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Accomplishments Awards • Achievements
Professional Nurses Association of Western New York
We congratulate our 2018 nominees to the Professional Nurses Association Nurse of the Year Awards!
2018 Nurse of Distinction:
Oliva Cox, RN, BSN, CMSRN Charge Nurse 7z4
Olivia started her career here at ECMC in 2011. Her journey took her from Acute Rehab to ICU, to Med-Surg where she currently is a Charge Nurse. She obtained her certi cation for med-surg in 2014, making her one of the rst to do so. She
is currently studying for a doctorate in Gerontology. Not only is Olivia an asset to her patients and co-workers, she gives back to her community as well. Olivia spends her free time mentoring Trocaire nursing students, guiding them on their nursing pathway from admission to completion. She is also a member of Black Nurses Assoc. of WNY, Gamma Kappa of UB, and volunteers her time at an African Heritage Food Co-Op. Olivia is known for leaving a lasting impression on her patients, co-workers and mentees.
2018 Outstanding Staff Nurse:
John Cozzemera, RN CPEP Team Leader
John started his career here
at ECMC ve years ago in CPEP and Inpatient as a Behavioral Health Nurse.
His most current position is Team Leader in CPEP. John has been instrumental working
with multiple disciplines to achieve streamlined documentation to free up more time to take care of patients, creating safer environments for staff and patients, decreasing wait times and expediting patient care. John has amazing relationships with his peers and is often sought out for his guidance. John is a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Assoc., and WNY Professional Nurses Assoc. John has a presence in National Alliance for Mentally Ill family support meetings. He is often making a connection with troubled youth, de-escalating an agitated adult and assisting a medically compromised geriatric patient. John is known to provide comfort to all his patients and their families with compassion and kindness on what might be their worst days.
2018 Nurse of Distinction in Education:
Mary Rhinehart, RN, MS, CCRN-K
Director, Critical Care Education
Mary is currently Director of Critical Care Nursing Education (since 2015). Her journey has taken her from a critical care teamasaRNinaTICUand
Pediatric/Adult Burn unit at Strong Memorial Hospital to a member of the Burn Treatment Center at ECMC. She became a provider and instructor for Advance Burn Life Support, and
a Clinical Donation Specialist at Unyts. Her experience and dedication in education had her taking an educator role at Buffalo General. Mary returned to ECMC with a wealth of knowledge, helping her achieve her goal to become CCRN- K-Certi ed. Mary currently is a program coordinator for the American Heart Association training center at ECMC. She is instrumental in creating policy and procedures in code blue committees, chairing critical care committee, and coordinates critical care nursing continued education and orientation.
She has given back to her community by participating in burn outreach programs aimed to educate volunteer reman and the public, tutoring homeless single moms so they may earn their GEDS, and actively volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club. She currently holds a position on the Board of Directors for the WNY-Chapter of the American Assoc. of Critical Care Nurses.
Please come and celebrate our nominees at the Professional Nurses Association, Nurse of Distinction Award & Nurse of Distinction in Education Award
June 5, 2018 | 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Salvatore’s Italian Gardens | 6461 Transit Rd. Depew
For more information, please visit the website at http://www.wnypna.org
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