Each year the neonatal team nominates and then votes on individuals for the Neonatology and Newborn Medicine Excellence Award. The Neonatology and Newborn Medicine Excellence Award goes to an individual who promotes the optimal care of newborns by advancing and supporting education, research, quality improvement, and overall clinical care.
This individual promotes multidisciplinary teamwork amongst all providers, nurses, staff, neonatal patients, and their families and is seen as a leader by others while working in a collaborative effort to promote excellence in patient care.
We love our multidisciplinary team and are grateful for all that they do for our neonatal patients and team!
2025 Neonatology Excellence Award Winner: Julie Rice, RN
The Division of Neonatology and Newborn Nursery congratulates the winner of the 2025 Neonatology and Newborn Medicine Excellence Award, Julie Rice, RN, charge RN at the UPH-Meriter NICU. Julie has a wealth of experience and is a strong leader, incredibly compassionate, and well-loved amongst all who have the honor of working with her in the NICU. Her work doesn’t end with the clinical care of her patients and leadership in the NICU — she has taught hundreds of trainees (nursing students, NICU fellows, NNP students, pediatric residents, medical students, and more) how to best support babies during neonatal resuscitation and care for them on a daily basis. Her dedication to our patients and their families is unwavering and greatly appreciated.
Nominees
We would like to congratulate the full slate of nominees for the 2025 Neonatology Excellence Award, which included the following NICU supporters:
- Michael Carmi, medical program assistant, Division of Neonatology and Newborn Nursery
- Megan Christensen, clinical nurse specialist, UPH-Meriter NICU
- Ann Ebert, NICU pharmacist, UPH-Meriter NICU
- Angela Gangstad, senior medical program assistant, Division of Neonatology and Newborn Nursery
- Sally Norlin, clinical dietician and nutritionist, UPH-Meriter NICU
Past Award Winners
2024
2023
2022
