Countless years of dedicated patient advocacy, consistently excelling in every critical care situation that she's faced, being a collaborative member of the team, and having a wicked sense of humor. She seems to set an unachievable personal bar of excellence, yet she reaches far beyond those expectations.

My first case with Susanne was late 2017, in which the small team of Dr. S, Susanne, and myself stood essentially coding a young patient in the ICU. She ran drips and collaborated with Dr. S for new or modified orders while I bagged the intubated patient for hours as the family gathered to say goodbyes. That night was just the beginning of my partnership with Susanne. The night that ended in the Great Fires of Napa and Sonoma County where Susanne called in the warning that Napa was under grave danger on both east and west mountain ranges.

Cases from then to tonight are affectionately remembered by room number and situation. Some have become grand tall tales focusing on the humorous part of the case, but just as many are devastatingly sad; they are all intensely scrutinized by Susanne.

Just tonight, when called to bedside, Susanne provided outstanding assessment-intervention-recommendations that escalated a gentleman from 311 to ICU to being transferred out to KRWC.

Susanne is quietly lauded by Nurses as a wonderful and most trusted Rapid Response Partner. I cannot count how many times I've heard, "Oh, thank God you're here, Susanne." She is known to take charge, make excellent recommendations based on knowledge and experience, and has been known to take time for teaching moments despite the acuity of the situation.

Her patients trust her.

Her peers trust her.

Doctors trust her.

Because every call is answered with consistent excellence.