Six Nursing Professionals Honored for Excellence
'Pillars of Nursing' Celebrates Excellence in Patient Care and Leadership
Six nurses from Albany Medical Center were honored during Nurses Week for excellence in patient care and leadership. Our organization’s highest honor for nursing, the Pillars of Nursing Excellence Award is based on nominations submitted by fellow staff members. This year, the winners were chosen by the Nurse Recognition Committee from more than 50 nominations.
2025 Pillars of Nursing Honorees
- Frances Cavanaugh, DNP, ACNP-BC, CCRN, Critical Care and Cardiac Services
- Joanah Dimaano-Montojo, RN, MBA, MN, ACHM, Gastroenterology, Post-Surgical Services
- Georgeann Greene, BSN, RNC, NICU
- Jaime Kepner, LPN, Vascular
- Timothy Nevinger, PCNP, CPN, Department of Pediatrics
- Evelyn Pedralvez, RNC-MNN, MSN, Women and Children’s Services
At a ceremony held on May 12, the final day of Nurses Week, the winners were formally recognized and heard their nominations read for the first time.
The nomination for Frances Cavanaugh, DNP, ACNP-BC, CCRN, was submitted by colleague Lindsey McNiff, RN, who said, “Fran Cavanaugh is the true embodiment of exceptional nursing care and commitment to the advancement of this profession. Over the past year, her work at Albany Med has been nothing short of extraordinary, including the honor of obtaining the 2024 DNV Advanced Heart Failure Certification. Fran's commitment to equitable care, high standards of accountability, and respect for both patients and fellow colleagues make her a true example of the values we uphold at Albany Med.”
After accepting the award, Cavanaugh said, “When I started my nursing career, there was a recruitment campaign at the time with the slogan, ‘Nurses Change Lives.’ That resonated with me, and it’s what I wanted to achieve from the start. I still have the bumper sticker with that slogan on the wall in my office.”
Newborn Nursery Director Caitrin Navarro, MD, who nominated Evelyn Pedralvez, RNC-MNN, MSN, said, “Evelyn leads with skill, compassion, and a sense of humor. She is always working. Not only does she attend administrative meetings throughout the day, working on staffing, patient bed assignments, new policies and procedures for mothers and newborns, she is actively taking care of patients. Evelyn's skills are incredibly impressive.”
Pedralvez said, “It is my commitment to continue to uphold the highest standards of nursing practice, to continue to lead with integrity and passion.”
The ceremony also included remarks from members of leadership, including Executive Vice President and Hospital General Director Jason Mouzakes, MD, who noted that the winners had more than a century of combined service as Albany Medical Center nurses.
“They represent what it means to be a nurse,” Dr. Mouzakes said. “They are caregivers, advocates, and some of the best that Albany Med has to offer. Together, their experience totals 128 years of service at Albany Med. That’s 128 years of dedication, unwavering compassion, and expert care to the members of our community who look to us in their times of greatest need. That’s also 128 years of support and mentorship to their colleagues. Our nurses are at the heart of everything we do here.”
The Albany Med Health System has more than 4,000 dedicated nursing professionals across the organization. Be part of something great and discover opportunities in nursing and other clinical and non-clinical roles at albanymed.org/careers.
