This year’s winners of the $500 stipend offered by the Medical Staff were two operating room nurses (not pictured), Letty Fajardo, who plans to use her stipend to attend the 2008 meeting of the American Society of Perianesthesia Nurses; and Lorna Harris, who plans to attend the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses.

(1) -Barbara Ellis received the inaugural Joan Mersch Excellence in Medical Cardiovascular Nursing Award during Nurse Week ceremonies May 9. The award, which includes an unrestricted gift of $1,000, honors its namesake, who retired in 2006 after a 35-year career as clinician, educator, researcher and administrator. The award, funded by the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and private contributions, is intended to recognize a registered nurse for exceptional nursing care of cardiovascular patients.

(2) -The annual Nurse Week Brunch on May 9 drew nurses and their physician supporters, including, from left, veteran Lifeflight nurse David Bevin, Chief Nursing Officer Cindy Day, Chief of Staff Larry Shuer, and Medical Staff President Kent Garman. Shuer spoke briefly at the May 9 Nurse Week Brunch to stress that the nursing/physician relationship is becoming increasingly collaborative in the 21st century

(3) -Nurses starting or ending a shift on May 9 stopped by Fairchild Auditorium for a breakfast, a chance to socialize, view exhibits set up by colleagues, and watch an award ceremony.