36 UI Health Care nurses recognized as 2026 Great Iowa Nurses
Record number of UI Health Care nurses named as 'Great Iowa Nurses’
University of Iowa Health Care proudly celebrates 36 nurses recognized among the 2026 Great Iowa Nurses. That’s a record number for UI Health Care, which has seen an increase of employees on the list each year since the Great Iowa Nurses program returned in 2022.
Great Iowa Nurses acknowledges Iowa nurses who routinely go above and beyond their daily tasks and take extra steps to provide safe, compassionate care for their patients. This distinguished group of nurses from UI Health Care serve as role models for those around them, with their knowledge and experience constantly helping to improve health in our community.
“Each of these UI Health Care honorees exemplify what it means to put people at the heart of everything they do,” says Brad Haws, MBA, chief executive officer, Clinical Enterprise, and associate vice president, UI Health Care. “Their hard work makes a meaningful difference every day, through enhancing patient care and advancing the nursing profession. We are incredibly proud of all they’ve accomplished.”
Honorees are nominated by patients, peers, and/or family, and recipients are selected following a blind, multi-panel review process. This record number of UI Health Care recipients demonstrates the impact of the health system’s WE CARE (Welcoming, Excellence, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, Empowerment) values in action.
“The compassion, skill, and grit off these individuals exemplify the dedication of the nursing community,” says Kim Hunter, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, chief nurse executive, UI Health Care. “This recognition displays the meaning and significance of making people, patients, and community the foundation of our work.”
2026 UI Health Care honorees*:
- Lauren Anderson, BSN, RN, CCRN, assistant nurse manager, CVICU
- Amy Beckmann, BSN, RN, CNN, nurse manager, L2 SFCH
- Katey Bignall, BSN, RN, CCRN, staff nurse, MICU
- Lauren Burrough, BSN, RN, CCRN-CSC, staff nurse, CVICU
- Lindsey Clifford, MSN, RN, OCN, nursing practice leader, AMB Nursing
- Kari Copeland, BAN, RN, CMSRN, nurse manager, 2JCP
- Crystal Crandall Danger, BSN, RN, C-NPT, staff nurse, Neonatal/Pediatric Transport
- Amber Dixon, BSN, RN, CCRN, assistant nurse manager, SNICU
- Aurora Flavel, BSN, RN, CCRN-CMC, staff nurse, MICU & ECMO
- Cody Gassmann, MSN, RN, CCRN, nursing practice leader, ISS
- Brittany Grimm, BSN, RN, CCRN, assistant nurse manager, SNICU
- Faith Hendricks, BSN, RN, CMSRN, staff nurse, ASC Eye
- Courtney Hitchon, BSN, RN, CNRN, staff nurse, SNICU & ECMO
- Marissa Johnson, MSN, RN, CNL, TIP, associate director, nursing services, Quality, Safety, EBP, & Research
- Mackenzie Kane, MSN, BS, RN, staff nurse, 2JPE, and assistant professor of practice, UI College of Nursing
- Missy Kiger-Bell, BSN, RN, CFRN, nurse manager, AirCare
- Nikki Koshatka, MSN, RN, staff nurse, 8JCP
- Deborah Lawrence, BSN, RN, staff nurse, ED
- Megan Lewis, BSN, RN, CCRN, interim assistant nurse manager, 2RCP
- Tracy Maury, BSN, RN, CPN, staff nurse, Orthopedics & Rehabilitation Clinic
- Katelyn Meyer, MN, RN, CCRN, E-AEC, staff nurse, CVICU & ECMO
- Sommer Miller, BSN, RN, CCRN-CMC, staff nurse, CVICU
- Anna Moss, BSN, RN, staff nurse, MICU
- Brianna Pickel, BSN, RN, CCRN-CSC, staff nurse, CVICU & ECMO
- Sarah Pierce, BSN, RN, AMB-BC, staff nurse, UI Health Care Medical Center North Liberty
- Lisa Preuschl, BSN, RN, nurse clinician, Neurology Clinic
- Kristina Rappaport, MSN, BAIS, RN, CCRN, E-AEC, staff nurse, ECMO
- Brittney Rogers, BSN, RN, assistant nurse manager, CVICU
- Amy Sheehan, BSN, RN, CDCES, nurse clinician, PSC
- Nathalee Stemper, MSN, RN, CCRN, director, nursing services, ISS
- Karen Stenger, MA, RN, CCRN, nursing practice leader, ISS
- Teagan Stych, BSN, RN, assistant nurse manager, SNICU
- Allie Wampler Sagaga, DNP, ARNP, WHNP-BC, advanced registered nurse practitioner, Obstetrics/Gynecology
- Jenny Weisinger, MSN, RN, CPN, clinical practice leader, UI Community Clinics
- Brittany Wetjen, BSN, RN, OCN, staff nurse, Acute Care Enterprise Staffing Pool
*One honoree requested name not be listed.
