Emergency Department Assistant Nurse Manager Named Employee of the Year

Briana Caban, an assistant nurse manager in the Emergency Department, was named Albany Medical Center’s 2022 Employee of the Year on Monday. Briana was selected for the honor out of nearly 200 nominations submitted by staff members.

Briana recently celebrated 10 years at Albany Med. In the last decade, she has held various roles, starting as an administrative support associate in Patient Access, moving to a patient care tech, then becoming a registered nurse before ultimately being promoted to assistant nurse manager in the ED.

As a nurse leader in the ED, Briana works closely with physicians, nurses, techs, and other staff members, and is also at the bedside of some of our most critical patients. She has been referred to as “an incredible anchor, holding everything and everyone together.” As the only academic medical center and Level 1 trauma center in the region, more people turn to our ED than any other. Nearly 80,000 patients arrived at our doors in 2022—6,000 more than last year.

Albany Med Health System President and CEO Dennis P. McKenna, MD, said, “Over the past few years, our health care workers have defined perseverance and strength for their colleagues and our community. And like every Emergency Department, ours has been tested by an unprecedented influx of patients seeking our help. Briana is the epitome of what an emergency department caregiver should be. She goes the extra mile to care for our patients, while consistently maintaining a high level of concern for the well-being of her colleagues.”

Briana received more than a dozen nominations for Employee of the Year from colleagues in various roles who touted her character, skill, and leadership.

According to one colleague, “She is a hard worker, dedicated to making sure all staff and patients are taken care of. No matter how chaotic and inundated the department is, Briana remains calm and focused, and is successful at managing multiple needs and issues with confidence and grace. When Briana says, ‘I'll take care of it,’ you know she means it.”

Another colleague added, “Briana is the type of person who makes things happen. She wins hearts and minds, and makes an enormous difference each day—quietly, but surely. Briana is simply the best of the best.”

Briana was surprised with the honor during a leadership meeting on Monday.

“The ED is an incredibly challenging place to work, but I love every second of it,” Briana said after she accepted her award. “All of supervision and leadership, and all my colleagues in the ED, thank you so much. This is a huge honor.”

Staff nominate colleagues for Employee of the Year based on the qualities of the Albany Med CARES program, which emphasizes our organization’s culture of compassion, accountability, respect, and engagement.