These advanced practice nurses epitomize clinical excellence in their daily work caring for patients with serious, life-limiting illnesses here at UHS Hospitals. They are intellectually highly capable, and they bring their considerable fund of knowledge to bear in their approach to the patients for whom they care. Moreover, they exemplify the highest ideals of compassion as they work with patients and their families in the most difficult circumstances. Our nurse practitioner palliative medicine team members are outstanding medical practitioners and are also highly capable in dealing with complex family and social situations in the context of advanced illness often in close proximity to death. On an almost daily basis, they deal with patients and families struggling with highly emotionally charged situations relating to advanced medical illness. They manage patients who have severe symptoms related to their illnesses and also are highly professional in guiding patients and their families through the difficult task of determining preferences for life-sustaining treatment at the end of life. They work extremely well with the physician members of our team as well as with the social workers on our team. They have highly developed communication skills which also allow them to work well with the other healthcare professionals caring for our patients. These four nurse practitioners also maintain a commitment to lifelong learning that allows them to remain proficient as medical providers and also to be active participants in the teaching of residents and medical students.

Our palliative medicine service nurse practitioners are truly extraordinary and exemplify the values of compassion, trust, respect, teamwork, and innovation. As such, I believe that these four nurse practitioners, Rebekah Dickman, NP, Alyssa Cox, NP, Jennifer Whelan, NP, and Madison Stelmach, NP, deserve recognition.