District 1: Sara "Sally" Welsh, MSN, RN, a resident of Savannah, works to improve cancer care in southeast Georgia. She is a nursing administrator at the Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute at Memorial Health University Center in Savannah, and has helped develop several programs for cancer patients there.

District 3: Karen P. McDade, MSN, RN-C, of Columbus, is a family nurse practitioner specializing in gastric bypass surgery. She is known as an effective diabetes educator and patient advocate, and seeks to empower patients with information about improving their health.

District 5: Lorine Spencer, BSN, MSN, FNP-C, of Tucker, recently was recruited to carve out a new job at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a community outreach liaison. While a professor at Georgia State University, Spencer spearheaded a migrant health care program in Moultrie that brings health care to migrant workers in the area. She continues to volunteer for the project.

District 6: Elizabeth G. Tripp, BSN, MBA, RN, of Macon, is a nursing educator at Macon State College. A former director of recruitment and retention at Coliseum Health System, Tripp is known as a tireless advocate for her students.

District 7: Lisa Dempsey, RN, of Rome, is a charge nurse on the oncology unit of Redmond Regional Medical Center. She teaches and serves as a preceptor for nurses new to the unit. She also is the director of Camp Bluebird, a cancer camp for adults.

District 8: Laurie Taylor, RN, of Waycross, is a member of the Georgia Southwestern University nursing faculty. Taylor was cited for her positive energy and high standards.

District 9: Helen Rabon, APRN, AOCN, of Gainesville, is an icon in the health care community of northeast Georgia. She is a nurse practitioner at the Longstreet Clinic, which serves cancer patients of all ages. She also teaches nursing at North Georgia College & State University.

District 10: Saundra Turner, Ph.D., RN, of Evans, set up the Dearing Clinic for homeless, uninsured and indigent area residents who need health care. During the four years of the clinic's operation, she has brought different community volunteer organizations together to help provide medical care and supplies for the clinic. She is a faculty member at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta.

District 11: Chris Perry, of Athens, is an emergency room nurse at Athens Regional Medical Center. Perry started working at the hospital at 15, helping transport patients. He is president of GNA District 11.

District 12: Monica Taylor, RNC, MSN, FNP-C, of Americus, has been described as a remarkable person who teaches, advocates for and serves the nursing students of Georgia Southwestern State University.

District 14: Dianne Rogers, RN, of Milledgeville, works for Central State Hospital as a nurse administrator, and is a liaison between nurse managers and executives. A 27-year nursing veteran, she is a certified geriatric nurse and likes to work with older adults. She is an advocate for the future of nursing, speaking at schools and encouraging students to choose nursing as a career.

District 15: Michele Gray, RN, of Quitman, works for the Presbyterian Home in Quitman and is a strong resident advocate for the 188-bed nursing home. She juggles multiple responsibilities with resident assessments, care-plan conferences, staffing, mentoring and managing quality assurance. She also has developed a strong rapport with residents and their families.

District 17: Barry Lung, MSN, RN, BC, of Macon, works at the Medical Center of Central Georgia in nursing informatics. He teaches other nurses how to use technology to improve bedside care, and conducts classes nationally to help nurses adapt and grow with changing technology.

District 18: Carol Galasso, RN, of Statesboro, was a nurse manager for the Bulloch County Health Department and has mentored nurses throughout her career. Galasso was instrumental in helping her department grow and in establishing a nurse practitioner role. She recently retired after 42 years of nursing.

District 21: Peggy Tuten, MSN, FNP, RN, of Brunswick, is a diabetic educator at Southeast Georgia Health System and serves as a family nurse practitioner in rural clinics. She also volunteers with the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association and the Georgia Nurses Association.

District 23: Wanda Lowe, RN, of Hogansville, was instrumental in developing the diabetes and nutritional education program for the Coleman Community Rural Health Clinic and Nutrition Center in LaGrange. She is a patient educator coordinator. There were no nominees in districts 2, 16, 19, 20 and 22.