Maryland Nurses Association District 9 Honors Two UM Charles Regional Nurses

Two UM Charles Regional Medical Center nurses were honored recently at the Maryland Nurses Association (MNA) District 9 annual dinner and awards celebration.

Mary Hannah, RN, BSN, MPH, CDCES, Director of Population Health programs and Case Management services at UM Charles Regional, was honored as the MNA District 9 Nurse of the Year. The award recognizes a licensed, practicing registered nurse who demonstrates excellence in nursing.

Kathleen Miller, RN, a registered nurse in the hospital's Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), was chosen to receive the Paula Luskus Heart of Service award, which honors a registered nurse who is deemed to be an outstanding member of the nursing profession. According to the organization, the recipient of this award must be well-rounded, demonstrating perseverance and passion in the field of nursing and the community.

Hannah, who oversees a wide range of hospital programs including diabetes education, case management, palliative care services, and the hospital's transportation to wellness project, was recognized in part for her efforts to mentor young nurses, and her efforts to help patients manage their care and recovery once they are discharged from the hospital. Hannah's leadership of the Population Health team has enabled the establishment of collaborative programs that have positively influenced the health of Charles County's 160,000 residents.

Hannah said she was "really honored and humbled" to be recognized. "I know that the programs my team and I implement at the hospital really impact patient health, even if that caregiving is not administered directly at the bedside," Hannah said. "It's gratifying to see those efforts recognized."

Hannah, who has worked at the hospital in several capacities since 1997, said she is proud to work with an organization that offers promotion opportunities for its staff.

Miller has been an active member of MNA for many years, and for the last five years has served as the organization's treasurer. She has been an employee of UM Charles Regional since 1993, where, according to her nomination, "she has been an inspiration to countless members in the nursing profession" because of her open heart and "relentless compassion." Always cognizant of different perspectives, Miller "supports her team members while holding them accountable in a kind, supportive way that promotes a positive workplace and a culture of compassionate care."

Miller said the award was particularly poignant for her because she knew Luskas, the award's namesake. "I was very excited. She (Luskas) was a woman to be reckoned with, so receiving this award is very rewarding, personally and professionally."

"Mary and Kathy are exemplary nurses who are outstanding examples of the professionalism and dedication our nurses demonstrate every day, and their work reflects the variety of ways our nurses care for our patients before, during and after they are in the hospital," said Dana Cecil, MSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer at UM Charles Regional. "They provide outstanding care and I am glad they call UM Charles Regional home."

Maryland Nurses Association District 9 represents nurses working and/or living in Charles, St. Mary's, and Calvert counties and has been in service to our community since 1977. District 9 recognizes significant nursing accomplishments and service in Southern Maryland annually through awards and scholarships, and provides educational opportunities open to all nurses.