Salem Health honored several clinicians, including a physician from Kaiser Permanente, for outstanding achievement as part of National Nurse Week last week. 

Christian Speer, MD, was awarded the second annual Physician/Clinician Collaboration Award for his compassion and performance as a gastroenterologist and consulting physician. He was nominated by Salem Hospital’s Endoscopy Department and is employed by Kaiser Permanente.   

The following nurses and clinicians were honored in these categories:

Advancing and Leading the Profession: Alicia Guzman, Cardio-Vascular Care Unit; Misti Shilhanek, Service Excellence Dept.

Clinical Care: Robbie Hennig, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Rachael Ortega, Emergency Dept.

Ambulatory Care: Linda Zauner, Infusion and Wound Care; Michelle Slattum, West Valley Hospital Infusion and Wound Care.

Staff/Patient Management: Dana Hawkes, Nurse Manager Joint Center/Orthopedics; Juanita Reyna, Prep and Recovery.

Volunteerism and Service: Jocelyn Harder, Neuro Trauma Care Unit; Tammy Swank, Surgery.

Education and Mentorship: Amy Silvey, 6 South Nursing Unit; Laurie Albrich; Labor and Delivery.

Transformational Leadership Award: This honor went to Amie Wittenberg, nurse manager of Salem Hospital’s Medical Surgical Oncology Unit. The winner is chosen from “blinded” (un-named) nominations submitted by staff.

Clinical Achievement Award for Excellence in Patient Care and Teaching: Given to Diana Upshaw, nurse in the Cardio-Vascular Care Unit. This annual award is given by the RN discharge callers to a nurse who receives the most outstanding comments from patients who are called shortly after being discharged from Salem Hospital.   

 Salem Health is comprised of Salem Hospital, West Valley Hospital, Willamette Health Partners and other affiliated healthcare organizations offering exceptional care to people in and around Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley. Visit us at salemhealth.org and facebook.com/salemhealth; follow us on Twitter:@salemhealth; and view us at youtube.com/user/salemhealth.