We honor those who actively support, promote and collaborate with our nursing staff. The Friend of Nursing Award recipients personify St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s mission to provide intercollaborative care between different disciplinary teams and Nursing.
These individuals demonstrate excellence through their ability to collaborate with nurses and provide compassionate care. They are recognized as outstanding role models in our nursing community.
Nominees can be individuals who are employed by St. Jude, from a respiratory therapist to an Environmental Services employee to a physician. We strive to recognize those who work tirelessly with our nurses to provide the best care for our patients.
2019 Friend of Nursing Honoree
Guillermo Umbria (left), 2019 Friend of Nursing winner, with former Chief Nursing Executive Robin Mutz.
Guillermo Umbria, medical interpreter, goes above and beyond in the outpatient clinics. He visits each morning to assess the daily scheduled patient list to mark patients who may need interpreter service assistance. He works hard to create a bond with each patient family. Guillermo answers every request with a willingness to help and a smile on his face.
Guillermo has a talent for taking stressful patient situations and making them funny. When one of his patients did not want to have a nasal wash done, Guillermo stepped up and had the procedure done himself. This put the patient at ease and the nurse was able to perform the procedure on the patient. Guillermo is a consummate patient advocate who always follows up even after the patient has completed therapy.
2018 Friend of Nursing Honoree
Dana McLure (right), 2018 Friend of Nursing winner, with former Chief Nursing Executive Robin Mutz.
Dana McLure, project manager over quality and safety, collaborates across all nursing departments and the institution to improve outcomes for staff and patients. She has been involved in multiple projects that enhance the Nursing Department at St. Jude, including acuity projects, diversity and inclusion, Magnet, Shared Governance and the Nursing Annual Report.
Dana actively ensures nurses feel their voices are heard no matter where they work, and she does everything in her power to support the profession of nursing and leads by example.