Announcement: 2025 APP Excellence Awards Nominees
We are thrilled to announce the nominees for the 2025 APP Excellence Awards! The outstanding contributions of our Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) have once again left us in awe. The nominations we received vividly illustrate the exceptional work and dedication our APPs demonstrate every day.
Spotlight on Excellence:
🌟 Powerful Stories: This year’s nominations brought to light inspiring stories of how our APPs elevate patient care, foster collaboration, and drive innovation every day.
🌟 Unwavering Commitment: Each nominee stands out for their dedication, professionalism, and pursuit of excellence in every aspect of their work.
🌟 Wider Impact: From bedside to community, our APPs are creating meaningful change that resonates far beyond our organization.
We are excited to invite all APPs, ACAs, Chairs, and supervising physicians (in addition to those nominated!) to join us for an evening dedicated to connection and honoring the contributions of ALL our exceptional APPs. We are honored to have President Janet Hadar, MSN, MBA, FACHE joining us, along with guest speaker Deborah Mayer, PhD, RN, AOCN, FAAN. During this special event, we will also be announcing our 2025 APP Excellence Awards winners. Light refreshments and appetizers will be provided. We hope you are able to join us for a time to connect and celebrate during National APP Week. To RSVP for this event please register here by September 5, 2025.
Event Details:
• Date: September 24th, 2025
• Time: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM (Guest speakers will start at 6:00 PM)
• Location: UNC MBRB Auditorium 111 Mason Farm Road Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Congratulations to all the nominees. Your commitment to excellence truly makes a difference. We are immensely proud and honored that each of you are part of the UNC Health family.
Excellence in Clinical Practice
| Nominee Name | Department/Division |
| Emily Baker, AGNP | Medicine/Cardiology |
| Alison Baron, PA | Medicine/Gastroenterology |
| Martha Bausch, ANP | Medicine/Gastroenterology |
| Faith Buchanan, PA | Medicine/Hematology |
| Kimberly Caggiano, AGNP | Surgery/General: Trauma/Critical Care |
| Heather Carroll, FNP | Orthopaedics/Pediatric Orthopaedics |
| Erica Carter, AGACNP | Surgery/General: Burn |
| Mary Chandran, CPP | Surgery/General: Abdominal Transplant |
| Cameron Cobb, FNP | Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation/ |
| Jessica Cooper, PNP | Surgery/Pediatric Surgery |
| Rachel DeGrange, ACNP | Neurology/Neurocritical Care |
| Kristina DeLoach, NNP | Pediatrics/Neonatology |
| Hannah Eadie Reid, FNP | Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery/Head & Neck Oncology |
| Mary Elizabeth Lee, NNP | Pediatrics/Neonatology |
| Shaunta Ford Pierce, FNP | Medicine/Oncology |
| Tiffany Hatfield, AGNP | Medicine/Cardiology |
| Shannon Keller, CNM | Obstetrics & Gynecology/Midwifery |
| Ashley Key, NP | Medicine/Oncology |
| Amy Lamm, PNP | Surgery/Pediatric Surgery |
| LaTonya Logan, PNP | Pediatrics/Pediatric Emergency Medicine |
| Joshua Lopes, PA | Orthopaedics/Adult Spine |
| Leslie Lorbacher, AGNP | Urology |
| Vikki Metheny, ANP | Medicine/Gastroenterology |
| Sherri Ann Morris, AGNP | Medicine/Hematology |
| Meghan Norris, PA | Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery/Rhinology |
| Lindsay Overton, FNP | Obstetrics & Gynecology/OBGYN |
| Alaina Rookard, PA | Surgery/General: GI |
| Athena Samaras, PNP | Pediatrics/Pediatric Hospital Medicine |
| Heather Schultz, FNP | Urology |
| Stephen Scott, AGACNP | Orthopaedics/Adult Spine |
| Megan Sterlina, PA | Medicine/Hematology |
| Janee Stevenson, FNP | Obstetrics & Gynecology/OBGYN |
| Morgan Stone, AGNP | Medicine/Cardiology |
| Nancy Vogler, AGNP | Medicine/Hematology |
| Jessica Wesson, AGNP | Medicine/Oncology (Caldwell) |
| April Wikstrom, PA | Orthopaedics/Sports Medicine |
| Jennifer Woody, FNP | Orthopaedics/Trauma & Fractures |
Excellence in Teaching
| Nominee Name | Department/Division |
| Miriam Camacho-Stokes, AGACNP | Neurology/Neurocritical Care |
| Rani Delaney, NNP | Pediatrics/Neonatology |
| Sarah DeRycke, FNP | Radiology/Vascular Interventional |
| Matthew Dorn, PA | Anesthesiology/Critical Care |
| Whitney Franks, PA | Obstetrics & Gynecology/Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Pain |
| Kevan Haas, PA | Surgery/Cardiothoracic Surgery |
| Samantha Jemiolo, PNP | Pediatrics/Pulmonary Diseases |
| Matthew Massaro, NNP | Pediatrics/Neonatology |
| Stephen Scott, AGACNP | Orthopaedics/Adult Spine |
Excellence in Leadership (Formal)
| Nominee Name | Department/Division |
| Meg Berreth, CNM | Obstetrics & Gynecology/Midwifery |
| Laura Blanchard, PA | Medicine/Hematology |
| Audrey Cook, PA | Surgery/General: Trauma/Critical Care |
| Amy Durr, FNP | Medicine/Infectious Diseases |
| Katie Harrell, ANP | Surgery/General: Surgical Oncology |
| Julie Harris, FNP | Surgery/General: Surgical Oncology |
| Kristi Hildebrand, ACPNP | Neurosurgery |
| Candace Kastner, PA | Medicine/Geriatrics (Palliative Care) |
| Sheri Maclean, CNM | Obstetrics & Gynecology/Midwifery |
| Carly Raynor, CRNA | Anesthesiology/Anesthesiology |
| Amy Scofield, PNP | Pediatrics/Neonatology |
| Stephen Scott, AGACNP | Orthopaedics/Adult Spine |
| April Smithwick, NNP | Pediatrics/Neonatology |
| Megan Sterlina, PA | Medicine/Hematology |
| Janee Stevenson, FNP | Obstetrics & Gynecology/OBGYN |
| Lili Sumney, CRNA | Anesthesiology/Anesthesiology |
| Ashley Wallace, FNP | Pediatrics/Pediatric Hospital Medicine |
Excellence in Leadership (Informal)
| Nominee Name | Department/Division |
| Erica Carter, AGACNP | Surgery/General: Burn |
| Stephanie English, PA | Surgery/Hillsborough General Surgery |
| Christopher Evans, ANP | Medicine/Infectious Diseases |
| Courtney Evron, PA | Radiology/Vascular Interventional |
| Tiffany Hatfield, AGNP | Medicine/Cardiology |
| Cherilyn Ariel Marrs, FNP | Surgery/General: Trauma/Critical Care |
| Eli Maxwell, PA | Surgery/General: Burn |
| Brenda Melvin, FNP | Pediatrics/Neonatology (Wilmington) |
| Renee Milroy , ACPNP | Pediatrics/Pediatric Critical Care |
| Taylor Murphy, FNP | Pediatrics/Pediatric Endocrinology |
| Zakeya Nichols, ANP | Medicine/Oncology |
Unsung Hero
| Nominee Name | Department/Division |
| Lazarina Baez-Marinez, FNP | Medicine/Nephrology |
| Jennifer Belgum, FNP | Surgery/Vascular Surgery |
| Anderson Bradbury, AGNP-C | Medicine/Cardiology |
| Kimberly Caggiano, AGNP | Surgery/General: Trauma/Critical Care |
| Rachel Collins, FNP | Medicine/Nephrology |
| Jessica Cooper, PNP | Surgery/Pediatric Surgery |
| Corazon Hasley, FNP | Medicine/Infectious Diseases |
| Sarah Croop, NNP | Pediatrics/Neonatology |
| Paul Dunneback, PA | Orthopaedics/Trauma & Fractures |
| Courtney Evron, PA | Radiology/Vascular Interventional |
| Mary Clay Federspiel, PNP | Neurology/Child Neurology |
| Sean Gallagher, AGNP | Medicine/Hematology |
| John Gotelli, GNP-BC | Medicine/Geriatrics |
| Jessica Hardwick, PMHNP | Emergency Medicine |
| Tiffany Hatfield, AGNP | Medicine/Cardiology |
| Ashley Key, NP | Medicine/Oncology (Caldwell) |
| Jessica Mullis, ANP | Surgery/Vascular Surgery |
| Alexandra Munden, PA | Family Medicine (Chatham) |
| Linh Ngo, FNP | Neurology/Epilepsy |
| Courtney Northup, PA | Orthopaedics/Sports Medicine |
| Kristina Palmer, AGPCNP | Surgery/General: Surgical Oncology |
| Charles Pulliam, PA | Family Medicine |
| Teresa Sadiq, FNP | Obstetrics & Gynecology/Gynecologic Oncology |
| Neeta Saxena, PA | Medicine/Nephrology |
| Blythe Strickland, ACNP | Neurology/Neurocritical Care |
| Robyn Tolley, AGNP | Medicine/Hematology |
| Lisa Wangerien, CNM | Obstetrics & Gynecology/Midwifery |
| Delicia White, AGACNP-BC | Medicine/Cardiology |
| Alexandria Whitted, PNP | Pediatrics/Pediatric Emergency Medicine |
| Jennie Woody, FNP | Orthopaedics/Trauma & Fractures |
Outstanding New Teammate
| Nominee Name | Department/Division |
| Raye Absher, FNP | Medicine/Oncology (Caldwell) |
| Jessica Billings, PA | Surgery/General: Surgical Oncology |
| Elizabeth Cates, WHNP | Obstetrics & Gynecology/General |
| Susan Cavanaugh, AGNP | Neurosurgery |
| Christopher D’Errico, PA | Surgery/General: Trauma/Critical Care |
| Leigh Anne Hartman, AGNP | Medicine/Gastroenterology |
| Kathryn Johnson, AGACNP-BC | Neurology/Neurocritical Care |
| Erin Medeiros, ACPNP | Radiology/Vascular Interventional |
| Brett Miller, PA | Orthopaedics/Trauma & Fractures |
| Erica Palmer, PA | Medicine/Pulmonary & Critical Care |
| Miranda Reid, ACNP | Neurology/Neurocritical Care |
| Haley Schomburg, PA | Surgery/Hillsborough General Surgery |
| Brittany Tinsley, AGACNP-BC | Surgery/General: Trauma/Critical Care |
| Kasey Zawodniak, PNP | Pediatrics/Pediatric Critical Care |
Physician Partner in Excellence
| Nominee Name | Department/Division |
| Mark Farber, MD | Medicine/Vascular Surgery |
| Kori Flower, MD | Pediatrics/General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine |
| Jeremy Meier, MD | Medicine/Hematology |
| Wayne Price, MD | Pediatrics/Neonatal-Perinatal |
| Ross Simpson, MD | Medicine/Cardiology |
| Will Stoudemire, MD | Pediatrics/Pulmonary |
| Davis Viprakasit, MD | Urology |
| Felicia Williams, MD | Surgery/Burn Intensive Care Unit |
| Michael Zarzar, MD | Psychiatry |