I have known and had the pleasure to work alongside Heather for over 15 years. She is an exceptional nurse who sets the bar high for patient care and safety. She not only leads by example but has a strong passion for supporting women in what can be one of the most stressful times of their lives, a breast biopsy. The first thing you will notice about her is her infectious positive attitude and laughter. She has an uncanny way that can soothe the most anxious patient. Many times, by the end of their procedure, her patients leave calm, reassured, and feeling like they have made a friend.

Not only is she a true advocate for breast cancer patients at their most vulnerable time, but she is also a great resource for our radiologists and fellow team members. She is a strong leader of our breast program in Ambulatory Imaging with a great willingness to help others whenever there is a need. This nurse is very dedicated to our breast program and that has been greatly illustrated through her journey to certification as a breast nurse navigator and her ongoing support to developing and enhancing the program to meet the needs of our patients and physicians.

In addition to being an extraordinary nurse navigator, she is a HUGE presence in our BOI center as well as within the BayCare community. She shares her beautiful voice at many BayCare events, most recently singing in the 2021 WOW Awards. She famously created “hug Friday” (pre-COVID) that the team looks forward to each week and its return as soon as it is safe to resume. And probably the most revered and noteworthy is when she dresses up every holiday season, complete with costume and jingles to deliver our secret Santa gifts. Our center, program, and division would not be the same without her compassion, skills, and presence.