The UNMC College of Nursing received two of the top March of Dimes Nurse of the Year awards, announced during a virtual ceremony on Dec. 1.
Bunny Pozehl, PhD, Dorothy Hodges Olson Chair in Nursing, received the Distinguished Nurse of the Year Award — the event’s highest honor. Lizzy Kangas, student in the UNMC College of Nursing, received the Student Nurse of the Year award. This year, 321 nurses from Nebraska and Western Iowa were nominated, including UNMC’s Kathy Hoffman for the Academic Educator award.
The event, held via Facebook Live, recognized those who demonstrate exceptional leadership, excellence and service in nursing. The event raised more than $76,000 to support March of Dimes in the fight for the health of mothers and babies.
Dr. Pozehl also was one of three finalists for the Academic Educator award.
A nominator wrote: “Dr. Pozehl thoughtfully seeks opportunities to enhance the professional and personal development of others. She has successfully mentored and continues to mentor students, cardiology fellows, post-doctoral trainees, and countless junior faculty/clinicians. Trainees and early career faculty eagerly select Dr. Pozehl as a mentor because of her approachability as a leader, mentor, and scientist.”
Students consistently name Dr. Pozehl as their favorite instructor and how her approach to lecturing and advising has shaped their careers, said the nominator.
“Caring for patients as a nurse is such an honorable and rewarding profession,” Dr. Pozehl said. “Supporting an individual through some of life’s toughest and most challenging events is a motivation at the heart of every nurse. This year 2020 was named Year of the Nurse before we realized COVID and the stark reality of what the nursing profession would be called to do. Let me just say I am proud to be a nurse.”
One of Kangas’ nominators’ letter of support noted her academic achievement and dedication to the nursing profession.
“She understands the importance of promoting a positive image of the student nurse and exhibits the highest levels of character, integrity, caring, professionalism, and commitment as a student and future nurse,” the nominator wrote. “Lizzy is one of the most positive images of nursing among our students and is a true professional role model.”
“She has been a recipient of a Regent’s Scholarship for seven straight semesters. Throughout her higher education academic programs, she has been on the dean’s list or chancellor’s list and is a recipient of an iTEACH (innovation, teamwork, excellence, accountability, courage, and healing) collaborative scholarship and fellowship program through Nebraska Medicine and the UNMC College of Nursing.”
“I am extremely honored to have received the award,” Kangas said. “During these uncertain times, I have learned from UNMC’s faculty and incredible nurses about what it means to be a true advocate for our patients and our profession. I’m so grateful to continue my education at UNMC and start my nursing career at Nebraska Medicine.”
The Student Nurse of the Year Award was sponsored by ATI Nursing Education. The Distinguished Nurse of the Year Award was sponsored by CHI Health, which also presented the event.