On Wednesday, May 6, JPS Health Network hosted its annual Nurse Award Celebration to honor our nurses and their commitment to providing compassionate and high-quality care to our patients. Across the network, JPS’ nursing teams make a positive impact on our patients’ lives, and this celebration highlights those who go above and beyond, lead initiatives, provide a steadying bedside presence, and pursue ongoing education.
JPS recognizes this year as The Year of the Community, and our nursing teams are a vital part of our work to improve health and wellness in our community. Every day, JPS nurses across Tarrant County work to elevate patient care and transform healthcare delivery for the communities we serve.
“You see each patient as someone who has needs, and you respond to them. I cannot thank you enough.”
Cheryl Berry, Interim Chief Nursing Officer of JPS Health Network, opened the ceremony by recognizing the eight JPS nurses recognized as DFW Great 100 Nurses earlier in the year.
With more than 50,000 nurses practicing in the DFW area, this prestigious achievement recognizes those who exemplify nursing excellence.
- Charlotte Powell, Intensive Care Unit
- Daphne Young, Manager, Towers 6 & 7
- Emily Walden, Intensive Care Unit
- James Demarah, Case Manager- Inpatient
- Jodi Primero, Nursing Clinical Services
- Rhonda Collins, Community Health Administration
- Rocky Sonemangkhar, E3 Progressive Care Unit
- Yolanda Contreras-Michelin, Intensive Care Unit
The celebration also honored Gold Stethoscope Award recipients, recognizing select nurses for their exceptional contributions to patient care at JPS. Every year, a committee reviews a list of nominees and bestows this award to 20 JPS nurses, with one being the Nurse of the Year. This year, the committee received 95 nominations, a testament to the quality of the nursing teams across JPS Health Network.
Additionally, awards were presented to the Nurse, Nurse Leader, and Rookie of the Year.
Nurse of the Year: Analy Garcia-Leos, P4 Cardiac Progressive Unit
Beginning her career as a patient care technician, Analy pursued nursing and continues to model lifelong learning by returning to school for her BSN while working full-time. She has served on the Unit‑Based Council for several years and previously chaired the unit engagement committee, leading initiatives that strengthened staff morale and recognition.
Nurse Leader of the Year: Dr. Cherie Hall, Director of Clinical Education
Through oversight of the Nurse Residency Program and continuing education initiatives, Cherie ensures that learning opportunities are evidence-based, compliant with regulatory requirements and grounded in real-world clinical practice. Her mentorship strengthens practice standards, supports transition‑to‑practice success, and directly contributes to improved patient outcomes.
Rookie of the Year: Tiffany Harrison, RN, P4 Cardiac Progressive Care
Tiffany currently serves as a preceptor on the unit, helping to train and support new staff, and she is actively pursuing her BSN and continues to engage in meaningful learning beyond formal education. She completed and presented a case study on Septic Shock and an evidence‑based project focused on improving Door‑to‑Needle time for tenecteplase, both of which enhanced staff knowledge and positively impacted patient care. She also serves as a Geriatric Resource Nurse.
2026 Gold Stethoscope Award Recipients
- Alicia Harrington, Clinical Education (not pictured)
- Analy Garcia-Leos, P4 Cardiac Progressive Unit
- Bam Leach-Wongsaprome, True Worth Clinic (not pictured)
- Briana (Kat) Woodruff, Trauma Services
- Bridget Fisk-Gauld, Nursing Clinical Outcomes
- Catherine (Cathy) Smiley, Med Specialty Clinic
- Christina Duty, 2 South Women’s
- Claudia Salinas, T3 Integrated Specialty Unit
- Cody Earnest, P4 Cardiac Progressive Unit
- David Hernandez, Intensive Care Unit
- Edelina Bacani, T2 Cardiac Medical Unit
- Emily Walden, Intensive Care Unit (not pictured)
- Jennifer Belz, Endoscopy Unit JSCA
- Jennifer Gomez, Admissions Holding Unit
- Jibril Rodriguez, Intensive Care Unit
- Kenneth (Tyler) King, Operating Room
- Melody Bolo, Operating Room
- Michelle DeRoche, Intensive Care Unit
- Stephanie Zollinger, Community Health Administration
- Whitley O’Brien, P4 Cardiac Progressive Unit
Dr. Karen Duncan, President and CEO of JPS Health Network, proudly congratulated all awardees. “I always think of nursing as being the fuel behind the organization,” she said.
“You see each patient as someone who has needs, and you respond to them. I cannot thank you enough.”
Celebrating these incredible caregivers and all nurses reminds of the heart behind JPS Health Network. The collective selflessness and passion of our nurses help all of JPS work to transform how we deliver healthcare to the communities we serve.
As Interim CNO Cheryl Berry said, “The care you provide, the decisions you make, and the compassion you show define the experience of every patient who comes through our doors.”