In June 2025, the Heart Science Council demonstrated its pivotal role as a powerful avenue for nurses and leaders to directly influence nurse well-being. Recognizing a deep need for a space of healing and remembrance, front-line nurses and council leaders — including co-chairs Milanelle (Lanie) Guiao-Tranchina, BSN, RN, PCCN, CMSRN, and Michelle Rowe, BSN, RN — envisioned the South Sacramento Memorial Garden. Their commitment to supporting colleagues’ emotional health and fostering a sense of community led to this inspiring project.
“The garden is meant to honor the colleagues we have lost,” shared Rowe, highlighting how the Council transforms ideas from the nursing community into compassionate action. During a moving ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 3, the names of 22 South Sacramento employees and a volunteers were read aloud by Rev. Elias Burgos, PhD, Spiritual Care Manager, and Sherman Hayhurst, Spiritual Care volunteer. Each name will be honored with an individual plaque on the garden’s wall, ensuring lasting remembrance.
The Memorial Garden, created through the Heart Science Council’s advocacy, stands as a peaceful refuge accessible from the South Tower’s ground floor and a nearby stairway. It features two wooden benches, new landscaping, and a plaque that reads: “South Sacramento Memorial Garden. A peaceful place for reflection, meditation, and remembrance. Dedicated by the Heart Science Council.” This tranquil space is open to all, offering staff and physicians a place to pause, reflect, and care for their own well-being.
Leaders such as Katie Hoganson, MSN, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Nurse Executive; Pamela Spain, Area Experience Leader and Heart Science Council Advisor; Nick Boyce, Support Services Administration Officer; Rachel Wyatt DNP, MHA, RN, NEA-BC, FAONL, Chief Operating Officer; and Michelle Odell, Senior Public Affairs Director, Sacramento and South Sacramento were instrumental in realizing the garden.
Their collaborative work embodies the Heart Science Council’s mission: empowering nurses to shape their workplace and support the well-being of colleagues. The Memorial Garden stands as a testament to the Council’s profound impact on the nursing community and its enduring commitment to compassion and healing.