CELEBRATING NURSES AND MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH PROVIDERS

Root, Daria
[email protected] | (314) 513-9996
[email protected] Root, Daria

An evening of culinary excellence
Missouri and Metro-East Heroes in Action

DATE: Saturday, November 15, 2025  |  TIME: 6 p.m.
LOCATION: Orlando's Event Center
ADDRESS: 4300 Hoffmeister Ave, St. Louis, MO 63125
 

**Dress Code for our event is Semi-Formal to Formal**

event description image

Event description

The chefs, volunteers and guests who make up our Signature Chefs Events community are coming together in new, innovative ways to suport moms and babies this year.

We are following state mandated guidelines in response to COVID-19 and will not have an in-person event this year. So, we are preparing an exciting, new Virtual Gala for your 2020 March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction experience!

We need your help now more than ever. Your support funds:

  • COVID-19 interventions and support for moms and babies
  • Programs that promote health equity for moms and babies and directly combat racial disparities in maternal and child health
  • Free virtual NICU support program for families
  • Virtual prenatal programs for moms-to-be
  • Educational programs, including live Facebook panel discussions, to get info into the hands of moms and families
  • Necessary supplies for expectant mothers including blood pressure cuffs and masks and so much more!

Support the mission

Every year, 15 million babies are born prematurely worldwide, and 1 million will die before their first birthday. Your gift helps the March of Dimes fund research, education, advocacy and programs that help more moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.

Become a sponsor

Every year, 15 million babies are born prematurely worldwide, and 1 million will die before their first birthday. Your gift helps the March of Dimes fund research, education, advocacy and programs that help more moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.

Local Contact Person, Region
[email protected] | Phone #
Contact Us

DIGITAL EVENT PROGRAM

Access our Digital Event Program HERE!

BECOME A SPONSOR

The March of Dimes celebrates nursing in the most meaningful way, through partnerships with hospitals, health care facilities, organizations, vendors and individuals. Sponsorship opportunities are available at a variety of levels for our Nurse of the Year event, providing integration and civic engagement while playing tribute to nurses. We look forward to discussing your partnership with the March of Dimes.

2024 HEROES IN ACTION FINALISTS

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR AMAZING FINALISTS! We can't wait to celebrate these individuals at our event.
ADVANCED PRACTICE
Alex Shero- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Amy Signore- HSHS St. Elizabeth's Hospital
Kira Geile- Saint Louis Children's Hospital
Leah Baecht- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Megan Moseley-  Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Michelle Bloom- BJC Healthcare
Monica Butler- Barnes Jewish St. Peters Hospital
Patricia Wilkinson- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Rachel Smigelski-Theiss  - BJC Healthcare
Taryn Sandheinrich- Saint Louis Children's Hospital
CASE/CARE MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH, OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
Amanda Hagen- SSM - Saint Joseph Health Center
Donna Heath- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Gregory Voelkel- Barnes Jewish St Peters Hospital
Karla Werdehausen- Home State Health
Kim Fanter- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Melissa Korenblat Hanin- Saint Louis Children's Hospital
Myjal Garner- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Patty Thomas- Home State Health
Rachel Johnson- HSHS St. Elizabeth's Hospital
Veronica Murray- BJC Healthcare
CHARGE NURSE AND FRONTLINE SUPERVISOR
Beth Wiethop- Mercy Hospital - St. Louis
Caitlin Kassebaum- Saint Louis Children's Hospital
Paige Kelly- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Elizabeth Huebner- Saint Louis Children's Hospital
Gracie Brown-Shanks- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Elise Herries- Saint Louis Children's Hospital
Maricon Manlapas- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Monica Hughey- Saint Louis Children's Hospital
Dana Fraysher- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Victoria Unser- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
CRITICAL CARE – ADULT
April Hodel- BJC Healthcare
Brandon Copley - Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Jayme Jones- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Jennifer Gaytan- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
jennifer Gregg- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Kirstin McCarty- SSM - Saint Clare Health Center
Kristen Vogt- SSM- Saint Clare Health Center
Ramonda George- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Rob Jetton- Mercy Hospital - St. Louis
Teresa Hammann- Washington University - Saint Louis
CRITICAL CARE – PEDIATRICS
Alisha Larson- Mercy Hospital - St. Louis
Kathleen Little- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Kathryn O'Brien- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Mary Fujarski- Saint Louis Children's Hospital
Mary Grace Dunham- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Meagan Bosch- Mercy Hospital - St. Louis
Nick Fogle- Mercy Hospital - St. Louis
Paige Steiner- University of Missouri - Columbia
Rachael Dreher- Mercy Hospital - St. Louis
Susan Verdin- Mercy Hospital - St. Louis
EDUCATION
Amy Allen- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Amy Reed- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Denise Cote-Arsenault- Saint Louis University School of Nursing
Kimberly Siemons- Mercy Hospital - St. Louis
Kristin Keller- Saint Louis University School of Nursing
Nicki Harriman- Mercy Hospital - Washington
Nivedita Rao- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Sarah Grotha- Mercy Hospital South
Stephanie Banaszynski- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Stephanie Franks- St. Louis Community College
EMERGENCY CARE AND TRAUMA SERVICES
Abby Lunneen- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Amanda Meyer- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Austin DesJardin- Saint Louis University School of Nursing
Breanna Majzel- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Megan White- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Nicole Downs- Barnes Jewish St Peters Hospital
Ryan Gross- Mercy Hospital South
Tiffany Taylor- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
GENERAL MEDICAL ADULT
Alicia Versluys- BJC Healthcare
Catherine Sides- Mercy Hospital - Jefferson
Cynthia Meyer- Mercy Hospital - Joplin
Damir Chakalov- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Hetal Patel- BJC Healthcare
Huluager Feleke- Missouri Baptist Medical Center
Jennifer Merioles- Mercy Hospital - St. Louis
Kathryn Wagner- SSM - Saint Joseph Health Center
Laura Obrien- Mercy Hospital South
Mary Brandt- Mercy Hospital - St. Louis
HEALTHCARE AND SUPPORT PARTNERS
Cassidy Merano - Saint Louis Children's Hospital
Cyndi Luttrell- Saint Louis Children's Hospital
Debbie Taylor- Saint Louis Children's Hospital
INFECTION CONTROL AND QUALITY/RISK MANAGEMENT
Jessica Bangert – SSM – Saint Joseph Health Center
MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Christina Moran- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Denelle Cordia- Mercy Hospital South
Kristin Wilmes- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Lakia Black- SSM - Saint Joseph Health Center
Sally Frese- Saint Louis University Hospital
Sarah Torres- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
NURSING ADMINISTRATION
Christina Shoaf- BJC Healthcare
Elizabeth Clukey- Missouri Baptist Medical Center
James Reineke- SSM - Saint Joseph Health Center
Jordan Conley- Mercy Hospital - St. Louis
Jordan Cooper- St. Louis Community College
Melissa Miller- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Michelle Papachrisanthou- Saint Louis University School of Nursing
Sarah Cooley- Washington University - Saint Louis
Steven Morris- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Theresa Rardin- University of Missouri -Health Care
PEDIATRICS – GENERAL CARE
Amanda Fickbohm- Saint Louis Children's Hospital
Amy Kief- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Hannah Foiles- Saint Louis Children's Hospital
Jeff Kuhlmann- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Lexi Krueger- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Lori Winkler- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Mackenzie Byrkit- Saint Louis Children's Hospital
Melissa Jackson- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Olivia Lawrence- University of Missouri -Health Care
Sari Sant- Saint Louis Children's Hospital
RISING STAR
Baileigh Scott- Saint Louis Children's Hospital
Bennett Pysz- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Calista Lebrell- Mercy
Catherine May- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Danielle Werle- Mercy Hospital South
Elizabeth Andrews- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Jared Mullen- Mercy Hospital - Washington
Miranda O’Hara- SSM - Saint Clare Health Center
Natalee 'Jo' Skelton- Barnes Jewish St Peters Hospital
Sofia Evjen- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
STUDENT NURSE
Brandon Cirillo- Mercy Hospital - St. Louis
Jennifer Chae- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Katrina Curtis- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Robyn Zelinski- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
SURGICAL SERVICES
Amanda DeClue- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Erin Herrerra- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Hasima Hajdini- Saint Louis Children's Hospital
James (Wes) Sites- Mercy Hospital - Washington
Josephine Schilser- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Marissa Etwaroo- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Shannon Whitney- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Shauna  Hill- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Tiffany Wilder- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
WOMEN’S HEALTH AND OBSTETRICS
Alissa Gianino- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Ashley Wittler- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Heather Hanratty- Mercy Hospital - Washington
Janie Mullinnax- Progress West Hospital
Jody Bakameyer- Mercy Hospital - Washington
Karen Anderson - University of Missouri -Health Care
Katie Francis- SSM - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Kylene Jackson- Home State Health
Megan Wagner- Mercy Hospital South
Nancy Dennis- Mercy Hospital - Jefferson
 

SUPPORT WITH A TRIBUTE IN OUR PROGRAM!

Honor a nurse or group of Nurses through a Tribute Gift in our program

Whether serving as health care provider, educator, researcher, chapter volunteer and/or advisor – nurses play a critical role in advancing the mission of the March of Dimes:  leading the fight for the health of all moms and babies. March of Dimes Heroes in Action Awards supports this mission, while also paying tribute to exceptional nurses throughout the community. Honor a nurse, or group of nurses, through a TRIBUTE GIFT.

Want to support with a Tribute Gift featured in our 2023 Program? Contact Daria Root at [email protected] 

EVENT LEADERSHIP

Thanks to the leadership of our volunteer chairs and committee members, we are honored to present Nurse of the Year events. After months of hard work, these volunteers have taken the event to new heights, honoring more nurses than ever before. The March of Dimes and the families we support are grateful for the generosity and effort of the team that made this event possible.

EVENT CHAIR

Thank you to the leadership of our 2024 Event Chair, Kimberly Danchus from BJC Healthcare.  We are looking forward to another incredible year, thanks to Kim's leadership!

Our Sponsors

Our Sponsor

View our updated event acknowledgements and waivers here.