Congratulations to 2020 Nurses of Influence Banquet Awardees

WSNA congratulates the following 2020 Nurses of Influence Banquet Awardees, including five WSNA members. The awards are given by the University of Washington School of Nursing (UWSON) to outstanding graduates and other exceptional individuals in the greater nursing community.

UWSON shared the following information on their website:

Distinguished Alumni Award
Jose Pares-Avila, nurse practitioner, Harborview Medical Center and UWMC. This award recognizes a UWSON graduate whose career in nursing exemplifies excellence in clinical practice, leadership in professional organizations, outstanding accomplishments, and contributions to the community. Pares-Avila provides primary and psychiatric emergency service. His local and national leadership has included service in the local chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses and service on the Board of Directors of GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality.

Distinguished Researcher Award
Debra Ridling (WSNA member), Associate Chief Nurse for Practice and Research at Seattle Children’s. This award recognizes an individual whose research, professional achievements and cumulative contributions have brought personal distinction, enhanced the profession, improved the welfare of the general public and brought honor and prestige to their field. Debra Ridling supports nurses in the areas of research, clinical practice, quality/safety, professional development, orientation (including the nurse residency program), education, competency, informatics, shared governance, Magnet designation, outreach education, ethics, schools of nursing, and others programs that support and promote excellence in nursing. She has over 30 years experience as a nurse.

Distinguished Practitioner Award
Patricia (Pat) A. Blissitt (WSNA member), Neuroscience Clinical Nurse Specialist, HMC and SMC, and Associate Professor, Clinical Affiliate Faculty, UWSON. This award honors a nurse who demonstrates excellence in nursing care, serves as an advocate for patients, families and/or communities, makes a recognizable difference through their practice and embodies the essence of the nursing profession. Blissitt has more than 40 years of experience in neuroscience nursing. She has published in numerous publications including peer-reviewed newsletters, journals, online publications, and books.

Dr. C. June Strickland Distinguished Diversity & Transcultural Nursing Advocate Award
Frankie Manning (WSNA member), retired nurse executive. This award honors a nurse who advocates for the needs of underrepresented populations and communities, encourages dialogue and reflection regarding societal power imbalances; and demonstrates leadership in promoting diversity in nursing. Manning is currently a consultant for healthcare organizations, where she provides guidance relative to executive leadership and labor relations. She is a retired nurse executive from VA Puget Sound Health Care System and a retired Army nurse. After retirement, she started a consultant service with a focus on eliminating health care disparities and homelessness. She also serves as the outreach coordinator for the Mary Mahoney Professional Organization. As one of the leaders in nursing, she plans and design systems to increase the number of nurses of color in nursing. Manning serves on numerous boards and community organizations, where she directs her efforts to improving the lives of underserved people.

Distinguished Advocate, Administrator, Leader
Katie Johnson (WSNA member), Lecturer – Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing. This award recognizes an individual who demonstrates excellence in nursing advocacy, patient advocacy, administration and leadership; serves as a champion for the nursing profession, actively seeks to improve nursing management, administration and goes above and beyond across the nursing practice continuum. Johnson is board certified in both school nursing and advanced practice public health nursing. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the National Academy of School Nurses; a Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellow, and a Johnson & Johnson School Health Fellow. She is one of the architects of a nationally standardized school health data collection program designed to identify the needs of school aged children and the ways in which school nurses meet those needs.

Distinguished Advocate, Administrator, Leader
Lois Schipper (WSNA member), Nurse Supervisor Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, Children and Family Justice Center. This award recognizes an individual who demonstrates excellence in nursing advocacy, patient advocacy, administration and leadership; serves as a champion for the nursing profession. Schipper is currently working as the nursing supervisor for health services at King County Juvenile Detention. She has had a long career as a public health leader and advocate in local, state, national and international settings.

Peter Dyer Heart of Nursing Award
Trudi Inslee, First Lady of Washington state. The award acknowledges an individual or group who embodies the ideals of the UW School of Nursing and whose leadership, dedication, and contributions reflect an ongoing commitment to advance the nursing profession. Over the years Trudi Inslee has worked with local nonprofits that focus on the needs of women and children. As First Lady, Trudi continues to support social service programs and organizations that provide services for women and children who are victims of sexual assault, homelessness, suicide prevention and hunger while also supporting early learning programs and health care for all. She is currently an Ambassador for Washington State Nursing NOW.