The Flame Award for Unit Excellence recognizes GI/Endoscopy Units who have shown a commitment to infection prevention, a supportive and educational work environment and positive patient outcomes. This award provides a roadmap for what is considered an exceptional work environment in a GI/Endoscopy nursing unit. Recipients of the Flame Award will be sent a framed document for display, recognition in SGNA's email newsletter, and mention at the SGNA Annual Course.
Outstanding Regional Society Award
Applications now closed.
For full criteria and an application, click here.
2023 Outstanding Regional Society Recipient: Region #55 -- North Texas
This year’s winner is Region 55 – North Texas – for their many contributions to their local members, national SGNA and their local communities. . We thank you all for your commitment to the safe and effective practice of GI and endoscopy nursing.
Sponsored by: Erbe USA, Inc.

For full criteria and a nomination form, click here.
Our 2023 Distinguished Service Award Winner is Catherine M. Bauer, MSN RNBS MBA CGRN CFER
The 2023 SGNA Annual Course Distinguished Service Award acknowledges an SGNA member who has demonstrated service and leadership to the organization.
Cathy Bauer been a nurse for greater than 36 years, 29 of which have been in Endoscopy. She has been involved in various leadership roles at the regional level including president and treasurer. She's served nationally several committees and as a national SGNA board member, treasurer and 2018 SGNA President. Cathy has been an item writer for certification exams for ABCGN and HSPA, and participated in multiple SGNA task forces and workshops.
Cathy consistently exhibits the highest professional standards in caring for her patients and interacting with her colleagues. Thank you Cathy for your dedication to GI!
2023 – Jean Stoa BSN, RN
2020 – Cathleen Shellnutt, DNP APRN AGCNS-BC CGRN
2019 – Conrad C. Worrell, RN CGRN CSN
2018 – Christine (Chris) Sarisley, MS APRN ACNS-BC CGRN
2017 – James (Jim) Collins, BS RN CNOR
2016 – Lisa Heard, MSN RN CGRN
2015 – Leslie E. Stewart, BA RN CGRN
2014 – Peggy Gauthier, MS BSN RN CGRN
2013 – Marilyn Schaffner, PhD RN NEA-BC CGRN
2012 – Theresa Vos, MS BSN RN CGRN
2011 – Susan Nuccio, RN MSN APRN BC CGRN
2010 – Norah Connelly, RN CGRN
2009 – MaryAnne Malone, RN CGRN
2008 –Nancy R. DeNiro, RN CGRN
2007 – Kathy A. Baker, PhD RN ACNS-BC CGRN
2006 – Jeanine Penberthy, MSN RN CGRN
2005 –Karen Laing, MA RN CGRN
2004 – Ann Hayes, BSN RN CGRN
2003 – Nancy Schlossberg, BA BSN RN CGRN
2002 –Nancy Shoop, BSN RN CGRN
2001 –Marcia Gruber, MSN RN CGRN
1999 – Helen P. Rosenthal, RN
1998 –Agnes Gaber, MSN RN ANP
1997 – Patricia Holland, BSN RN CGRN
1996 –Doris Barnie, MSN RN CGRN
1995 – Jean Ann Kidwell, MSN CGRN
1994 –Lorna Andrews, RN CGRN
1993 – Nancy Evans, BSN RN
1992 – Patricia Pethigal, BSN CGRN
Gabriele Schindler Award: This award recognizes the individual who demonstrates excellence in gastroenterology clinical practice and who exemplifies the skill, knowledge and compassion of Gabriele Schindler, an early pioneer of GI patient care. SGNA presents this prestigious award annually to the member who best represents Schindler’s spirit of compassion, commitment, professionalism and caring.
Our 2023 Gabriele Schindler Clinical Excellence Award Winner is Karin Cierzan, RN CGRN CRNI
Karin has been in the nursing profession for over 38 years, starting as an LPN for 5 years after graduating from an accelerated nursing program in 1989. Her previous work experience included Transitional Care, Telemetry and Cardiac and Medical Intensive Care. She had the opportunity to join a new venture in 1999, a doctor owned, outpatient, gastroenterology focused, endoscopy center. Obtaining her CGRN in 2012 launched the start of my volunteering regionally. She then moved on to serve on SGNA's National Board of Directors and am currently the President of ABCGN.
Congratualtions Karin!
2023 Excellence in Clinical Practice Recipient: Simon R. Knowles, PhD
Knowles, S.R.,
Apputhurai, P., Burgell, R.E., & Keefer, L. (2022). Development and validation of the Gastrointestinal Unhelpful Thinking Scale (GUTs): A brief self-report measure for clinical and research settings. Gastroenterology Nursing. 45(1), E1-E12.
Sponsored by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins - WKH
2023 Novice Writers Award Recipient:
Veronica Kelly, MSN, RN, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Gastroenterology
Kelly, V., &
Baar-Daley, K.M. (2022). Improving clinical documentation compliance pre-gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures through the use of an endoscopy checklist. Gastroenterology Nursing. 45(5):328-334.
Sponsored by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins - WKH
2021 - Catherine Bauer, MSN MBA CGRN CFER
2020 - Betty L. McGinty, MS HSA BS RN CGRN
2019 - Rebecca A. Chandler, BSN RN CGRN
2018 - Midolie Loyola, MSN RN CGRN
2017 - Janet Hannah, RN CGRN
2016 - Kimberly Q. Foley, BSN RN CGRN
2015 - Nancy Schlossberg, BA BSN RN CGRN
2014 – Patricia Trolli, BSN RN CGRN
2013 – Michelle Day, MSN RN CGRN
2012 – Barbara Zuccala, MSN RN CGRN
2011 – Jane Harker, MS BSN RN CGRN
2010 – Kimberly Venturella, RN CGRN
2009 – Fay Massullo, RN CGRN
2008 – Patricia Moushey, RN CGRN
2007 – Rosemary Ashby, MSN RN CGRN
2006 – Cathy Bolton, RN CGRN
2005 – Patricia Maher, RN CGRN
2004 – Sherrie Andrew, RN CGRN
2003 – Juliesette Hatulan, BSN BSBA RN CGRN
2002 – Paula Gremillion, BS BSN RN CGRN
2001 – Lindsay Sattler, BA RN CGRN
2000 – Kathleen Maher, BSN RN CGRN
1999 – Margaret M. Lehman, RN CGRN
1998 – Mary E. Young, LPN
1997 – Linda Holmes, BSN RN CGRN
1996 – Walter Cwalina, RN CGRN
1995 – Gail B. DeCosta, RN CGRN
1994 – Norah Connelly, RN CGRN; Marcia Hardick, BSN RN CGRN
1993 – Marilyn Schaffner, PhD RN CGRN
1992 – Marge Beck, RN
1991 – Bettie Jean Howard, RN CGRN
1990 – Margaret Gill, BSN CGRN
1989 – Nancy Shields-Kolb, MSN RN 1988 – Constance Cooper, MS RN 1987 – Loretta Simonsen, RN; Doris Barnie, MSN RN CGRN 1986 – Marna L. Schirmer, RN 1985 – Lynne Gilbert, MS RN CGRN
2020 Excellence in Clinical Practice Recipient: Rachel Wundke, MNsg, RN, Hepatology and Liver Transplant Medicine Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia.
Sponsored by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins - WKH
2020 Novice Writer's Recipient: Christina Manyang, BSN, RN, is Hospital Registered Nurse, Department of Nursing, Division of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
Sponsored by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins - WKH
Outstanding Regional Society Award
The 2019 Outstanding Regional Society is: Region #62--Old Dominion.
Sponsored by Erbe USA Inc.
Outstanding Regional Society Award
The 2019 Outstanding Regional Society is: Region #62--Old Dominion.
Sponsored by Erbe USA Inc.