Tech: Treva Romero (nominated by Bella Valente): “I called Treva to bring in a fiberoptic scope after encountering a more difficult nasal intubation than expected. He showed up right away with the supplies, and when he saw the situation, he quickly jumped in to help our team out. He was quick to act, and the intubation would not have been as successful if he had not been there. We really appreciate all you do for us and to help keep our patient safe, Treva!”
CRNA: Shanna Weaver (nominated by Dr. Lupa): “Caring for children at the end of life is never easy, and doing so twice in one week—both times for pediatric organ donors—is a profound challenge. Shanna showed exceptional professionalism while navigating two emotionally heavy cases just days apart. In addition to the clinical demands, she worked with visiting transplant teams who were not familiar with our usual collaborative culture. Despite this, she remained composed, respectful, and gracious throughout. Her calm leadership and steady presence brought a sense of dignity to incredibly difficult situations. So proud to have her as part of our pediatric anesthesia team.”
Resident: Natalie Campbell (nominated by Dr. Kolarczyk): “First day in the cardiac OR for our first day CA-2 resident. No TEE resident to help. Natalie stepped in to help the junior resident with their extensive setup and double-check all the details. She was the overnight resident who went above and beyond to ensure safe patient care. This is a true example of teamwork and leadership.”
Faculty: Kathleen Smith (nominated by Dr. Marroquin): “A typical busy day at Meadowmont GI. Dr. Smith’s room happened to finish first. She came into my room and asked, “Is there anywhere you need to be tonight? My room is done. I can finish your cases if you want.” I wasn’t expecting an early out, and yet, I was able to get to a 6 pm soccer game in North Raleigh. A great surprise from a very generous colleague. Thank you, Kathleen!”