The March of Dimes Massachusetts Chapter honored 17 nurses from a group of 75 statewide finalists at its third annual Nurse of the Year Awards on Oct. 7 at the VERVE-Crowne Plaza Hotel in Natick, Mass.

The Nurse of the Year selection committee reviewed applications and chose winners in 12 categories, according to a news release. Two winners were selected in education:

Anne Sheetz, RN, BSN, MPH, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and Justine Carmody, RN, BSN, MSN, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton.

Other category winners were:

Donna Sherrill, RN, BSN, Winchester Hospital, administration

Paulette Melanson, RN, DNP, MetroWest Medical Center, Framingham, advanced practice

Cheryl Sheils, RN, EdD, Elms College, Chicopee, community and public health

Brian Couchon, RN, AND. Holyoke Medical Center, labor and delivery

Ginny Combs, RN, BSN, IBCLC, UMass Memorial-Worcester, maternal/newborn

Lori Sgueglia, RN, BSN, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, neonatal

Allyssa Harris, RN, PhD, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, nurse researcher

Donna Mullen, RN, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, pediatric family medicine

Anne Dolan, RN, CNM, BSN, MSN, UMass Memorial–Worcester, student nurse

Susan Morrissey, RN, MSN, Cambridge Health Alliance, women’s health

Teresita Murphy, RN, BSN, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, antepartum

Four additional awards were presented. Susanne Meninger, RN, BSN, MS, Tufts Medical Center, received the Heart Award, presented to a nurse who demonstrates a high-level of compassion and dedication in supporting patients and their families. Nannette Landry, RN, CNM, BSN, MSN, Beverly Hospital, was given the Nurse Leader Award, for a nurse who demonstrates leadership in nursing and mentorship achievements.

Terasa (Morris) Giovannucci, RN, MSN, Beverly Hospital earned the Quality Award for a nurse who has successfully initiated projects, or implemented programs and initiatives for the purpose of improving the quality of health services.
The Lifetime Achievement Award for a career of excellence in nursing practice went to Tommie Burton, RN, of Baystate Health.