News Release

WARSAW —Lutheran Health Network has announced nine nurses, including one from Kosciusko County, have been selected to receive the 2020 Nursing Excellence Award. 

LHN hospitals located throughout northeastern Indiana and Lutheran Health Physicians chose one outstanding nurse within each entity to receive this honor:

The recipients are Cheryl Fry, RN, Bluffton Regional Medical Center; Vicki Lederle, RN, BSN, MBA, CPDN, Dukes Memorial Hospital; Ana Liter, RNC-OB, Dupont Hospital; Brittany Aleman, RN, Kosciusko Community Hospital; Heidi Downey, RN, Lutheran Health Physicians; Carolyn M. Banyash, RN, BSN, CCRN, CMC, Lutheran Hospital; Mechele Stukey, ASN, RN, Rehabilitation Hospital; Theresa Poorman, ASN, RN, St. Joseph Hospital; and Karen Watson, RN, BSN, The Orthopedic Hospital. 

Recipients were chosen for their outstanding contributions in the areas of patient safety, quality, operational excellence and connected patient care.

This peer-nominated award, created in honor of 2020 being the “Year of the Nurse,” and in recognition of the critical role of nurses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, was open to qualifying RNs and LPNs working in a direct patient care role who consistently demonstrate characteristics synonymous with nursing excellence.

“Lutheran Health Network is fortunate to have many outstanding nurses, including our award-winners, among its ranks – nurses who deliver exemplary care, compassion and service, who understand the importance of teamwork and mentoring others, who can lead in times of crisis, and who are true champions of promoting healthcare in our community,” said Natalie Seaber, RN, MHA, CNML, regional chief nursing ifficer, Lutheran Health Network.  “With so much focus this year on the selfless efforts of front-line heroes that work throughout our LHN facilities, we are pleased to acknowledge the important contributions of our nursing professionals,” she said.