Nursing Excellence Awards are presented to the best of the best during the annual event honoring the skills, compassion, teamwork and dedication of Riley nurses.
By Maureen Gilmer, Riley Children’s Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org
Audrey Leisinger’s family had stealthily arrived in the back of the auditorium when the 2025 Riley Nursing Excellence Awards program started Tuesday morning, but she had no idea they were there.
Not until she was named the Margaret Martin-Roth Award winner, and her parents, sister and husband stepped out of the shadows to celebrate with her.
The award, named in honor of a legend at Riley, is the most coveted nursing award at the hospital. It is presented annually to someone who embraces the spirit and skills of the former director of nursing at Riley, who worked with Dr. Morris Green to help transform pediatric care. Martin-Roth died in 2023 at age 102.
Leisinger, a pediatric oncology nurse at Riley for nearly six years and a nurse for 10, was stunned, her eyes brimming with tears, as her family and colleagues wrapped her up in hugs. Even her kids got to be part of the celebration, albeit virtually, through a video.
Her nomination letter reads in part: “Audrey is amazing at building relationships with her team and her patients. Immediately after taking on the new role of nurse navigator, she became indispensable to her physician partners. Her patients and families love her … From little things like personalizing their chemotherapy calendars to writing a special poem to commemorate their bell-ringings, Audrey is incredibly in tune with her patients’ needs and wants. … If I could ethically clone (her), I would do it in a heartbeat.”
She also brings joy and a sense of calm to her colleagues, they said.
“Audrey, you’re an outstanding nurse and your compassion for both your patients and your team is amazing, said service line administrator Meredith McMahan in a short video. “You’re talented, dedicated, caring and always a team player. Your hard work makes such a difference, plus you always know how to bring a smile and a laugh to anyone around you.”
Despite the attention focused on her, Leisinger wanted to share the award with her team.
“I couldn’t do my job without my team and the two amazing physicians I work with. I have great patients and a great team. I love them, and I love taking care of kids.”
Among those congratulating her were Laura Koke and Stacy Nance, previous Margaret Martin-Roth Award winners in hem-onc themselves. The three gathered for a photo, all sporting red shoes in a nod to the family-centered care philosophy at Riley.
“Laura Koke was in this role before I was, and I remember coming to clinic for the first time and seeing this award and seeing her face and seeing Stacy’s face on the plaque and knowing they are amazing nurses,” Leisinger said. “I very much look up to them, and so to be nominated and to get this award alongside them just means a lot.”
Others nominated this year for the award were: Jen Brown, Emergency Department; Katherine Collier, Pediatric Pulmonary; Alyssa Hall, PICU; Kathleen Klemple, ED; Susie McSwain, Simon Family Tower NICU; Lisa Mollenkopf, Riley Maternity Tower NICU; and Erika Pierce, 5 West.
Tuesday’s awards ceremony kicked off Nurses Week, and featured a record number of nominations this year, according to Koke, Magnet Program coordinator, and Megan Isley, chief nursing officer.
“We are here to celebrate you,” Isley told the large group filling the auditorium in the Riley Outpatient Center. “Step back and think about all the lives we change every day. As the number one pediatric healthcare center in the state, think of all the things we are doing. No matter where you are, I bet you can look back at a patient this year and think, wow, that was amazing work we did,” she said.
“The expert care you provide, the compassion, we see it in the feedback we get all the time from our patients and families,” Isley added. “I think if Florence Nightingale were here today, she would be really proud of you.”
Multiple additional awards were presented Tuesday:
The Nurse Excellence Award went to Kara Bush, Behavioral Health. “Kara stays current with the latest research in her field and actively shares this knowledge with her team. … Kara is deeply engaged in the nursing profession and consistently advocates for the well-being of her patients and her colleagues.”
Others nominated were: Nikki Boggess, ED; Carly Cason, 5 West; Jill Chapman, Riley Center of Hope/ED; Tori Coe-Addison, Mother-Baby; Amy De St. Jean, Behavioral Health; Cara Flanigan, Nursing Practice; Brenna Joyce, Center of Hope/ED; Samantha King, ED; Audrey Leisinger, Pediatric Oncology; Kira Logsdon; Burn Critical Care; Valerie Love, Vascular Access; Erin Maddox, 9 West; Tanya Malone, Center of Hope/ED; Joe Shelton, Behavioral Health; Alysen Shields, Labor and Delivery; Elizabeth Thach, Infusion/PHO; and Mackenzie Zehr, Behavioral Health.
The DAISY Nurse Leader Award went to Robin Roller, Gastroenterology. “Robin is a fun, trustworthy, hardworking, compassionate and invested leader. … She creates an environment of learning and camaraderie.”
Others nominated were: Laura Alter, Nursing Administration; Maureen Battles, Nursing Professional Development; Nicole Blanford, Fort Wayne Specialty Clinic; Jen Brown, ED; Ashley Brunic, North NICU; Keegan Caughey, 9 West; Katie Copeland, 5 West; Donna Cox, Behavioral Health; Heather Dewees, 9 East; Emily Gunselman, Maternity and Newborn Health; Sarah Hardacker, Nursing Professional Development; Jaclyn Holtgrewe, ED; Maria Martinez, Behavioral Health; Anne McCallister, Quality and Safety; Ashell Moore, Maternal Fetal Medicine; Brianna Mosley, Labor and Delivery; Sara Murff, 8 West; Kelly Orr, 7 West; and Dianne Seibold, OR.
The DAISY Team Award went to 8 East for “an extraordinary year providing patient-centered care to all.”
Also nominated were: 3 West Cardiac Stepdown, 5 West, 5 West PPC Chairs, Behavioral Health, North NICU PPC, Neonatal-Maternal Simulation Nurse Educator Team, 9 West, Burn Team, ED, High-risk OB Transport, Maternal Fetal Medicine, OBICU, Outpatient Hem-Onc Infusion, SFT NICU Bereavement Team, Small Baby Team in Maternity Tower NICU, Riley Fetal Center/RMT and individual collaborators for the MMC Repair Program, virtual mentors of the Riley Cancer and Blood Disorders Center (5W and 5E).
Riley Children’s Foundation grants went to Laura Gant, RMT NICU, who is pursuing a doctorate in nursing practice; Rachael Harless, Nursing Practice, who is pursuing a master of science in nursing; Carol Hayden, 5 West, who is pursuing a master of science in nursing; Brianna Logston, Q&S, who is pursuing a doctorate of nursing practice; Madelyn Pittard, Pediatric Hem/Onc, who is pursuing a doctor of nursing practice; Brianna Qualizza, Q&S, who is pursuing a doctorate of nursing practice; and Rachal Sperka, CVICU, who is pursuing a master of science in nursing.
The Brittany Gaskins Award was presented to Brooke Robert, Burn Critical Care. “As a new nurse on the burn unit, Brooke has consistently demonstrated the IU Health values in numerous ways, making a significant impact on patients and the healthcare team.”
Others nominated were: Stephanie Ames, ED; Paige Babb, RMT NICU; Ashley Dudley, 9 West; Hailey Hoy, ED; Emma Rutan, 5 West; and Claire Wilhelm, SFT NICU.
The Stephanie Pottenger Award went to Nicole Graham, Heart Center, for her compassion, teamwork, dedication, passion for learning and commitment to patients and colleagues.
Others nominated were: Rachal Ivy and Heidi Scoggins, CVICU; and Sarah Kuntz and Courtney Worland, Cardiac Cath Lab.
The Coach Award went to Angie Hammond, 3 West, for her dedication in onboarding new nurses, while also being “the voice of expertise in a kind, approachable manner.”
Others nominated were: Kayla Beckett, Burn Critical Care; Gabby Brinson, Labor and Delivery; Brooke Christian, 9 West; Tara Coolbaugh, PICU; Jade Depoister, PICU; Sam Ellert, OBICU; Jacqueline Frazier, CVICU; Rachel Gibbons, PICU, Regina Hedge, ED; Katie Klemple, ED; Meaghan Koors, Pediatric Rehab; Kira Logsdon, Burn Critical Care; Melissa Lyles, North NICU; Kristy Mattingly, OR; Crystal Overstreet, Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic; Kruti Patel, Mother-Baby; Kristin Pothier, Burn Critical Care; Maci Reed, 9 East; Sandy Rivera, Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic; Amy Sageser, PICU; Katie Schaller, RMT NICU; Megan Thompson, 5 West; Lauryn Watson and Kendal Williams, RMT NICU.
The Partner in Care Award went to Drew Harding, supply chain, for “consistently supporting nurses and nursing in achieving quality outcomes” and for always connecting colleagues with the “why” behind the project he is supporting.
Others nominated were: Adeline Agee, Behavioral Health; Nancy Attebury, Burn; Lindsey Biggs, Q&S; Lori Brookshear, MFM; Hannah Carlson, L&D; Robin Carr, North NICU; Katherine Carter, ED; Brenda Center, 3 West; Araceli Frazier, Behavioral Health, Jeremiah Gamauf, Environmental Services; Anthony Hedge, ED; Jasmine Henderson, 5 East; Brooke Hunter, ED; Amanda Kendall, 9 East; Sandie Kennedy, GI Transplant; Hank Knouse, Developmental Peds; Emily Koehn, 5 West; Cameron Koehne, Clinical Engineering; Alejandro Marcial, ED; Kevin Marshall, RMT NICU; Alyssa Mckillip, ED; Dr. Lee Murphy, physician/ACMO; Kevin Nicholas, Behavioral Health; Teresa Nunn, RMT NICU; Sarah Patrick, Behavioral Health; Gina Petty, AHC Language Services; Hannah Picket, Riley Inpatient Rehab; Bethany Pollock, MFM; Kayla Reddington, Patient Experience; Becky Rose, NICU; Heidi Scoggins, CVICU; Hannah Shuck, Resource; Carly Simeur, ED; Haleigh Smarr, RMT NICU; Jayme Smith, Radiology; Hettie Smith, 9 West; Gabrielle Thomas, Behavioral Health; Ashley Thomas, RMT NICU; and Joshua Wooten, ED.
Photos by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org
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