March of Dimes Honors Three UArizona Nursing Faculty at Heroes in Action Celebration
Oct. 26, 2021
Last month, three University of Arizona College of Nursing faculty members were recognized at the annual March of Dimes Heroes in Action awards ceremony. With a mission to fight for the health of all moms and babies, the Heroes in Action initiative, formerly titled the Nurse of the Year, recognizes exceptional nurses throughout the state of Arizona, celebrating the profession and creating awareness of the strides made in this growing field.
Clinical Professor and Coordinator, RN-MSN Program Cheryl L Lacasse, PhD, RN, AOCNS, was named Nurse Educator of the Year, which honors Registered Nurses who educate future nurses in either a university/community college/hospital or other school/community setting, or those who have contributed significantly to research within the nursing profession.
Lecturer John Fraleigh, BSN, MSN, won the Outpatient/Community & Public Health award, which honors registered nurses who work in community health, behavioral health, clinics, hospice, home-health & palliative care, public health, K-12 schools or universities, outpatient diagnostics, parish or prison nurses, and private practice nurses of any specialty.
And Clinical Assistant Professor Lisa Kiser, DNP, CNM, WHNP, took honors for the Women's Health category, which recognizes registered Nurses involved in antepartum, labor & delivery, maternal/baby care, postpartum, and gynecology.
Additionally, UArizona Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice student Lena Perez won for the Student Nurses Advanced Degree category, which honors students enrolled in either a MSN or a DNP program, with a minimum GPA of 3.25, and exemplifying outstanding participation within the community.
UArizona Nursing couldn’t be prouder of the superb work these faculty members do, especially during such trying times.
Cheryl Lacasse: “The Arizona March of Dimes Nurse Educator Award nomination process provided an opportunity to reflect on the nursing and teaching experience and wisdom that I bring to my role as a. nurse educator. It is a true honor to be acknowledged for my contributions to the nursing profession through education, professional development, mentoring, and developing future nurses and leaders in health care.”
John Fraleigh: “It was an honor to win the March of Dimes Heroes in Action for Outpatient/Community & Public Health. I think lots of nurses are ‘out there’ doing great things but it feels awesome when someone stops to recognize my efforts. My volunteer work in areas that help the community include Human Trafficking prevention, Maricopa County Child Fatality Review (Homicide, Suicide, and Accident Teams), and teaching in our Community Health course for the MEPN Program on the Phoenix campus. I appreciate the opportunity the college has provided in lending the platform to introduce these topics to our nursing students.
While I appreciate the comparison to being a ‘hero,’ I am merely a representative of the team that assists. Opportunities to attend meetings, conferences, and educational events are only possible because coworkers remain behind to fill the gaps. Most important is my team at home, that keeps running strong while I’m off volunteering. If I am a hero, then my wife, Lyn, is my sidekick who remains back in the shadow with little recognition. Our 10-year-old son, Adam, has down syndrome and requires additional attention and care, in order for me to be out doing ‘those things.’ Well, I now have a plaque that says, ‘we did it.’ As the representative of my ‘work team’ and ‘family team,’ I am thankful for this recognition.”
Lisa Kiser: “As a certified nurse-midwife and women's health nurse practitioner, I am very honored to receive this award from the Arizona chapter of the March of Dimes. I rely on the work of the March of Dimes, both in my teaching and in my practice, and find that they are always a leader in evidence-based care that addresses the issues that most affect maternal and infant health. Knowing the importance of their work and mission, I am proud to be recognized by the March of Dimes: we share the same vision for women's health, which is to eliminate health disparities and truly improve health outcomes for all women and children in the state of Arizona.”
Cheryl Lacasse: “The Arizona March of Dimes Nurse Educator Award nomination process provided an opportunity to reflect on the nursing and teaching experience and wisdom that I bring to my role as a. nurse educator. It is a true honor to be acknowledged for my contributions to the nursing profession through education, professional development, mentoring, and developing future nurses and leaders in health care.”