Texas Nurses Foundation and Texas Nurses Association Honor 20 Extraordinary Nurses

May 6, 2021

Contact:

Kanaka Sathasivan
Texas Nurses Association
ksathasivan@texasnurses.org
512.452.0648 x 130

Texas Nurses Foundation and Texas Nurses Association Honor 20 Extraordinary Nurses

The Year of the Nurse coincided with a worldwide pandemic, and these Texas nurses rose to the challenge.

2020 was an unprecedented year. Nurses sacrificed their own health and time to provide quality care to critically ill patients, educate communities and strengthen their teamwork and perseverance. They had to learn new skills quickly, lead during rapid changes, advocate for patients and families, and transition into new roles under a tight timeline.

TNA joined the World Health Organization and our global colleagues in extending the Year of the Nurse and Midwife from 2020 into 2021. WHO initially designated 2020 as the “International Year of the Nurse and Midwife” in honor of the 200^th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. 

For the Year of the Nurse, TNA and TNF are celebrating 20 outstanding nurses from across the state for their dedication, perseverance and compassion during this exceptional year. Nominated by their peers, colleagues, community or family and selected by the boards of TNA and TNF, these nurses have made a difference in creating a culture of care, playing a vital role in supporting health and wellness, as nursing innovators or community contributors and frontline heroes.

• Elizabeth Asturi, MSN, RN, NE-BC, Chief Nursing Offer, Texas Health Dallas
• Efren Barragan Alvarez, BSN, RN , Registered Nurse, University Medical Center, El Paso
• Brandon “Kit” Bredimus, DNP, RN, CEN, CPEN, CNML, NE-BC, CENP, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer/Vice President, Nursing, Midland Memorial Hospital
• Stacey Crane, PhD, RN, CPON, Assistant Professor, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
• Deniz Dishman, PhD, DNAP, MSN, CRNA, Assistant Professor, Cizik School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
• Ana L. Drummond, BSN, RN, Registered Nurse, Dell Children's Medical Center, Austin
• Tonya Edwards, FNP-C, Family Nurse Practitioner, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
• LCDR Marcus Foster, MPA/HCA, BSN, RN, NHDP-BC, Nurse Consultant, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services/U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Dallas
• Kimberly Gilbert, BSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, Chief Clinical Officer, Electra Hospital District
• Bobby Lane, MSN, RN, CNL, Chief Wellness Officer, Civitas Senior Living, Forth Worth
• Missam Merchant, MBA, BSN, RN, CCRN-K, PCCN, CV-BC, GERO-BC, MEDSURG-BC, NE-BC, Hospital Supervisor, University Health, San Antonio
• Michaela Miramon, MSN, RN, Registered Nurse, University Medical Center of El Paso
• Erik Montelongo, Pediatric Registered Nurse, Hematology and Oncology, El Paso Children’s Hospital
• Traci M. Murray, PhD, MPH, RN, CPH, Assistant Regional Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Dallas
• Liliana Reyna Mondragon, BSN, RN, Manager, Primary Care Medical Home, WellMed Medical Management, San Antonio
• Irene Rosales, MSN, RN, Health Services Director, United Independent School District, Laredo
• Gloria Salazar, MSN, RN, CA-CP SANE, Manager of Education, Injury Prevention and SANE Program, University Medical Center of El Paso-Trauma Services
• Maria L. Serio-Melvin, MSN, RN, CNS-BC, CCRN-K, Deputy Chief, Clinical Research Department, US Army Institute of Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston/San Antonio
• Myra Tapp, RN, Registered Nurse, Medical City McKinney
• Karen Walker Schwab, Assistant Professor/Clinical, UT Health San Antonio

In addition to the awardees, TNA and TNF are also recognizing an additional 22 nurses whose contributions raise them to the level of honoree. Please visit texasnurses.org/20for2020 to meet these extraordinary nurses and hear directly from them.

Nurses are the nation’s largest group of health care professionals and the most trusted profession; they serve a critical role within America’s health care infrastructure. Never in history has the world been so focused on the profession of nursing. Nurses have proven to be compassionate, innovative and resilient in the face of the biggest public health crisis of this century. 

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About Texas Nurses Association

The Texas Nurses Association (TNA) is a statewide membership-based professional association of registered nurses. Our mission is to empower Texas Nurses to advance the profession. Founded in 1907, TNA is the oldest and largest nursing association in Texas.

About Texas Nurses Foundation

The Texas Nurses Foundation (TNF) is dedicated to improving the health of Texans through charitable initiatives including those that advance nursing practice, education, research and leadership.