In anticipation of the 2021 AL DÍA Top Nurses Forum & Awards virtual event, AL DÍA provided a month-long voting period for the public to nominate nursing professionals across the region they felt were deserving of recognition. 

After the voting period ended on May 9, AL DÍA received more than 60 nominations for the upcoming event. 

The nominees are split between four categories:

• Academic Practice (nurses who have demonstrated leadership in research, academic, or practice settings)
• Community Practice (nurses who primarily practice in community-based settings)
• Health System Practice (nurses who primarily work within hospital systems as direct care providers)
• Emerging Leader (a nursing student)

The full list of individual nominees are as follows:

Some were nominated multiple times, and in multiple categories. However, each nominee is listed once. 

• Maritza Sanchez, RN, MSN, MBA, CNOR, RNFA

Clinical Director & Associate Executive Director of Perioperative Services at Jefferson Health-Northeast Division

• Valerie Caraballo, MSN, RN, APN

Nurse Practitioner, CEO & Owner of Viva Care Solutions; Past President of NAHN Philadelphia Chapter

• Linda Tina Maldonado, PhD, RN

Assistant Professor at the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing at Villanova University

• Nilda Natal

Registered Nurse employed by agency in Florida

• Dr. Lia V. Ludan, DNP, FNP-BC

Assistant Professor of Nursing at Stockton University

• Wandaris Ortiz, RN, BSN, OCN

Staff Nurse, Department of Radiation Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center

• Carmen Duran, RN, BSN, CMSRN

Clinical Coordinator- 2 East at Jefferson Health New Jersey- Stratford Campus

• Deborah Williams, RN

  Registered Nurse at Temple University Hospital - Episcopal Campus

• Daisy Lara, DNP, MSN, RN, CRNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at LCH Health & Community Services;

Alumna and Mentor for the Minority Fellowship Program;

Immediate Past President of NAHN Philadelphia

• Wanda Nolasco, MSN, MBA, RN

Vice President of Patient Services at The Behavioral Wellness Center

• Lissette Liriano, MS, BSN, RN, CCE, CBC

Registered Nurse at The Chester County Hospital/Penn Medicine

• Sofia Carreno, MSN, RN

Nursing Professional Development Specialist for Community Engagement at Penn Medicine - Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

• Madeline Caban, RN

 Registered Nurse at Pennsylvania Hospital 

• Melissa Pluguez Moldavskiy, DNP, AGACNP-BC, FNP-BC

Advanced Care Practitioner at Cooper University Hospital

• Alicia Valentin, MSN, RN, RNC-OB

Registered Nurse at Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia

• Eunessy Dreibelbis

Registered Nurse at Pennsylvania Hospital

• Jasmine Peña-Campbell

Registered Nurse at Penn Medicine

• Keila Bernardy

Clinical Nurse at Pennsylvania Hospital

• Marybell Rodriguez, MSN, CRNP, AGACNP-BC, FNP-BC

Nurse Practitioner Department of Cardiology at Einstein Medical Center

• Maria Cosgrove

Registered Nurse at NICU for AEMC

• Deanna Gomez

Registered Nurse at University Medical Center of Princeton

• Lucille Garcia, BSN, RN, GERO-BC

Staff Nurse, Empergency Department at Temple University Hospital - Jeanes Campus

• Billy Perez

Registered Nurse for Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia

• Tatiana Villamarin, BSN, RN

Registered Nurse at Einstein Department of Urology

• Julie Wyatt

Registered Nurse at Einstein Healthcare Network

• Sunilka Thompson

Nurse Manager at Penn Medicine

• Kemberly Giron Mayer

Registered Nurse-Telemetry/Cardiac Unit at Einstein Medical Center - Main Campus

• Jenise Quiles

Registered Nurse

• Cinthia Oliveras

Registered Nurse at Temple Fox Chase Cancer Center

• Isaias Maldonado

Registered Nurse at Penn Medicine - Lancaster General Hospital

• Michelle Perez, BSN, RN

Clinical Nurse at Penn Medicine & Jefferson Health

• Alexandra Valencia, BSN, RN 

Neuroscience Nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital - Boston 

• Christopher Reyes, BSN, RN

ICU Staff Nurse at Cooper University Health Care

• Nadia Minier, BSN, RN

Registered Nurse at Cooper University Health Care

• Jessica Minguela, BSN, RN, CCRN

ICU Staff Nurse at Cooper University Health Care

• Christopher Diaz, BSN, RN

ICU Staff Nurse at Cooper University Health Care

• Natalia Berrios, BSN, RN

ICU Staff Nurse at Cooper University Health Care

• Lizviette Fernandez

Registered Nurse at Thomas Jefferson Hospital

• Jennifer Gil, MSN, RN

Clinical Nurse at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

• Amanda Ortiz Flick

Staff Nurse at Jefferson Health

• Melina Lopez

Penn Nursing BSN Student; President of Penn Nursing Minorities in Nursing Organization at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

• Maria Cancel

Medical Assistant at Esperanza Health Center; Nursing Student at La Salle University

• Silvia Tenezaca

Nursing Student at Rutgers University - Camden; Critical Care Technician at Cooper University Health Care

• Christina Muñoz

Student, Doctor of Nursing Practice at Rutgers University - Camden

• Susy Suarez, BS

West Chester University Nursing Graduate, Pediatric Nursing Assistant at Chester County Hospital

Among these nominations, an advisory board led by chair Dr. Antonia Villarruel, Dean of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing will make the final selection of honorees. 

The other advisory board members are Donna M. Nickitas, Dean & Professor at Rutgers University School of Nursing - Camden; Paula M. Agosto, Senior Vice President & System Chief Nursing Officer at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Betzaida Medina Sasse, Critical Care Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at Jefferson Torresdale Hospital & President of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses - Philadelphia Chapter; and Olga F. Jarrín Montaner, Assistant Professor at Rutgers University School of Nursing, Director of the Community Health & Aging Outcomes Laboratory, Director of Rutgers Minority Nurse Leadership Institute, and Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.

The criteria will be based on several factors, including but not limited to: COVID-based actions each nominee took within their community/workplace, and the commitment these men and women have to their fellow staff and patients marked by their long hours. 

The Advisory Board will take into account how recent the act or acts have been, along with the sustainability of their impact. They will examine the measurable outcomes of each nominees’ efforts within the nursing profession to determine the 2021 honorees. There will be 12 honorees, plus one Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. 

The full list of honorees will be announced next week.

The 2021 AL DÍA Top Nurses Forum & Awards event will take place virtually on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 starting at 5:30 p.m. For registration information, click here.