Nidia Montalvo, LPN, center, received the 2025 Griffin Health Outstanding Nurse of the Year Award at Griffin’s 37th Annual Nurses Week Celebration from Griffin Health President and CEO Patrick Charmel and Griffin Health Vice President Patient Care Services and CNO Kelly Egan, MSN, RN.
Nurses from New Haven, Newtown, Oxford, Shelton, Southbury and Waterbury honored with awards
Griffin Hospital recently held its 37th Annual Nurses Week Celebration to honor its more than 480 staff nurses. The Nursing Department staff members were treated to refreshments, gifts, raffles and award presentations to nurses who provided exceptional care during the year.
“The past few years have tested our strength, but they’ve also revealed our power,” said Griffin Health Vice President Patient Care Services and CNO Kelly Egan MSN, RN. “Not just as individuals, but as a collective. It’s shown in the way we support each other through long shifts, in how we collaborate across departments to solve challenges, and in how we celebrate the victories – big or small – while lifting each other through the difficult moments. Through it all, it has been my honor to walk this journey with you.”
Nidia Montalvo, of Shelton, an LPN on the Griffin Hospital 2 North A Inpatient Unit, received the 2025 Outstanding Nurse of the Year Award.
A caregiver at Griffin since 2021, Montalvo exemplifies the Planetree patient-centered care philosophy through her consistently positive attitude, empathy, meticulous attention to detail and effortless collaboration with multidisciplinary care teams.
“Nidia shows an understanding towards others. She is often sitting at her patient’s bedside actively listening to their stories and providing support,” the nomination for Montalvo stated. “She is known to make her patients feel valued and special. Nidia takes the time to identify her patient’s special needs and requests, and she always finds a way to make them a reality. This was evident recently when Nidia cooked a patient’s favorite food at the hospital to help the patient improve their well-being and continue their healing journey.”
In addition, Jude Aquila, MST, of New Haven, received The Donald Torok Scholarship Award; Jane Evering, RN, of Waterbury, received The Mary Schumacher Leadership Award; Crystal Wood, RN, of Southbury, received The Mary Nelligan Continuing Education Award; Mackenzie Hebert, RN, of Oxford, CT, received The Marie Santini Perioperative Nursing Excellence Award; and Stephanie Murphy, RN, of Shelton, and Sean Remson, RN, of Newtown, received The Shirley Yale Continuing Education Award.
Griffin Health Multi-Skilled Technician Jude Aquila, center, received the Donald Torok Memorial Scholarship Award at Griffin’s 37th Annual Nurses Week Celebration from award presenter Linda Torok and Griffin Health Nurse Michael Montefusco, RN.
Griffin Health Nurse Jane Evering, RN, center, received the Mary Schumacher Nursing Leadership Award at Griffin’s 37th Annual Nurses Week Celebration from Clinical Director of Inpatient Services Chuck York and Griffin Hospital Emergency Department Director Lindsay Slaybaugh.
Griffin Health Nurse Mackenzie Hebert, RN, center, poses with fellow Griffin nurses Jessica Schepp, RN, left, and Denise Lauer, RN, after receiving the Marie Santini Perioperative Nursing Excellence Award at Griffin’s 37th Annual Nurses Week Celebration.
Griffin Health Nurses Stephanie Murphy, RN, left, and Sean Remson, RN, received the Shirley Yale Nursing Scholarship Award at Griffin’s 37th Annual Nurses Week Celebration from Griffin Hospital Nursing Professional Development Specialist Michele Derbyshire MSN, RN.
Griffin Health Nurse Crystal Wood, RN, left, received the Mary Nelligan Continuing Education Award at Griffin’s 37th Annual Nurses Week Celebration from Griffin Health Director of Patient Safety & Care Improvement Ann Marie Evans, MSN, RN.