ensures that all the PHN facilities maintain 5-star staffing and provide telehealth medicine and in-house dialysis services.
 
Innocent is the current president of the Miami chapter of the Florida Association of Directors of Nursing Administration (FADONA) and also serves the community as a member of the Haitian Nurses’ Association.
 
She received her Master of Science in Nursing in 2004, and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2003, from the University of Phoenix.
 
South Pointe Plaza
 
Richelle Retener, RN, BSN, DON
 
Richelle Retener is the Director of Nursing at South Pointe Plaza Nursing and Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, a 230-bed facility located in Miami Beach. Richelle began her career in long term care in 2007 as a MDS coordinator and assistant to the nursing director before stepping into her own nursing leadership role at South Pointe Plaza in 2012. Under Richelle’s leadership, South Pointe Plaza has achieved a five star CMS rating and she has guided her team to collectively elevate their patients’ experiences. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Nursing and advanced practice registered nursing (ARNP) licensure.
 
Farah Claude, RN, ADON
 
Farah Claude is the Assistant Director of Nursing at South Pointe Plaza Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Since 2003, she has worked in many capacities at South Pointe including floor nurse, charge nurse, staff educator, risk manager, wound care nurse and nurse supervisor before stepping into her current leadership role. She is a respected advocate on behalf of her patients and colleagues and is often praised for her outstanding dedication, compassion, and loyalty. Farah is a key member of the leadership team that helped South Pointe Plaza achieved Advanced QAPI accreditation.
 
Sinai Plaza
 
Milyn Caasi, RN, BSN
 
Milyn Caasi is the Director of Nursing at Sinai Plaza Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, a 150-bed facility located in Miami. With over 25 years of acute care nursing experience, she has worked in Jackson Health System’s ortho-neuro rehab unit, as a clinical care coordinator at North Shore Medical Center, and nurse manager at the Miami Jewish Health System. At Sinai Plaza, she is a nurse advocate, role model, and expert clinician empowering fellow nurses to advance their education while she completes her Master’s Degree in Nursing. She is an active member in Miami chapter of the Florida Association of Directors of Nursing Administration (FADONA).
 
Cherissa Lim Agra, RN
 
Cherissa Lim Agra is the Assistant Director of Nursing at Sinai Plaza Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Cherissa has over 14 years of nursing experience and began her career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) at Lindsey Hopkins Vocational School. She then completed her Associate of Science nursing degree at Excelsior College. She began at Sinai Plaza as a staff nurse in the long-term care unit before ascending to her current leadership role where she also serves as an infection control nurse. Under her leadership, Sinai Plaza received the Providigm National Embracing Quality Award.
 
Jackson Plaza
 
Vladimir Cantero, RN, BSN
 
Vladimir Cantero is the Director of Nursing at Jackson Plaza Nursing and Rehabilitation, a 120-bed facility located in Miami. He began his career at Jackson Plaza as a certified nursing assistant. In his role, he oversees a team of nurses that provide subacute rehabilitation and restorative care to patients. A graduate of the Instituto Politencio Salud of Cienfuegos, Cuba, Vladimir also attended Mattia College in Miami, Florida. He has over 30 years of experience in the field of health care, 18 of which have been spent in the skilled nursing care field.
 
Sabine Moise, RN
 
Sabine Moise is the Assistant Director of Nursing at Jackson Plaza Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She began her career at Jackson Plaza as a registered charge nurse in 2002 when she first moved to Florida from Connecticut. In 2011, she received her Associate Degree in Nursing from Broward College. Sabine is part of the leadership team that led Jackson Plaza to receive advanced QAPI accreditation and the Providigm National Embracing Quality Award, an achievement attained by only 300 skilled nursing facilities in the U.S. and Ontario, Canada.
 
Ponce Plaza
 
Francisco Alfonso, RN
 
Francisco Alfonso is the Director of Nursing at Ponce Plaza Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, a 147-bed facility located in Miami. He has extensive experience in the health care sector having worked in emergency room, intensive care unit and rescue settings. Under Francisco’s leadership, Ponce Plaza is recognized for various accomplishments in quality assurance and performance improvement. He is currently completing his Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner degree at Miami Regional University. Under Francisco’s leadership, Ponce Plaza has advanced QAPI accreditation and is the recipient of the Providigm National Embracing Quality Award.
 
Mabel A. Perez, RN, BSN
 
Mabel Perez is the Assistant Director of Nursing at Ponce Plaza Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Prior to working at Ponce Plaza, Mabel was a nurse instructor with the Miami-Dade County Public School System and Pediatric Hospital in Pinar del Rio, Cuba. Under her leadership, Ponce Plaza was recognized as one of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Nursing Homes in America in 2014, 2015 and 2016. She received her Bachelor’s of Nursing from the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences in Havana Cuba and is currently completing her Master of Science/Family Nurse Practitioner degree.
 
Aventura Plaza
 
Rebecca Mendoza, RN
 
Rebecca Mendoza is the Director of Nursing for Aventura Plaza Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, a 86-bed facility located in North Miami Beach. She has spent the last 13 years in this role, working closely with her team to optimize the care of every patient, including her own parents who recently were patients at the nursing center. Rebecca was recognized as the 2005 Nursing Director of the Year. She is also an active servant leader at St. Bartholomew Church. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila in the Philippines.
 
Arch Plaza
 
Mary June Z. Penaredondo, RN, BSN
 
Mary June Z. Penaredondo is the Director of Nursing for Arch Plaza Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, a 98-bed facility located in North Miami. In her role, she oversees a highly-trained staff that provides a range of services including comprehensive physical, occupational and speech rehabilitation therapies, 24-hour licensed nursing care, pain management and wound care. Mary June received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from St. Judy College and her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of San Agustin. She also received her Doctor of Medicine degree at Cebu Institute of Medicine in the Phillipines.
 
University Plaza
 
Lily Santos, RN
 
Lily Santos is the Director of Nursing at University Plaza Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, a 148- bed facility located in Miami. She has over 33 years of nursing experience. In addition to her role at University Plaza, she is also a staff education provider for the Agency for Persons with Disabilities teaching other health care professionals how to provide quality care in disabled adult and pediatric group homes, including abuse prevention and medication administration training. Under Lily’s leadership, University Plaza has received the Providigm National Embracing Quality Award and quality assurance and performance improvement accreditation.
 
Eliser Alfonso Quintana, RN, BSN
 
Eliser Alfonso Quintana is the Assistant Director of Nursing at University Plaza Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. With over 10 years of nursing experience, she has extensive experience in various areas of care including long-term care, pediatrics, dialysis and post-operative care. Eliser enjoys teaching the next generation of nurses and is a nursing instructor. The high quality care provided by Eliser and her team have made University Plaza one of only 300 skilled nursing facilities across the United States and Ontario, Canada to receive the National Embracing Quality Award.
 
Hialeah Hospital
 
Geraldine Sejour, RN
 
Geraldine Sejour is a registered nurse with seven years of experience.  As a registered nurse, she is committed to providing all her patients with outstanding care and support to improve their quality of life. She works in the intensive care and coronary units of Hialeah Hospital. Geraldine assists with diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. She also manages life support equipment and IV administration of fluids and medications.  Geraldine received her Bachelors of Science degree from Nova University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family.
 
Marvin Mesa, BSN, CBN
 
Marvin Mesa decided to become a nurse to help make a positive difference in the health of his community.  He earned his Associates in Science from Broward College and Bachelors of Science Degree in Nursing from Western Governors University.  He is currently working on his Master of Science Degree and Family Nurse Practitioner Licensure. 
 
Marvin has worked at Hialeah Hospital for almost five years as a registered nurse taking care of a large variety of patients with different conditions.  He currently rotates through the Medical/Surgical floor, Telemetry floor and Stepdown unit.  Recently, he became a Certified Bariatric Nurse and provides care for bariatric surgical patients.  He believes patient safety and satisfaction are of utmost importance and that the key to providing safe and patient-centered care is by ensuring his patients remain well informed throughout their plan of care.
 
Health Care District of Palm Beach County
 
C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics
 
Karen Gonzalez, RN, MPH/HE
 
Karen Gonzalez, R.N., MPH/HE, serves as the Lead Nurse at the C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics’ site in West Palm Beach. She supervises staff while maintaining optimum patient flow and providing quality patient care. Karen also educates and trains the clinical staff. Karen’s 26 years of nursing experience includes working for the Palm Beach County Health Department in Belle Glade, FL where she managed the pediatric and immunization clinics. She also provided health educational services to refugee and migrant clients and coordinated outreach programs for the underserved. Karen has also worked at Hospice of Palm Beach County, a nursing home in Williamsville, NY and provided comprehensive care of acute geriatric patients at Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, NY. Karen earned her Master of Public Health/Health Education at Kaplan University in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
 
Marco Fernandez Sanchez, RN
 
Marco Fernandez Sanchez, R.N., cares for patients at the C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics’ site in Lake Worth, FL. Marco is a firm believer in the importance of primary and preventive care, the foundation of the Brumback Clinics. These Federally Qualified Health Centers operated by the Health Care District of Palm Beach County provide comprehensive health services and dental care for adults and children six days a week in multiple locations throughout the county. Marco was born in Cuba and earned his Doctor of Medicine at Havana University. He and his wife left Cuba for Argentina where Marco worked as a physical therapist for five years before moving to the U.S. in 2005. Marco earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Ana G. Mendez University in Miramar and is continuing his education as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
 
Edward J. Healey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
 
Delores Smith, RN
 
Delores Smith, R.N., is one of our outstanding Registered Nurses at the Edward J. Healey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. Delores has been part of the Edward J. Healey family for several years. Owned and operated by the Health Care District of Palm Beach County, the Healey Center is a 2016-17 U.S. News & World Report 5-star rated nursing home that provides short and long-term rehabilitation and skilled nursing care for eligible adult county residents. Delores’ calm demeanor even in stressful situations is remarkable. She maintains composure, flexibility and control of her unit as a Relief Nurse Manager and as a Relief Supervisor on weekends. These attributes were notable during the last Annual State Survey when she prepared her unit and staff while serving as Interim Nurse Manager for the unit. Delores truly epitomizes the definition of a team player, leader and mentor as she recently completed our newly-implemented Preceptor Program.
 
Jacqueline Sneed, RN
 
Jacqueline Sneed, R.N., one of our newest additions to the nursing staff at the Edward J. Healey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, demonstrates the qualities of an exemplary nurse. Although new to the Healey Center, Jacqueline expressed interest in becoming a preceptor for new nurses. When asked why she wanted to be a preceptor, she responded that over the course of her career, she had seen and experienced nurses who were not very welcoming or did not share their knowledge with newer nurses. With that passion to welcome, mentor, and develop new nurses, Jacqueline will be utilizing her years of experience, demonstrated confidence as a nurse and Charge Nurse, and calm demeanor to enhance the nursing team at the Healey Center.
 
Lakeside Medical Center
 
Martha Lott, RN
 
Martha Lott, R.N., is one of Lakeside Medical Center’s home-grown nurses. Born and raised in Belle Glade, she graduated from Glades Central Community High School, attended nursing school at West Technical Education Center in Belle Glade and attended Palm Beach Community College. She began her career in 2004 as a Licensed Practical Nurse at the former Glades General Hospital. When the hospital was replaced in 2009 by the Health Care District’s new acute-care hospital, Lakeside Medical Center, Martha moved with us. As a member of the hospital’s Women’s, Infants’, and Children’s Department, she works with postpartum patients, caring for the community that raised her. Martha returned to school and in 2016 became a Registered Nurse. All the while, Martha balanced family life, caring for an ailing family member and maintaining a full-time position at the hospital. Martha continues to advance her career and now also works with laboring moms.
 
Minnie Sanchez, RN
 
Minnie Sanchez, R.N., has worked for Lakeside Medical Center, formerly Glades General Hospital, for nearly 20 years. She became a nurse in the Philippines in 1982. She worked for a short time there before relocating to the Middle East where she worked until 1994. Minnie is nationally certified in ER nursing (CEN). Minnie is a charge nurse in the Emergency Department and is always willing to step in and help. Minnie is dedicated to the organization, the community and the patients she cares for. Her colleagues say they do not just see Minnie as a co-worker and a nurse, but rather as a leader and a role model who has a heart for every patient who enters the Emergency Room.
 
Utilization Management, Health Care District of Palm Beach County
 
Lola Lane, RN, BSN, MHM, LHRM, CPC
 
Lola Lane, RN, BSN, MHM, LHRM, CPC, is Senior Nurse with the Utilization Management Department of the Health Care District of Palm Beach County. Lola, who joined the Health Care District in 2001, is committed to delivering quality patient care to the county’s underserved population. Her leadership is exemplified through her mentoring and educating new nurses, problem solving difficult cases and serving as a resource for other departments. Lola has 35 years of experience as a Registered Nurse. She earned a Master of Science in Health Management from St. Thomas University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Miami. Lola became a Licensed Healthcare Risk Manager in 1997 while working as the Performance Improvement Manager for a home health care agency. She later served as the director of a home health care agency. She holds a Certification in Health Care Management and is a Certified Professional Coder.
 
Lianna Stevenson, RN, MBA
 
Lianna Stevenson, R.N., M.B.A., is the Care Coordinator with the Utilization Management Department of the Health Care District of Palm Beach County. Lianna reviews HEDIS measures as part of her role helping patients of the C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics receive quality medical and dental care. Lianna joined the Health Care District in 2013. Previously, she worked as a Legal Nurse Consultant for the Smith Amundsen law firm in Chicago. Lianna is an experienced ICU nurse. She was a Nurse Auditor for the Alexian Brothers Health System in Illinois and served as the Medical Auditor for the Corporate Compliance Department at Jupiter Medical Center. Lianna earned a Master of Business Administration and Healthcare Management from Baker College in Michigan and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Interamerican University in Puerto Rico. Lianna is fluent in Spanish and is committed to care coordination for our indigent population.
 
School Nurses, Health Care District of Palm Beach County
 
Roberta Hammond, RN, BSN, NCSN
 
Roberta Hammond, R.N., B.S.N., NCSN, became a School Health Nursing Supervisor with the Health Care District of Palm Beach County fifteen years ago after working as a school nurse in other programs for several years. Roberta, who is a Nationally Certified School Nurse, can be found in one of her 18 public schools located across Boca Raton, advocating for the students and school nurses who provide their care. Getting to know the families and students in her schools who have serious, chronic health conditions is important to Roberta as she supports their health care needs provided in an educational setting. School administrators know Roberta as their ally in the quest to keep the students safe and healthy during the school day. Her determination to get the tasks at hand done correctly, as soon as possible, and her genuine sense of caring make her the right person for her job!
 
Laureen Mitchell, RN, MSN, NCSN
 
When she graduated from nursing school, Laureen Mitchell, R.N., M.S.N., NCSN, knew she wanted to be a school nurse. After realizing that she first needed some solid nursing experience, she started her career in New York before moving to Florida in 1993. Laureen worked as a Nationally Certified School Nurse with the Health Care District of Palm Beach County from 1997 until 2012 when she transitioned into the position of Nurse Specialist as the School Health Nursing Educator. More recently, Laureen earned a Master of Nursing from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. She has successfully fine-tuned this role into one of immeasurable value. She works closely with administrators, supervisors, and other nursing specialists on the scheduling and delivery of orientation to new staff, biannual continuing nursing education planning, coordination of local universities’ clinical rotations for nursing students, and web page development, to mention just a few of her talents!
 
Palm Beach Atlantic University
 
Phyllis King, BSN, MSN, PhD
 
As a professor in the Palm Beach Atlantic University School of Nursing and chair of the RN to BSN program, Dr. Phyllis King’s passion is preparing baccalaureate nurses for servant-leader roles in healthcare. A graduate of the University of Tennessee master’s and doctoral programs, and a certified educator for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium, she continues her practice and research in end-of-life care. Her research has provided opportunities to present at international and national conferences such as Sigma Theta Tau, the international nursing honor society; Rutgers University Continuing Education; and the Mayo Clinic. She also promotes nursing leadership development as chartering and past president of the new Sigma Theta Tau International Chi Phi Chapter. She and her husband Bruce, who also works in the School of Nursing in the DNP program, consider nursing education and hospice volunteering as opportunities for service as well as rewarding careers.
 
Jennifer Kuretski, BSN, MSN, DNP
 
Dr. Jennifer Kuretski, associate professor of nursing at Palm Beach Atlantic University, lives by her personal motto: “Care for all, lead by example and above all continue to inspire others.” She primarily has practiced as an advanced registered nurse practitioner in the field of infectious disease, and she has provided infectious disease consultations in the inpatient as well as outpatient clinical settings. Dr. Kuretski has a particular interest in retroviruses such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This interest and clinical experience led to her obtaining specialty certification as an American Academy of HIV Medicine, HIV Specialist. She has been involved in over 50 clinical trials in the field of infectious disease. She previously served as adjunct faculty at the University of Miami in the MSN and DNP programs at the School of Nursing. She is a family nurse practitioner certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).