Bronson Healthcare Presents Awards to Exceptional Nurses and Caregivers Across Southwest Michigan

During the month of May, Bronson celebrated Nurses’ Week and Sunshine Week. 25 members of Team Bronson were honored with awards, including the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, Excellence in Nursing Awards and Sunshine Award. Award winners are exceptional representatives of Bronson Positivity, and have gone above and beyond in the care they provide patients, willingness to support their team, and ability to bring joy to the workplace.

Is there a Bronson team member who you want to celebrate? Share a story about how they make Bronson a great place to receive care and work by visiting bronsonpositivity.com.

DAISY Awards for Extraordinary Nurses

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses recognizes nurses who go above and beyond to provide exceptional healthcare experiences for their patients. During our Nurses’ Week celebrations, Bronson South Haven and Bronson LakeView Hospital each recognized one special nurse who displays compassion, empathy and a dedication to providing the best care possible for their patients. 

Mary Gagliardo, BSN, RN
Bronson South Haven, Emergency Department (ED)
“Mary's bedside manner is exceptional. She talks to her patients with the utmost care, respect, compassion, understanding and certainty. Every patient gets the red-carpet treatment from Mary, and she never lets any frustration or negativity show. If I ever were to be in need of treatment, I could only hope my nurse would treat me the way Mary does to her patients. Mary is a phenomenal asset to our team!” Read Mary’s full nomination.

Jami Ross, BSN, RN
Bronson LakeView Hospital, Acute Care Unit (ACU)
“Working in the hospital, it can be easy for us to forget that this is a foreign place for our patients. Some patients associate the hospital with losing loved ones, being sick, or maybe they have no association at all. Recognizing this, Jami always creates a soft, uplifting environment for her patients. There should be more nurses like her!” Read Jami’s full nomination.

Excellence in Nursing Awards

During the May 8-12 Nurses’ Week celebrations, Bronson Battle Creek and Bronson Methodist Hospital each honored six nurses with Excellence in Nursing Awards. Awards were presented to nurses who represent the key areas of the Nursing Professional Model of Care: compassion, expertise, impact, leadership, pride and respect. This select group of caregivers exemplifies Bronson Positivity and each are shining examples of what it means to be a nurse.

Compassion Award

Angela Shifflett, BSN, RN
Bronson Battle Creek Hospital, Oncology Unit (C5)
“I look up to Angie as a nurse and strive to provide the kind of care she gives her patients. We recently had a patient who was here for many months who also suffered from dementia. The patient was always kind and everyone knew him by name, but he often could not remember staff – but Angie was one of the few he did. Despite having a busy patient load, Angie would always make time to go the extra mile for him. Every day, this patient would order the exact same meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner. One day, Angie decided to take him down to the cafeteria so he could order something different. With permission, she would take him on walks outside to get fresh air and enjoy the sunshine.” Read Angie’s full nomination.

Allison Austin, BSN, RN
Pediatric Cardiology, Bronson Children’s Hospital
“Ally has a special connection with many of our patients and their families. She goes above and beyond simply providing them medical care. She has taught me how to be more compassionate in caring for my patients and families. One of our patients is now at U of M awaiting a heart transplant. Ally continues to keep in touch with the family to keep their spirits up. Another patient of mine likely will not live long. When Ally knew this patient would be seeing us for their first birthday, Ally arranged for the team in the office to celebrate with hats, balloons and singing.” Read Ally’s full nomination.

Expertise Award

Dawn Moore, BSN, RN
Bronson Battle Creek Hospital, Pre/Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
“Dawn is one of the most well-rounded clinical RNs I have had the fortune to work with. I have worked with her during clinical emergencies and her critical thinking skills are superior. She knows what to do, why to do it, and how. Her collaborative skills ensure that everyone else assisting in the care of the patient is engaged and empowered to speak up with their ideas, yet she also knows when it is her time to follow the lead of another practitioner. Furthermore, she can communicate all kinds of information to patients and families in a professional yet highly individualized way so that everyone understands.” Read Dawn’s full nomination.

Adrienne Johnson, RN
Bronson Cancer Center – Kalamazoo
“On the oncology infusion unit, some patients experience adverse reactions to their medications. Not as often, the reaction can become severe and life threatening. Twice this year, we experienced situations where we had to call a code. Since we are not located in the hospital, this includes calling 911 and starting CPR. Adrienne is one of those nurses you want around in an emergency. She is thoughtful of her decisions, quick in her actions, and calm and courteous with her delegating. With many years of nursing experience, including recent experience in the Emergency Department, Adrienne was able to step up in both of these codes and help guide our team in a calm matter until the EMS arrived. I believe her quick actions saved these patients.” Read Adrienne’s full nomination.

Impact Award

Jeff Weessies, RN
Bronson Battle Creek Hospital, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
“Due in part to Jeff’s efforts, our team has successfully adapted to increasing surgery volumes while also reducing patients’ lengths-of-stay. Jeff has also been a leader in the development and evolution of our Same-Day Joint Program. With this new program, many patients who used to require an overnight stay are now able to go home safely on the same day as surgery. In fact, our Same-Day Joint Program has discharge times that are much lower than national benchmarks! Not only is Jeff amazing at his job, he is a great preceptor for new nurses on our unit. I know that our efficiency and quality of care are directly impacted by Jeff being a member of our team!” Read Jeff’s full nomination.

Jamie Warner, BSN, RN, SCRN
Bronson Neuroscience Center
“Jamie is a coach, mentor and bridge between hospital and outpatient services for patients who have experienced a stroke, families who are caring for a loved one who has had a stroke, and providers caring for stroke patients at Bronson. She excels in these roles, in part, because she is a content expert. There are endless examples of Jamie making an impact in stroke care at Bronson. A few examples include: 1. In 2022, she championed the overhaul of the Bronson patient and family stroke education booklet, which is now used in many ways throughout Bronson. 2. During the height of COVID, stroke patients were displaced throughout the hospital and families were not able to be present. Jamie continued to teach patients and their families by phone and developed tools for staff to use on non-core stroke units. 3. She is instrumental in community education for stroke. She has given community lectures, educated staff at rehab centers, and leads Bronson’s stroke support group.” Read Jamie’s full nomination.

Leadership Award

Kathy Weessies, BSN, RN
Bronson Battle Creek Hospital, Endoscopy
“Kathy is often our charge nurse on the busiest days, yet she consistently leads staff in a manner that inspires confidence and calmness, yet also with a can-do attitude and a desire to find a way to make it work. Compassion and kindness are a hallmark of her personality. Kathy has an endless nursing knowledge base and is able to be consulted on a variety of issues. She is very comfortable speaking truth to power and can be counted on to say what needs saying while always ensuring that her style of communication exudes professionalism and courtesy.” Read Kathy’s full nomination.

Libby Austin, BSN, RN
Bronson Neuroscience Center
“Libby coordinates our ALS clinic. One way she shows compassion to every patient is by calling them prior to their visit, making sure they get the appropriate care when here and in between visits. Additionally, she coordinates all of the providers' schedules during clinics, so that we operate as smoothly as possible. In addition to coordinating the ALS clinic, she is knowledgeable of both multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. This allows her to call patients ahead of their appointment to take a thorough history, sift through the most important details for the provider, and give sound recommendations. This allows for the best care possible when a patient comes to see their provider. I have heard other providers comment on the thoroughness of her notes and her ability to respond to patients with sound advice and guidance, which also makes their job easier, freeing them up for more challenging and complex patient questions. My job is much less stressful and efficient because of the excellent job she does.” Read Libby’s full nomination.

Pride Award

Robyn Jerue, BSN, RN
Bronson Battle Creek Hospital, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
“Robyn demonstrates the pride she has in her work daily by delivering top-notch care to her patients. Her passion for nursing is evident in the positive feedback she receives from patients and their families. Robyn is a creative and innovative nurse, always looking for new ways to improve patient outcomes. She has implemented several new protocols in the PACU that have significantly improved patient care, such as Same-Day Joints, Phase II recovery of patients in PACU, and the evolving charge nurse role. Her positive attitude and approachable demeanor make her an invaluable resource for colleagues and peers. Read Robyn’s full nomination.

Mary Shook, RN
Bronson Methodist Hospital, Preadmission Surgery/Endoscopy Screening
“Because it is a very complicated process to figure out what testing is required for a patient based on their history, the procedure being done, the type of anesthesia and the surgeon specifications, there are a LOT of questions that arise in the preadmissions department. Mary is THE resource we turn to. We have had a lot of new staff in the past year and she never tires of fielding those questions and, in fact, explains the reasons behind the criteria, which helps us all understand and more importantly, helps us to think critically. The answers she gives are directly from the guidelines and she can readily pinpoint exactly where she is getting her answers.” Read Mary’s full nomination.

Respect Award

Mary Sanford BSN, RN
Case Manager, Bronson Battle Creek Hospital, Critical Care Unit
“Mary is so loved and respected by medical staff, ancillary staff and patients. Everything she does, she does with joy and happiness. As a case manager, she spends extra time with her patients and families to come up with the best placement during transitions of care. Mary seems to know everyone in Battle Creek. Many times, patients walking through the hallway will say "Hi, Mary!" She may know them from a previous hospitalization or more likely just from being members in the same community. Not only will she say “hi,” but then naturally will speak about memories both past and present.” Read Mary’s full nomination.

Rising Star Award

Daisy Troff, BSN, RN
Bronson Methodist Hospital, Women’s Float Pool (Mother/Baby, Antepartum, Labor/Delivery)
“It became clear very early on that Daisy was going to excel in her new nursing role. Daisy wanted to challenge herself, and did so by applying for one of the open Women's VIP positions. Typically, this job is reserved for experienced OB nurses, not new graduate RNs. After seeing the drive, determination and engagement shown during her externship, Daisy was selected for the full-time role, and she has been outstanding! She goes above and beyond by routinely picking up extra shifts to ensure the unit and our patients are safe. It has been a joy to watch Daisy grow over the last two years and I cannot wait to see what she will achieve in the future!” Read Daisy’s full nomination.

Sunshine Awards

Each year, Bronson Healthcare presents the Sunshine Award to team members who work alongside nursing staff. These teammates help ensure patients receive exceptional care and experiences. Below are the 2023 award winners from across the Bronson system.

Amanda Boydston, PCA
Bronson South Haven Hospital, General Care Unit (GCU)
“I know that I can always count on Amanda. She keeps things running on our unit! In addition to helping with our patients, she keeps everything on the unit stocked and acts as a unit secretary. I always love working when Amanda is here.” Read Amanda’s full nomination.

Abby Clark, Burn Tech
Bronson Methodist Hospital, Trauma Care Unit (TCU)
Abby was nominated for the Sunshine Award by a former patient. The patient was hospitalized following an accident. Her nomination explains how Abby took the time to properly wash the patient’s hair, removing dried on blood and glass that still remained. Abby then found some brand new hair ties and proceeded to braid the patient’s hair. The patient told other team members that this small act helped her feel clean and refreshed her spirit. Read Abby’s full nomination.

Tracy Fisher, PCA
Bronson LakeView Hospital, Acute Care Unit (ACU)
“Tracy is so compassionate and provides a comfort to our patients in a way that I feel is unmatched. She helps me deliver quality care, and you never have to ask her to do something twice. She makes us better at our jobs.” Read Tracy’s full nomination.

Kristopher Gallas, MA
Bronson South Haven Family Medicine
Kris received many nominations for this year’s Sunshine Award, citing his positive attitude, vast knowledge and great patient care. “Kris is so great on so many levels. He is ALWAYS willing to help anyone who needs it. He helps out without hesitation, even when it is not his patient. The team looks to him for help, a laugh and everything in between. His patients love him! We couldn’t ask for a better MA.” Read all of Kris’ nominations.

Amy Green, Unit Clerk
Bronson Children’s Hospital, General Pediatrics/Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
“Amy Green is sunshine! Her cheery voice is such a great first point of contact for our patients and families. No matter how busy she is, she will stop and ask if a peer needs help or simply how they are doing. She is always helping with unit clerk coverage so that her peers get days off. She loves easing the stress off others! There isn’t anything that seems to get her down and that positivity and radiant demeanor really helps turn frowns upside down!” Read Amy’s full nomination.

Deanna Martin, LPN
Bronson Battle Creek Hospital, Oncology (C5)
“Anyone can smile on the best days… That is easy. But Deanna, she smiles even on her hardest days. Deanna’s positivity is contagious. I know her peers and patients appreciate this from her. She has really exceeded in her position both personally and professionally.” Read Deanna’s full nomination.

Gigi Melichar, Unit Clerk
Bronson Methodist Hospital, General Surgical Unit (GSU)
"Recently, Gigi sat with a challenging pediatric patient several nights in a row. Gigi was so attentive, compassionate and interactive with the patient. She would give giving them options of activities they could do together. The pair colored, watched TV, played with play dough and just talked. Gigi even cleaned the room while the patient was asleep. Making sure the patient was safe made the nursing staff’s jobs easier and set the patient up for success in the morning. Everyone loves Gigi!” Read Gigi’s full nomination.

Concepcion Ortiz, MA
Bronson Healthcare, Ambulatory Care Navigator, Centralized Disease and Care Management
“Concepcion is kind, courteous and wants the best for all patients. Knowing that we work with patients of all different demographics, Concepcion became a certified interpreter, helping better support our patients and our team. This has helped her make special connections and include patients and families in their care.” Read Concepcion’s full nomination.

Kristy Simpkins, LPN
Bronson Gastroenterology Specialists - Portage
“Kristy has gone above and beyond for our office from the moment that she was hired. She is someone you can go to with a question about a patient or any scope of our practice. She steps up when she is needed and fills in without hesitation when the office is short staffed. She is extremely knowledgeable and always professional. Her kindness toward not only the patients but her co-workers as well is something that every office should have and we are lucky to have her.” Read Kristy’s full nomination.

Lindsey Wabindato, ACA
Bronson Battle Creek Hospital, Neurovascular Unit (NVU/C2)
“We recently had a long-term patient on the unit. During the stay, Lindsey built trust with this patient, provided excellent care and advocated for them throughout the lengthy stay. Lindsey was someone we called on when another staff member was struggling to get the patient to take their medications. Sometimes, just her talking with the patient for a few minutes would end in a positive outcome. The patient also was skipping many meals because he/she was tired of the same foods night after night. Lindsey started going to the cafeteria every night to get a meal off the hot bar that she knew they would enjoy, and was also part of their approved diet. When Lindsey switched shifts, she advocated for the Food Services team to pick food items off the hot bar for this patient's meals instead of the regular patient menu. This resulted in a much happier patient.” Read Lindsey’s full nomination.

Samantha Webber, ED Tech
Bronson Methodist Hospital, Admissions Unit (AU)
“Patients and staff are lucky to have Sam! One time, a patient came in who was dealing with several personal issues on top of their medical concerns. Sam took the time to talk with the patient and comfort them. Sam is very caring and her attitude helped this patient during a tough time. We are all very lucky to have Sam!” Read Sam’s full nomination.