Contact: Carol Feuss
Labor Communications Specialist
Michigan Nurses Association
517/349-5640, ext. 21 or (cell) 517/230-4086
carol.feuss@minurses.org
November 3, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TWO RECEIVE STATEWIDE HONORS
OKEMOS, MI – The Michigan Nurses Association
(MNA) has announced the winners of the 2005 MNA
awards. The awards were presented at the MNA Annual
Convention, held October 4-7, 2005, at the Eaglecrest
Marriott and Conference Center in Ypsilanti, MI.
Kathryn Oppenheim, RN, of Ann Arbor was awarded
the Political Nurse Activist award for her work
in promoting the voice of nursing in the legislative
arena. She has represented nursing's interests on
various committees, boards and panels, as well as
focusing on grass roots efforts including working
on political campaigns and serving as an advocate
for safe patient care legislation. Oppenheim is
a registered nurse from University of Michigan Health
Systems. “This award belongs to all nurses
who recognize the need to be involved in the political
process and the influence that we as nurses can
have on issues related to health care and beyond,”
she commented.
Marylee Pakieser, RN, MSN, CP, a Family Nurse Practitioner
from Traverse City, MI, is the recipient of the
2005 MNA Bertha Culp Human Rights Award. Pakieser
has been involved in health care for the underprivileged
for over three decades, including volunteer work
at the Traverse City Community Health Clinic, serving
on the Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting Coalition
and Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Board,
as well as having worked at the Northwest Michigan
Health Service seasonal migrant clinic for Hispanic
workers. “You can always find something to
give,” she states “There will always
be someone who has less than you who needs your
help.”
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The Michigan Nurses
Association, nurses’ voice for 100 years,
is the largest nurses’ union in the State
of Michigan. The Michigan Nurses Association (MNA)
promotes the economic and general welfare of nurses
in the workplace, fosters high standards of nursing
practice, and lobbies the legislature and regulatory
agencies on health care issues affecting nurses
and recipients of nursing services. MNA is a constituent
member of the American Nurses Association and
the United American Nurses, as well as an affiliate
of the AFL-CIO.
