Katie Howard 2026, BSN, RN

Katie worked with my father for the better part of a month after his stroke. She connected with us early on, providing not only exemplary care for my father but also empathy and communication for us as a family. She showed a lot of proactivity and went above and beyond her role.

For example, she worked with my family to figure out an early way for my father — who was nonverbal from the stroke — to communicate (via eye movements) and printed out communication cue cards for the hospital staff. As a family, we were comforted knowing that other staff could communicate with my father this way. She also worked to identify potential infections and synthesized information from multiple teams of doctors and therapists.

We were always comforted knowing that she was taking great care of my father whenever she was on shift. She patiently answered all our questions and served as our main point of day-to-day continuity during an otherwise lengthy stay in the ICU. We found her care and empathy invaluable as a family. We believe she embodies professionalism, excellence, and a multidisciplinary approach.