This Nurses Week, as we reflect on the theme This is the Power of Nursing Excellence, Kaiser Permanente Northern California honors 33 colleagues as 2026 Extraordinary Nurse Award recipients. Their work reflects the heart, skill, and humanity at the center of care.
The 2026 Extraordinary Nurse Awards recognizes individuals from across the continuum of care — from bedside nursing and advanced practice to education, leadership, and collaboration with interprofessional colleagues.
“We are proud to celebrate the 2026 Extraordinary Nurse Award honorees,” said Meghan Kielty‑Swinford, PhD, MSN, RN, CENP, interim Northern California chief nurse executive and vice president of clinical integration. “These individuals, alongside nearly 30,000 nurses across the region, demonstrate how skill, humanity, and compassion come together to show us, and our patients, the true power of nursing excellence.”
Watch this video to hear from honorees about what extraordinary nursing means to them and how they demonstrate the power of nursing excellence.
Congratulations to the 2026 Extraordinary Nurse Award recipients:
Kaiser Foundation Hospitals Nurse Leaders of the Year
Lionel Hoyte, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNOR, HACP
Nurse Director, Oakland
Christina Geis, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC
Chief Nurse Executive, Antioch
Kaiser Foundation Hospitals Emerging Nurse Leaders
Jennifer Kamuchey, BSN, RN, CIC
Infection Preventionist VI, Roseville
Angelica Rincon, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CNOR
Senior Clinical Practice Nurse II, San Rafael
Clinical Adult Services
Brian Teding, MSN, RN-BC, CSSGB
Staff Nurse III, Sacramento
Melanie Tsao, BSN, RN, CCRN
Staff Nurse IV, Fremont
Nursing Professional Development
Matt Monet, BSN, RN, CNOR, NPD-BC
Senior Clinical Development Nurse, Roseville
Evan Edminster, MSN, RN, CNL, CFRN, TCRN, CEN, NHDP-BC
Senior Clinical Practice Nurse, Vacaville
Maternal Child Health
Ilene Lerner, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse II, Roseville
Kristi Call, BSN, RN, CNPT
Staff Nurse IV, Santa Clara
Perioperative Services
Danielle Guadagni, BSN, RN, CPAN
Staff Nurse II, Santa Rosa
Susan Parker, BSN, RN, CNOR
Staff Nurse IV, Sacramento
The Permanente Medical Group Nurse Leaders of the Year
Tanisha Jimenez, MSN, RN
Assistant Director, Nursing and Clinical Practice, Modesto
Amberly Galli, MSN, RN, CNL
Nurse Director, Sacramento
The Permanente Medical Group Emerging Nurse Leaders of the Year
Laura Colunga, BSN, RN
Nurse Manager, Manteca
Jina Horton, BSN, RN, CAPA
Nurse Manager, Fresno
Emergency Department
Jeffery Lam, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse II, San Leandro
Sarah McCarthy, MBA, RN
Staff Nurse II, Roseville
Medical Offices or Outpatient Services
Bonnie Bradley, RN
Staff Charge Nurse IV, San Jose
Alea Kelleher, RN, CN, APHON
Staff Charge Nurse III, Santa Rosa
Appointment and Advice Care Center
Carmen Rivera, RN
Staff Nurse II, Vallejo
Nicola Lemon, BSN, RN, CPHQ
Director Quality and Safety Improvement, Sacramento
Advanced Practice
Christiane Peters, MSN, APRN, A&WHNP
Nurse Practitioner III, San Francisco
Stacy Stefanopoulos, MSN, ACNP, RNFA
Nurse Practitioner III, San Jose
Continuum Nurse Leaders of the Year
Trina Lagman, BSN, RN, CHPN, COS-C
Nurse Manager, Care at Home, San Francisco
Christyle Mae L. Tabuan, MHA, BSN, RN
Director, Continuum of Care, Santa Clara
Care Coordination
Cherokee Herrera, BSN, RN
Patient Care Coordinator, South Sacramento
Elena Wahlberg, RN
Patient Care Coordinator, Fresno
Continuum
Anthony Klein, BSN, RN, CWCN, CWLT
Home Health Nurse II, Sacramento
Friends of Nursing – Direct Care Partner
Rosa Contreras
Housekeeping Head Aide, Santa Rosa
Carolynn E. Coy, LVN, RRT, ACCS
Supervisor, Respiratory Therapy, Vacaville
Friend of Nursing – Interprofessional Colleagues
Joshua Colaci, BS, RRT, RPFT
Manager, Respiratory Therapy, South Sacramento
Michelle Nguyen, DO
Hospital Based Physician, Modesto