Published December 5, 2025
There was excitement in the air on Saturday, Nov. 8, as the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing hosted the 26th Cameos of Caring Awards Gala.
This annual recognition event honors outstanding nursing professionals from health care facilities and schools of nursing throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland and as far as Italy.
The honorees came from a variety of practice settings including areas such as critical care, pediatrics, oncology, anesthesia, case management, education and research. Regardless of their practice area, the 82 award recipients recognized in 2025 are extraordinary examples of the power of a nurse.
Their accomplishments touch multiple areas within the health care arena. One award recipient oversees the Surgical Services, Pharmacy, Imaging and Laboratory service lines across 42 hospitals. Another award recipient was integral in opening a new community hospital, while a third has served on medical missions in Nicaragua, Guatemala and Colombia.
Pitt Nursing alumni award recipients included:
Sheila Alexander, PhD ’04, BSN ’89
Ariana Bower, BSN ’06
Ashley Heater, BSN ’17
Karen Lukitsch Ferguson, MSN ’94
Tamra E. Minnier, MSN ’85, BSN ’84, AS ’81
Michelle Paskevicius, BSN ’07
Margaret Rosenzweig, PhD ’01, MSN ’86
Lindsay Blinky Stiers, MSN ’16, BSN ’09
Melanie Turk, PhD ’08, MSN ’08
To learn more about the program, visit Cameos of Caring® Award Gala.