August 08, 2024

Meet the Independence Blue Cross 2024 Celebrate Caring winners

By Independence Blue Cross

Limited - IBX - Celebrate Caring Winners 2024

Provided Courtesy/Independence Blue Cross

This year's Celebrate Caring winners are, from left to right, Jasmine Hudson, Francis Doran, and Allison Denman.

Nurses are the healers, heroes, and heart of health care. Their compassion and dedication strengthen communities and make an extraordinary difference in all the lives they touch.

For the sixth consecutive year, Independence Blue Cross (IBX) is proud to spotlight exceptional nurses through our Celebrate Caring campaign. We are honoring three remarkable winners, chosen from hundreds of heartfelt nominations, who have gone above and beyond for their patients, families, and communities. We celebrate their selfless contributions and extend our deepest gratitude for their service.

Congratulations to this year’s winners!

Allison Denman, MS, BSN, RN, SANE-A

Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response Center (PSARC)

As the clinical director and forensic nurse manager at the Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions’ Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response Center, Allison has transformed the landscape of forensic nursing in Philadelphia. When challenged with a local shortage of forensic nurses, she helped rebuild the workforce through outreach and training initiatives to ensure that survivors of sexual assault receive trauma-informed, equitable care. Her advocacy also extends beyond the clinic. She educates communities, collaborates with legal professionals, and fights for survivor rights.

One nominator said, “Allison has actively brought attention to sexual violence as a predicator of homicidal risk, especially for victims of human trafficking, and as such brought many experts in the Philadelphia community and beyond together to do better together. She is contacted daily by civilians and medical professionals alike seeking guidance for survivor support, and she always meets them with patience, compassion, and a sense of safety.”

Francis Doran, BSN, RN

Penn Medicine
The Kensington Project

Francis Doran’s compassion knows no bounds. By day, he’s a dedicated cardiac ICU nurse at Penn Medicine and a nurse practitioner student at Thomas Jefferson University. In his personal time, Francis volunteers with The Kensington Project, providing wound care to people experiencing homelessness in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. Twice a month, Francis and his team set up at McPherson Square, or “Needle Park,” distributing meals, clothes, toiletries, and more to those in need. His tireless volunteerism and empathetic approach make a profound impact on the community.

His nominator shared, “He treats every single person he encounters with kindness and truly listens to them. He celebrates their small successes and grieves with them. He holds their hands and shares his heart. He does so much more than just tend to their wounds… So much judgement is passed on the homeless and mentally ill, I think it is so important to highlight the difference makers who see beyond these barriers to the person underneath it all.”

Jasmine Hudson, MSN, CRNP, AGACNP-BC

Penn Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism

As a key member of Penn Medicine’s inpatient diabetes consult team, Jasmine identifies social determinants of health as barriers to follow-up care. Her initiatives to engage stakeholders and establish a workgroup have improved patient transitions and increased appointment rates, earning her the prestigious Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) Good Catch Award in 2023. Beyond the hospital setting, Jasmine co-leads the Endocrine division’s DEI initiative strategic plan, where she has introduced a series of weekend diabetes education classes at HUP — Cedar Avenue and at the Church of Christ Compassion in West Philadelphia.

Her nominator said, “Jasmine has represented the Penn diabetes program at West Philadelphia farmer’s markets, providing valuable education, answering queries about diabetes, and explaining services offered at the Penn Diabetes Center. Her efforts reflect dedication to both professional excellence and community outreach, contributing to improved health outcomes and empowerment within the community.”

A New Honor in Memory of Paula Sunshine

This year’s Celebrate Caring winners will each receive the Sunshine Award, honoring the memory of Paula Sunshine — the former IBX senior vice president and chief marketing officer who was instrumental in creating this campaign. Paula’s legacy of recognizing the vital role of nurses in health care and our communities lives on through this new accolade.

Thank you to our winners for their exceptional contributions to keeping our families and communities healthy.

This article was originally published on IBX Insights.

Independence Blue Cross