CUIMC Honors Outstanding Nurses at Annual Excellence Awards
This year marks the second annual Division of Nursing Practice Nursing Excellence Awards, held May 8, 2025. Taking place during National Nurses Week, the ceremony celebrated extraordinary nurses and nurse practitioners at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC).
Out of 40 exceptional nominees, six nurses received awards that demonstrated their commitment to excellence every day and dedication to furthering CUIMC’s mission of improving lives through exceptional medical care. Each awardee also receives a $1,000 scholarship for professional development.
Maura Abbott, PhD, associate dean of clinical affairs at Columbia Nursing and co-leader of the Division of Nursing Practice, delivered opening remarks. Lorraine Frazier, PhD, dean at Columbia Nursing, and James McKiernan, MD, interim dean at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, addressed the audience and congratulated the awardees via video.
Rae Vagg, chief operating officer at ColumbiaDoctors, presented the Nurse of the Year award to Raf Aguiar, RN, quality assurance nurse manager in the department of radiology, and Maison Amori Nasser, RN, registered nurse in the Division of Hematology and Oncology.
Suzanne Bakken, PhD, professor of biomedical informatics and Alumni Professor of the School of Nursing, presented the Nurse Practitioner of the Year in Research award to Jennie McAllister, MS, CPNP, DNP, pediatric ventricular assist device nurse practitioner in the Pediatric Advanced Cardiac Care and Transplantation program.
Mary Hickey, EdD, professor, and Mary Moran, MS, clinical nursing instructor, presented the Nurse Practitioner of the Year award to Elena Abascal Asimow, DNP, psychiatric nurse practitioner in yhe Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry;Patty Finnegan, NP, lead nurse practitioner in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology; and Diana McDonnell, NP, nurse practitioner in the Division of Melanoma and Solid Oncology.
“I feel very grateful to have received this award and be surrounded by colleagues who advocate for better standards of care and inspire me to do my best. I chose this field because I was interested in science that has a human touch. Through nursing, I can combine my interest in holistic scientific concepts with practical applications,” awardee Maison Amori Nasser said.
Awardee Diana McDonnell also expressed her gratitude: “I feel honored. I am an alumna who now works at CUIMC. I love working with the other nurses who constantly inspire me. Happy Nurses Week!”
The Division of Nursing Practice is a collaboration among Columbia Nursing, CUIMC, and ColumbiaDoctors, designed to foster nursing careers in service to excellent patient care.
“From the students, to the registered nurses, and nurse practitioners, all along the way, this initiative is creating opportunities. We want to support career growth through scholarships, educational programs, and career resources. It brings us together, gives us a voice, and helps us to support each other,” explains Dean Frazier at the ceremony.
To learn more about the Division of Nursing Practice, visit this page.