Sigma Nursing Announces 2023 International Award Recipients and Honorary Members

Awards will be conferred during Sigma’s 47th Biennial Convention in San Antonio, Texas, USA 

INDIANAPOLIS —The Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma) is proud to announce the nurses and healthcare professionals being honored for their contributions to professional excellence with the 2023 International Awards for Nursing Excellence, Board Awards, and Honorary Membership. The awards will be presented during Sigma’s 47th Biennial Convention, 11-15 November 2023 in San Antonio, Texas, USA.

Sigma’s International Awards for Nursing Excellence reflect the organization’s dedication to fostering high professional nursing standards, recognizing superior achievement, developing leadership, and encouraging creative work.

“On behalf of Sigma’s international Board of Directors, the staff, and our members worldwide, I congratulate all of Sigma’s International Award recipients. These are outstanding individuals, recognized by their peers for superior achievement and dedication to the advancement of global health, who have made profound contributions to Sigma, the nursing profession, and global health,” said Sigma President Kenneth Dion, PhD, MSN, MBA, RN, RCSI, FAAN.

Sigma’s biennial convention is the organization’s largest event and attracts nearly 2,500 nurse leaders from more than 50 countries. During the event, Sigma members and global leaders in nursing come together to celebrate Sigma’s 100-year heritage, build upon successes, and embrace the 2021-2023 organizational call to action: Be Bold. To view details or register for the event, visit SigmaNursing.org/Convention.

2023 SIGMA INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS AWARDS

Archon Award

The Archon Awards—from the Greek word meaning “first to lead”—are bestowed biennially by the Sigma Board of Directors to individuals and groups who have shown exceptional leadership in advancing health and welfare throughout the world. Previous recipients include Her Royal Highness Princess Muna Al Hussein, The DAISY Foundation, World Bicycle Relief, and Dr. David Suzuki.

Medical Bridges

Walter Ulrich, CEO and President

Houston, Texas, USA

Medical Bridges is a leader in global health equity and a life-changing and lifesaving nonprofit serving the global poor by providing needed medical supplies and equipment to clinics and hospitals. During the past two years, Medical Bridges shipped 300 tons of desperately needed medical supplies and equipment valued at more than $15 million to Ukraine, Haiti, Afghanistan, and developing countries in the Americas, Africa, and Asia, as well as to rural clinics and charitable hospitals in Texas during emergencies. 

United Network for Organ Sharing

Maureen McBride, CEO

Richmond, Virginia, USA

United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is the mission-driven non-profit serving as the United States’ transplant system under contract with the federal government. UNOS leads the network of transplant hospitals, organ procurement organizations, and thousands of volunteers dedicated to honoring the gifts of life entrusted to the organization and to making lifesaving transplants possible for patients in need. 

Luci Baines Johnson and Ian J. Turpin

Austin, Texas, USA

Luci Baines Johnson is the daughter of former US President Lyndon Baines Johnson. She is Chairman of the Board and manager of LBJ Asset Management Partners, and Chairman of the Board of BusinesSuites, which she co-founded with her husband Ian J. Turpin. Lifelong philanthropists, they have contributed to numerous organizations in the state of Texas and are the benefactors of the Luci Baines Johnson and Ian J. Turpin Center for Gerontological Nursing at the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing. 

Nell J. Watts Lifetime Achievement in Nursing Award

The Nell J. Watts Lifetime Achievement in Nursing Award, one of the most prestigious honors bestowed by the Board of Directors, is given to a Sigma member who has demonstrated exemplary achievements in nursing throughout their lifetime.

Dana Bjarnason, PhD, RN, NE-BC

Vice President & Chief Nursing Executive

Oregon Health & Science University

Portland, Oregon, USA

John Patrick Daly, PhD, RN, FACN, FAAN, FFNMRCSI

Dean and Professor

University of Technology Sydney

Corrimal, New South Wales, Australia

Patricia Davidson

Vice-Chancellor

University of Wollongong

Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

Beth Ulrich, EdD, RN, FACHE, FAONL, FAAN

Professor, Department of Graduate Studies

University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing

Galveston, Texas, USA

Bethany Ann Hall-Long, PhD, RN, FAAN

Lieutenant Governor of Delaware

Middletown, Delaware, USA

Jean Watson, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, FAAN, LL (AAN)

Founder

Watson Caring Science Institute

Boulder, Colorado, USA

2023 INTERNATIONAL AWARDS FOR NURSING EXCELLENCE 

Sigma’s International Awards for Nursing Excellence are based on the society’s dedication to fostering high professional nursing standards, recognizing superior achievement, developing leadership, and encouraging creative work.

Amy J. Berman Geriatric Nursing Leadership Award

Mary Dolansky, PhD, RN, FAAN

Associate Professor

Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing

Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Audrey Hepburn Award for Contributions to the Health and Welfare of Children

Leslie Parker, PhD, APRN, NNP-BC, FAAN

Professor

University of Florida College of Nursing

Gainesville, Florida, USA

Capstone International Nursing Book Award

Nurses Making Policy From Bedside to Boardroom, Third Edition

Rebecca M. Patton, Margarete L. Zalon, and Ruth Ludwick

Springer Publishing (USA)

Creative Communications Award

James Q. Simmons, DNP, MSN, RN, BA, AGACNP-BC

Acute Nurse Practitioner

St. Francis Medical Center & One Health Medical Clinic

Los Angeles, California, USA

Daniel J. Pesut Spirit of Renewal Award

Anna Dermenchyan, PhD, RN, CCRN-K, CPHQ

Director of Quality

Department of Medicine, UCLA Health

North Hollywood, California, USA

Dorothy Ford Buschmann Outstanding New Member Award

Alexandra Hughes, BSN, RN

Emergency Department Clinical Nurse 

Northwestern Memorial Hospital 

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Founders Award-Dorothy Garrigus Adams Award for Excellence in Service

Richard A. Henker, PhD, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN

Professor

University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Founders Award-Edith Moore Copeland Award for Excellence in Creativity and Innovation

Daniel B. Oerther, PhD, PE, BCEE, FAAN, ANEF

Professor of Environmental Engineering

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Rolla, Missouri, USA

Founders Award-Elizabeth McWilliams Miller Award for Excellence in Research

Martine Puts, PhD, RN

Associate Professor

University of Toronto 

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Founders Award-Elizabeth Russell Belford Award for Excellence in Education

Laura N. Kirk, PhD, MS, BSN

Clinical Associate Professor

University of Minnesota, School of Nursing

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Founders Award-Marie Hippensteel Lingeman Award for Excellence in Nursing Practice

Mildred O. Kowalski, PhD, RN, NE-BC, CCRP

Nurse Manager-Center for Innovation and Research

Morristown Medical Center/Atlantic Health System

Morristown, New Jersey, USA

Founders Award-Mary Tolle Wright Award for Excellence in Leadership

Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob, PhD, RN, FAAN

Dean Emeritus

University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Helen Henry Excellence of Care Award

Pulmonary Integrated Care Committee

Atlantic Healthy System

Morristown, New Jersey, USA

Lucie S. Kelly Mentor Award

John O’Donnell, DrPh, CRNA, CHSE, FSSH, FAANA, FAAN

Professor & Chair, Department of Nurse Anesthesia and Director of the Nurse Anesthesia DNP Program

University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Melanie C. Dreher Award for Outstanding Chapter Support

Beverly S. Reigle, PhD, RN, FARN

Associate Professor, Emerita

University of Cincinnati College of Nursing 

West Chester, Ohio, USA

Research Dissertation Award

Dion Candelaria, PhD, RN, MN (ClinTeach), GradCertN (Cardiovasc)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Sydney

Wolli Creek, New South Wales, Australia

Virginia K. Saba Nursing Informatics Leadership Award

Young Ji Lee, PhD, MSN, RN

Associate Professor of Nursing and Medicine

University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

HONORARY MEMBERSHIP

Honorary membership is conferred by Sigma’s Board of Directors on individuals throughout the world who are not eligible for regular membership but have demonstrated sustained superior achievements that have contributed to the advancement of nursing and healthcare at the national or global levels.

Heather Becker, PhD

Research Scientist

The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing

Austin, Texas, USA

Bill Cessato, DLS

Deputy Director

Georgetown University Center for Research & Fellowships

Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Patricia Coleman-Burns, PhD, MA

Assistant Professor Emerita of Nursing

University of Michigan, School of Nursing

Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Jody Dalton

Former Chief Financial Officer

Sigma Theta Tau International

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Emily Logan

Commissioner

Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission

Dublin, Ireland

Mark Lombardi, PhD

President

Maryville University

St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Jonathan Morgan

Sigma Foundation Board of Directors

Grass Valley, California, USA

Koy Parada, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor and Coordinator, Global and Urban Health

School of Nursing, Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California, USA

Ken Schindler

Chief Compliance Officer, Empower

Sigma Foundation Board of Directors

Denver, Colorado, USA

Scott Shaw, PhD, D.Min, LPC-S, LMHC, LMSW 

Dean and Professor of Social Sciences and Human Services

Grace Christian University

East Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

Kylie Smith, PhD

Associate Professor, Mellon Faculty Fellow for Nursing & the Humanities

Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Bruce Springer

CEO/Chairman

Prolucent Health

Dallas, Texas, USA

Ian J. Turpin

President

LBJ Family Wealth Advisors, Ltd.

Austin, Texas, USA

Walter Ulrich

CEO and President

Medical Bridges

Houston, Texas, USA

Nicole Wertheim

Co-Founder and Advisor

Dr. Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family Foundation

Miami, Florida, USA

Dana Woods, MBA

Chief Executive Officer

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses

Aliso Viejo, California, USA

About Sigma

The Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma) is a nonprofit organization with the mission of developing nurse leaders anywhere to improve healthcare everywhere. Founded in 1922, Sigma has more than 100,000 active members and 600 chapters at institutions of higher education and healthcare partners from Armenia, Australia, and Botswana to Thailand, the United States, and Wales. Sigma members include clinical nurses and administrators, academic nurse educators and researchers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and others working to fulfill the organization’s vision of connected, empowered nurse leaders transforming global healthcare. Learn more at www.SigmaNursing.org.