Announcing the winners of the 2025 KHSC Nursing Awards of Excellence

Tammy Zimmerman

“Tammy tends to the sick and the wounded; she has an amazing ability to keep providing care, and support patients in their most difficult moments. Her courage and compassion shines through when it comes to being in service of others.”

Brittany Knowlton

“During her time working with us in the Medicine Program, Brittany has demonstrated enormous amounts of professional growth and has been instrumental in reshaping the structure of the unit.”

Tricia Fox

“She has an ease and light-hearted manner that supports strong clear communication and results in strong interpersonal skills. Tricia is able to fill all roles in the ED including charge where she maintains a sense of control and team spirit no matter the situation.”

Amanda Dwyer

“Amanda is an outstanding practitioner who exudes kindness and compassion to patients and peers. You can always find Amanda creating meaningful therapeutic relationships with patients through not only mastered nursing skill and assessment, but also through patient partnership and humour.”

Crystal Morley

“Crytal embodies the true spirit of nursing, providing outstanding care grounded in compassion, respect and unwavering dedication. Crystal has become a pillar of strength, wisdom and kindness on the Pediatric unit.”

Pamela Branscombe

“Pam consistently goes above and beyond. The dedication to patients is evident in the meticulous care provided. Whether it’s taking time to explain a procedure in detail or ensure that the patient’s comfort is prioritized. Pam’s hard work does not go unnoticed”

Christine Costa

“Christine shows so much care and compassion with our Cancer Care Ontario patients when she reaches out for their first contact to lead them through out program.”

Andrea Knapp

“Andrea takes the time to ensure that patients understand their diagnosis, treatment options and next steps. Ensuring the patient is provided with all the necessary information to effectively manage their kidney disease such as lifestyle changes and medical management.”

Dana Kerr

“As Team Lead of the HOME team, Dana provides leadership, education and compassionate support to both her colleagues and the patients she serves. Dana’s leadership is instrumental not only in operational performance but also in advancing the team’s vision.”

Christine Mainse

“We could not provide the same quality of care without her. Our team depends on her organizational skills, her networking skills, and her dedication to being the best care provider she can be.”

Katie Plummer

“Katie’s compassionate approach to nursing has made a lasting impression on both patients and the multidisciplinary team. Katie’s ability to empathize with patients while remaining focused on their clinical needs showcases well-rounded nursing practice.”

Amy Kirst

“Amy often trains new hires or students to our unit. She is kind and encouraging. She models compassion, excellence and critical thinking She puts her orientees at ease with her humour, wonderful laugh and the manner in which she develops strong relationships with her patients and the inter-professional team.”​

Interprofessional Learning Specialsts

Rebecca Gill, Jennifer Kasaboski, Michelle Brosso and Tanis Proulx

“The IPLS team’s innovative approach to education and their commitment to the success of both new and experienced staff make them truly deserving of this award. Their work has set a new standard for how we support and grow our nursing teams, contributing to a stronger, more connected health care environment.”

Dianne Kirkpatrick

“Dianne is decisive, clinically astute, and highly knowledgeable with the broad population of patients she serves. Dianne not only is a dedicated clinician, she is a very kind and passionate patient advocate. She knows how to have hard conversations, and she delivers news every day to patients and people that can be difficult to process.”

Tiffany Gingrich

“Tiffany innovates and pivots as necessary; whether it is to support our program-specific onboarding process for new hires, backing a change in our model of care to create a more cohesive team, help out her colleagues in other units where mental health and addictions is not regularly addressed or just showing up to a meeting with her own thoughts and ideas on how to best improve our services”

Heather Mackulin

“Heather was instrumental in the development, delivery and evaluation of the KHSC Simulation Program in partnership with an educationalist and researcher at Queen’s University. Heather’s work has had significant impact on retention, professional development, and job satisfaction among staff .”