Theresa has demonstrated remarkable leadership strength in her role as a Magnet Component Lead, shared governance expert, and nurse manager for the ICU. Theresa’s leadership can be summed up in three words: preparation, support, and passion. When a task before her is overwhelming, it takes strong leadership and vision to break down the task into manageable undertakings. Theresa has committed countless hours of preparation and planning throughout each of the Nursing Summits to help with development and breakout sessions, and she has successfully led her team through the NK section of the Magnet document, even writing sources of evidence for other components not assigned to her. Her plan for the year helped diffuse apprehension about the breadth of the assignments and kept the group focused and efficient.

Secondly, Theresa always provides support to shared governance members and staff. This last year and again this next year, she has supported the Campus Nursing Research and EBP Council through leadership and mentorship. Through her training with the Ohio State EBP Immersion, Theresa brought this knowledge back to support the Campus Nursing Practice Council, integrating the latest EBP when updating patient care policies. Lastly, Theresa’s passion for excellence in our mission as a trusted partner and empowering healthier lives through care and compassion undergirds all that she does. Theresa researched and submitted two proposals to the System Nursing Research and EBP Council while serving as a Principal Investigator on various nursing studies. She has also submitted several proposals, representing well the Cape for the Francine Gomberg Research Symposium. Regarding the Unit-Based Council, she has supported the team with passion, mentoring, and motivation to bring them to the next level of excellence. Theresa’s passion for excellence has helped us all understand why shared governance is so important.

Her passion and energy drives us to higher realms of patient and staff excellence. I am so proud of the leadership that Theresa has continually displayed this last year. She is inspiring and a role model for us all.