Saint Louis University Nurses Named 2022 Excellence in Nursing Honorees

St. Louis Magazine has named six nurses from Saint Louis University’s Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing and SLUCare physician practice as honorees for the 2022 Excellence in Nursing Awards. St. Louis Magazine will recognize the winners at a virtual awards ceremony on Thursday, April 14.

Nursing faculty at SLU are nationally recognized for their teaching expertise, nursing leadership, scholarly research and student mentorship. Faculty members from SLU's School of Nursing have won numerous prestigious awards, honors and fellowships including regular honors from the March of Dimes and Excellence in Nursing Awards.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has altered our everyday lives and challenged the medical community in profound ways, SLU nurses have exhibited selfless care, compassion and service.

“They have demonstrated commitment to promoting health and well-being even though they have also been affected by the pandemic,” said Danny Willis, DNS, dean and professor at SLU’s School of Nursing. “They have demonstrated compassion and humanistic care as people have sought help, struggled with suffering, and moved through the upheaval and disruption. Being available to help whenever and wherever needed is truly admirable!”

Now more than ever, we applaud their efforts. The 2022 Excellence in Nursing honorees are:

Advanced Practice Category

• Matthew Buhr, a SLUCare geriatric nurse practitioner at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, is nominated in the Advanced Practice category. Buhr's colleagues note his commitment to seniors. He is recognized for consistently going above and beyond, always thinking of ways to improve, and for being an advocate for his patients and geriatric medicine.

Educator Category

• Kathleen Armstrong, Ph.D., assistant professor of nursing at SLU, is nominated in the Educator category. Armstrong has worked at the University for over 33 years and taught for SLU's School of Nursing for 15 years. Armstrong is active in the community. She is a recipient of the inaugural Deborah S. Manne Oncology Nursing Research Fund. She is a member of the Missouri Nurses Association, Midwest Nursing Research Society, Oncology Nursing Society, and Delta Lambda Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International.

Emerging Leader Category

• Devita Stallings, Ph.D., RN to BSN program coordinator and associate professor of nursing at SLU, is nominated in the Emerging Leader category. Stallings' research interests include self-management of cardiovascular diseases in African Americans. Stallings is a past St. Louis Magazine Excellence in Nursing Award honoree in the Educator category. She is a recognized leader in cardiovascular diseases and serves on several of the American Heart Association's committees, including board member for the St. Louis area, and an invited member of the Emergency Cardiovascular Care's Science subcommittee. Stallings is vice-president of Delta Lambda Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International and she recently completed a four-year elected term on Sigma's Leadership Succession Committee. 

Medical-Surgical Nursing Category

• Amanda Fitzpatrick, adjunct faculty of nursing at SLU, is nominated in the Medical-Surgical Nursing category. Fitzpatrick also serves as nursing manager over SLU Hospital’s Acute Care for the Elderly Unit. Colleagues report that she is passionate about nursing, from educating and leading the next generation to her work as an RN at the bedside when needed. 

Research Category

• Verna Hendricks-Ferguson, Ph.D., the Irene Riddle Endowed Chair and professor of nursing at SLU, is nominated in the Research category. Hendricks-Ferguson is an American Academy of Nursing Fellow, the highest professional recognition in nursing. She is a recipient of numerous awards, including the March of Dimes 2019 Nurse Legend Award.
• Vicki Moran, Ph.D., assistant professor of nursing at SLU and trauma research coordinator for SSM Health SLU Hospital, is also nominated in the Research category. Moran has taught at the University since 2009 and has been affiliated with the hospital for 30 years. Her certifications include Certificated Nurse Educator, Certified Diabetes Educator, Advanced Public Health Nursing, and Trauma Nurse Specialist. Moran is a recipient of the March of Dimes 2019 Nurse Educator of the Year Award.

Read more about past recipients from 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016.

View Full List of Nominees

The winners will be announced during St. Louis Magazine’s 13th annual Excellence in Nursing Virtual Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 14, and winning nurses are profiled in the magazine’s May issue.

About Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing

Founded in 1928, the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing at Saint Louis University has achieved a national reputation for its innovative and pioneering programs. Offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral nursing programs, its faculty members are nationally recognized for their teaching, research and clinical expertise.