URMC Board Honors Three Graduates | UR School of Nursing

Three UR School of Nursing graduates were recently honored with University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) Board Excellence Awards, which recognize the matchless care provided daily by support staff, clinicians, nurses, and physicians to their patients and colleagues around the clock.

“These award winners truly live the ICARE values in everything they do for our patients and co-workers. It is a great honor to recognize them with this award and thank them for their inspiring examples of dedication and service,” said Susan Holliday, URMC Board Chair, at the ceremony honoring the award winners.

The three honorees and excerpts from their award nominations are below.

The Individual Excellence Award for advanced practice providers was presented to:

Lisa Kotyra, ’93N (MS), RN, MSBA, ACNP

“Lisa is the backbone of the advanced heart failure, heart transplant, and artificial heart program, and has extensive knowledge of heart transplant regulatory requirements.  She represents URMC on the New York State Cardiothoracic Transplant Consortium and recently oversaw the successful roll out of the CardioMEMS PA Sensor implant, a new technology used in patients with advanced heart failure.

Lisa also collaborated with the surgical leadership team to successfully continue the cardiac transplant program during a transition period last year, allowing numerous patients on our waiting list to get their heart transplants at Strong Memorial Hospital, rather than having to travel to other cities. In addition, Lisa has been instrumental in recruiting and orienting advanced practice providers in the ICU and other departments, and has also developed internal training regarding advanced heart failure to facilitate their orientation. Along with Lisa’s outstanding achievements, she continues to see patients in the advanced heart failure program with complex medical and social needs.”

Lisa graduated from the UR School of Nursing’s Nurse Practitioner program. 

The Individual Excellence Award for nurses was presented to:

Keri Cockman, ’07N (BS) ’12N (MS), RNC-OB</p>

“When Keri arrived, she faced significant challenges. In a short time, she broke down barriers, lifted staff morale, and gently guided her colleagues to function as an effective team. As a result, the team’s Press Ganey staff engagement scores rose to a Tier 1 level in a single year. In addition, she developed new workflows and simplified processes that reduced lab errors. Keri also led two staff retreats and created a team response drill for a precipitous delivery. Her calm demeanor and excellent teaching and advisory skills make her a role model and a consummate leader. Her insight and willingness to meet the unique needs of URMC patients and staff has made Keri an invaluable member of her team.”

Keri graduated from the Health Care Organization Management and Leadership program in 2012. 

A Robert Joynt Kindness Award was presented to:

Cathy Snider, ’15N (MS), RN

“Cathy is a nurse’s nurse with compassion, love of her job, and work ethic that every nurse, whether clinical staff or nursing leader, should emulate. Cathy models exemplary empathy. She actively listens to patients and their families and follows up to make sure their needs are met. She created a workflow for the weekend nursing staff that facilitated getting patients out of bed, medicated, and ready for therapy in the physical medicine and rehabilitation gym in the morning. The ultimate outcome is that patients are going to therapy more frequently. Cathy truly leads from the heart, with genuine caring evident in her words and actions every day.”

Cathy graduated from the Health Care Organization Management and Leadership program in 2015.