Friends of Nursing Awards Honor the Power of Lehigh Valley Health Network Nurses and Health Care Professionals

Nurses make a difference as caregivers, advocates, mentors and leaders in our community. They possess unique values to provide high-quality, compassionate care to the people they serve. At the 2023 Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) Friends of Nursing awards program, held May 4 at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem, LVHN nurses and health care professionals were honored for the power of the exceptional patient care they provide.

During the program, 38 award recipients were honored in front of a crowd of more than 600 people. 

Among the recipients’ stories were:

Joshua Ashmar, RN, Regional Burn Center, LVH–Cedar Crest, recipient of The Robert Lurig Memorial Award for Excellence in Burn Care

Patient care specialist Joshua Ashmar, RN, serves as Captain of the Trexlertown Fire Department. Volunteer firefighting has been part of Ashmar’s life for as long as he can remember. He followed in his father’s footsteps and started running calls at his side from a young age. He participated in fire prevention activities in the community, which inspired his passion for burn care and education. “I love teaching because I get to bring my knowledge – what I’ve learned over the years – and teach it to future generations and to people, whether it be firefighters starting out or new graduate nurses starting on my unit,” says Ashmar.

Lauren Reightler, OTD, Rehabilitation Services Acute Care, LVH–Cedar Crest recipient of The Bill and Nancy Mason Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Rehabilitation Services

As an occupational therapist Lauren Reightler, OTD, helps people return to what’s most meaningful to them after they leave the hospital. Up to half of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors discharged to home struggle with physical, cognitive and psychological issues. Reightler saw an opportunity to help people transition from the ICU to home by connecting them with resources and ICU survivors who understand what they’ve been through. “Why Lehigh Valley Health Network? Because they listen to me. They help support my occupational therapy dreams as crazy as they may sound at times,” says Reightler. “They really support the ideas that I have and help to make it happen.” Reightler’s dream of starting a post-ICU clinic that connects patients in the hospital with ICU survivors became reality when she partnered with critical care pulmonologist Dorothea Watson, DO, two pharmacists, a physical therapist, nurse practitioner and social worker to start the SPIRIT clinic. LVHN’s SPIRIT clinic, which stands for Successful Post-ICU Recovery Interprofessional Team, is designed to help post-ICU patients recover to their full potential. “To offer hope to patients who really have no one to relate to, and to connect them to one another is really incredible,” says Reightler.

Michael Prisaznik, Facilities Management, LVH–Hecktown Oaks, recipient of the Award for Excellence in the Promotion of Patient Care

Patient care doesn’t happen without functioning elevators, electricity, plumbing and HVAC systems. Michael Prisaznik is a facilities engineer and unsung hero at LVH–Hecktown Oaks. He advocates for excellence in nursing care through his daily interactions, showing compassion to patients and treating colleagues like family. For Michael, that’s because some really are his family. Prisaznik’s wife, Pamela, is a certified registered nurse practitioner with LVPG Pediatric Pulmonology. She’s also a past Friends of Nursing Award recipient. Their daughter, Hannah, is a radiology support tech at LVH–Cedar Crest. His sister-in-law Paula, a registered nurse, and niece Sarah, a licensed practical nurse, work at LVH–17th Street and niece Kiona, a physical therapist, works alongside him at LVH–Hecktown Oaks.

For more than 35 years, LVHN has recognized outstanding professional nursing practice through the Friends of Nursing program.

The following is a complete list of 2023 Friends of Nursing award recipients.

Danita Fenstermacher, Float Pool, LVH–Cedar Crest
Hometown: Topton
The Auxiliary of Lehigh Valley Hospital–Muhlenberg Administrative Partner Award

Cheryl Holzer, Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit, LVH–Cedar Crest
Hometown: Emmaus
The Auxiliary of Lehigh Valley Hospital–Muhlenberg Administrative Partner Award

Tanya Lentz, RN, LVH Rheumatology–Hausman Road
Hometown: Northampton
Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Ambulatory Care

Nathan Wilkinson, RN, Intensive Care Unit, LVH–Muhlenberg/Regional Heart Center Medical Float Pool
Hometown: Quakertown
The Fleming Nursing Caring Award

Joshua Ashmar, RN, Regional Burn Center, LVH–Cedar Crest
Hometown: Breinigsville
The Robert Lurig Memorial Award for Excellence in Burn Care

Julie Kaszuba, RN, Population Health
Hometown: Whitehall
Care Management Continuum Award

Maura Kessler, RN, Intensive Care Unit, LVH–Pocono
Hometown: Nazareth
Award for Excellence in Critical Care Nursing

Katherine Wozniak, RN, Breidegam Family Children’s ER, LVH–Cedar Crest
Hometown: Stewartsville, NJ
Award for Excellence in Emergency Nursing

Victoria Chestnut, RN, Payor Based Care Coordination
Hometown: Schnecksville
The Florence Nightingale Exemplary Professional Practice Award

Minalix Rodriguez, RN, Mother-Baby Unit, LVH–Muhlenberg
Hometown: Walnutport
The Fleming Nursing Caring Award

Allison Palmer, RN, 1B Medical-Surgical Unit, LVH–Hecktown Oaks
Hometown: Nazareth
The Ardis Gaumer Award for Excellence in the Care of Geriatric Patients

Andraya Rowan, RN, 4KS Medical-Surgical Unit, LVH–Cedar Crest
Hometown: Nesquehoning
Medical-Surgical Nursing Award

Ryan Fuller, RN, Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit, LVH–Cedar Crest
Hometown: Bath
Award for Excellence in Neuroscience Nursing

Kristen Kelly, RN, and Brian Chilcote, LCSW, Behavioral Health, LVH–Muhlenberg
Hometown (Kelly): Allentown
Hometown (Chilcote): North Whitehall
The Fleming Award to Recognize New Knowledge, Innovations and Improvements

Lauren Reightler, OTD, Rehabilitation Services Acute Care
Hometown: Jim Thorpe
The Bill and Nancy Mason Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Rehabilitation Services

Shannon Miller, RN, 6KS/7KS Inpatient Rehabilitation, LVH–Cedar Crest
Hometown: Lehighton
Award for Excellence in Nursing Education

Jessica Conlin, RN, Department of Education
Hometown: Orwigsburg
Award for Excellence in Nursing Education

Jannah Solanoy, RN, 6CP, LVH–Cedar Crest
Hometown: Breinigsville
The Edward and Anne Davis Award for Excellence as a Nurse Preceptor

Jennifer Dargan, RN, Emergency Department, LVH–Cedar Crest
Hometown: Catasauqua
The Fleming Award for Exemplary Performance Associated with the Nurse Residency Program

Michael Prisaznik, Facilities Management, LVH–Hecktown Oaks
Hometown: Allentown
Award for Excellence in the Promotion of Patient Care

Morgan Pollock, RN, Labor and Delivery, LVH–Cedar Crest
Hometown: Green Lane
Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Obstetrical/Gynecological Nursing Care

Abigail Dalling, RN, 7K Orthopedics, LVH–Cedar Crest
Hometown: East Stroudsburg
The Dr. Peter and Ruth Keblish Award for Excellence in Orthopaedic Surgical Nursing

Jessica Barndt, 6K, LVH–Cedar Crest
Hometown: Macungie
The Auxiliary of Lehigh Valley Hospital Patient Care Partner Award

Lorraine Dierolf, 6CP, LVH–Cedar Crest
Hometown: Perkiomenville
The Auxiliary of Lehigh Valley Hospital Patient Care Partner Award

MarySue Rother, RN, Integrated Care Transitions
Hometown: Whitehall
The Josephine Ritz, RN, Nursing Award for Excellence in Patient and Family Engagement

Amy Serfas, RN, 5J Inpatient Pediatrics, Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital
Hometown: Coplay
The M.G. Asnani, MD, Award for Excellence in Pediatric Nursing

Stacy Christman, RN, Operating Room, LVH–Cedar Crest
Hometown: Pennsburg
Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing

Sidney Wilson, PharmD, Pharmacy 340B Team, LVH–Muhlenberg
Hometown: Northampton
Award for Excellence as a Pharmacist

Jeanette M. Blauth, MD, Allentown Radiologic Associates
Hometown: Hatfield
The Edward and Anne Davis Physician Friends of Nursing Award

Lisa Makhoul, Child-Life Department, LVH–Cedar Crest
Hometown: Allentown
Award for Excellence in the Promotion of Patient Care

Jeanne Florian, RN, 4KS Medical-Surgical Unit, LVH–Cedar Crest
Hometown: Sellersville
The Dr. Michael J. Moritz Award for Excellence in Transplant Nursing

Andrew Smith, DeSales University, Student Nurse
Hometown: Schnecksville
The John M. Eisenberg, MD, Award for Excellence as a Student Nurse

7A Neuroscience Unit, LVH–Cedar Crest
The Fleming Award to Recognize a Unit/Department Which Demonstrates a Commitment to Structural Empowerment

5T, LVH–Muhlenberg
Award for Professional Nursing Certification – Department Greater than 15 Staff Members

7T, LVH–Muhlenberg
Award for Professional Nursing Certification – Department Less than 15 Staff Members

2B Intensive Care Unit, LVH–Hecktown Oaks
Patient Satisfaction Award for Inpatient Care

Cardiac Catheterization Lab, LVH–Cedar Crest
Patient Satisfaction Award for Ambulatory Services