When Natalie Spencer and her son decided to take in a Philadelphia Eagles game in January, they experienced a big win, but not the kind they expected. The Eagles lost the game, but Spencer and an emergency department physician who also was attending the game were able to rush into action to save the life of another fan in critical condition.

Spencer and the physician both rushed to the side of a fan who fell to the ground unconscious during the game. Spencer was able to move him from the steps where he fell as he began to turn blue, and she provided life-saving CPR along with the physician who joined her. 

Spencer joined Sanatoga Center as director of nursing in 2022. She is regarded by colleagues as a true leader in and out of the facility. 

During her 18-year career in healthcare, Spencer has filled almost every role, from nursing assistant to director of nursing, but her best work may have been done on that day in the Eagles stadium. 

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care. PointClickCare is the Diamond sponsor of this year’s program. PharMerica is the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors include American HealthTech, Healthcare Services Group, Omnicare, Sentrics and ShiftKey.

Visit this web page to see lists of honorees from 2023 and previous years.

What began as a “punishment” for teenage rebellion turned into a 42-year career in long-term care for Vicky Nordby. Her first job—started at the insistence of her parents—was in a nursing home, and Nordby went on to work as a certified nursing assistant, activity director, charge nurse and director of nursing on the frontlines of long-term care. Those roles led her to her current tenure in leadership, as director of clinical services and nurse consulting. 

Nordby joined Marquis Companies as a nurse consultant in 2008, focusing on the implementation of electronic health records and improvements in infection control. Her efforts in those areas are spread across 25 campuses specializing in post-acute rehab, memory care, assisted living and independent living. Nordby has helped establish clinical policies and programs at the facility, state and federal levels related to infection control and the prevention of healthcare associated infections. 

She works closely with facility teams to develop clinical policies and workflows that will improve quality outcomes. She is particularly recognized for her expertise in the area of infection control, as well as her work as a state and federal level advocate for reducing healthcare-associated infections and ensuring appropriate antimicrobial use. 

Though she has made a career of providing top-level clinical guidance and ensuring quality improvement, Nordby is recognized as playing a role in virtually every aspect of positive growth at Marquis over the past 14 years. 

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care. PointClickCare is the Diamond sponsor of this year’s program. PharMerica is the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors include American HealthTech, Healthcare Services Group, Omnicare, Sentrics and ShiftKey.

Visit this web page to see lists of honorees from 2023 and previous years.

Jackie Pappalardi began her healthcare career as a registered nurse but spent the majority of the past 45 years advocating for quality care in both the public and private sectors. She recently joined the board of the American Association of PostAcute Care Nursing, which represents more than 15,000 post-acute care nurses and other health professionals, as an at-large member.

In her current role as director of the Foundation for Quality Care, Pappalardi guides New York State Health Facilities Association/New York State Center for Assisted Living members on policy guidance and operations, as well as on clinical, quality and education programs. She also has a background as a consultant and advocate, assisting long-term care facilities comply with state and federal regulations to improve quality outcomes.

Pappalardi has been a member of the Junior League of Albany since 1987, volunteering on issues of social reform and community enhancement. 

Although the contributions she has made throughout her career are numerous, Pappalardi is especially recognized for helping to establish statewide emergency preparedness plans and resources, infection control training programs and a program to help prevent the development of pressure ulcers that is used by providers across the state.

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care. PointClickCare is the Diamond sponsor of this year’s program. PharMerica is the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors include American HealthTech, Healthcare Services Group, Omnicare, Sentrics and ShiftKey.

Visit this web page to see lists of honorees from 2023 and previous years.

Raised by her grandmother, Nadeen Moore cultivated a passion for helping older adults at a young age. Her professional career as a nurse has enabled her to understand how to provide a high level of care for this population and their families in ways that positively affect every day. 

Area nurse manager, Florida, for Brookdale Senior Living, West Palm Beach, FL, she is especially recognized for going above and beyond her call of duty during Hurricane Nicole landfall in 2022 in Florida. Moore was instrumental in keeping communication lines open in West Palm Beach throughout the storm, reporting critical issues to ensure resident safety at all times. She maintained connections with local and regional authorities, helped facilitate evacuation efforts and even visited local hospitals after the storm. 

Her listening ear, passion for learning and growth and commitment to her profession make Moore stand out. 

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care. PointClickCare is the Diamond sponsor of this year’s program. PharMerica is the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors include American HealthTech, Healthcare Services Group, Omnicare, Sentrics and ShiftKey.

Visit this web page to see lists of honorees from 2023 and previous years

From a background in manufacturing, waitressing and bartending, Robin Nelson made the move to healthcare in 1995 when she earned her certified nursing assistant certification. Within a year, she moved from working at a medium-sized facility in Westwood, NH, to a 150-bed government-owned and operated skilled nursing facility, where she has worked ever since. 

She began her employment at Maplewood of Cheshire County in 1996, working full-time as she also raised two children as a single mother. By 2004, she was promoted to occupational therapy aide, returning to school to earn her degree as a registered nurse in 2010. 

After working as a floor nurse at Maplewood for two years after earning her RN, Nelson made the move into a leadership position. She was named the assistant director of nursing services in 2014 and was promoted to director of nursing in 2018. Nelson also is known to help with administrator duties at Maplewood wherever needed. Nelson was an instrumental part in efforts to unionize at Maplewood and helped shape the first collective bargaining agreement in 2006. 

She has been recognized twice by the state as County Nursing Home Employee of the Year. In addition to her professional work, Nelson is a leader and advocate for various employee and community groups.

Her leadership and hard work have been recognized in every role she has filled at Maplewood, with Nelson leading initiatives on safety, falls prevention and quality improvement. Nelson played a large role in helping to facilitate large-scale renovations and additions at Maplewood, and she is known for picking up various levels of caregiving shifts—and even housekeeping duties—throughout the facility in times of need.

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care. PointClickCare is the Diamond sponsor of this year’s program. PharMerica is the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors include American HealthTech, Healthcare Services Group, Omnicare, Sentrics and ShiftKey.

Visit this web page to see lists of honorees from 2023 and previous years.

Brenda Perkins joined Brookdale Senior Living in 1987 at its Chambrel Williamsburg community in Virginia just six days before its official opening. Since then, she has filled many roles, from club director to resident services coordinator to director of assisted living. She was promoted to her current role of divisional resident engagement manager – East in 2022 and now supports operations at 120 senior living communities spread over the five-state East division of Brentwood, TN-based Brookdale.

Perkins has a special interest in fostering resident engagement and promoting memory care services for those living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias or caring for them. She is known for exhibiting a “servant’s attitude” in her work at Brookdale, whether she is piloting new programs, connecting with residents on a personal level or even devoting her off time to volunteer efforts.

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care. PointClickCare is the Diamond sponsor of this year’s program. PharMerica is the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors include American HealthTech, Healthcare Services Group, Omnicare, Sentrics and ShiftKey.

Visit this web page to see lists of honorees from 2023 and previous years.

Starting her career in a small southern Kansas long-term care facility, Rebecca Murray probably never saw herself in her current role. Murray has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work, as well as a master’s degree in business law. She now is working toward a doctorate in organizational leadership.

Her skills, values and work ethic have helped her to advance her healthcare career, moving from social services director to administrator, first in small towns and then larger urban areas in Oklahoma. As an administrator at Bridges Health (The Ambassador Skilled Nursing and Therapy), Murray now runs a facility that services approximately 90 residents and more than 100 employees on an average day, with about 350 residents having passed through the facility already this year. Murray has helped The Ambassador transition to a 100% employee-owned organization and works to foster a strong ownership culture. 

She inspires those around her to be the best versions of themselves, and her vision has helped transform the facilities she heads. During her career, Murray has enhanced facilities with programs such hand-painted murals, facility-based grocery stores for residents, and even an on-site restaurant that is so popular that it’s frequented by people in the community. 

Under Murray’s leadership, there also have been quality improvements in addition to those lifestyle enhancements. In Kansas, her facilities were the first to earn zero-deficiencies on QIS (quality improvement strategy) and LSV (long-term service value) surveys, and she has shared her knowledge by training new administrators and even teaching courses at a local college. 

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care. PointClickCare is the Diamond sponsor of this year’s program. PharMerica is the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors include American HealthTech, Healthcare Services Group, Omnicare, Sentrics and ShiftKey.

Visit this web page to see lists of honorees from 2023 and previous years.

Kendra Roberts demonstrates her commitment and passion for older adults every day in her work overseeing affordable housing operations for HumanGood. 

She is especially recognized, however, for efforts to help residents get back on their feet after a fire broke out at the Grand Lake Gardens community in October 2022 in Oakland, CA. Immediate evacuation was necessary, and Grand Lake residents were left without clothing, personal belongings and even basic necessities after the fire. 

Outside of her official duties, Roberts quickly sprang into action and mobilized a team to help provide residents with those items, as well as to find them transportation and temporary housing after the fire. Colleagues say that Roberts embodies the spirit of passion and courage that HumanGood values. She also is involved in efforts to promote a more inclusive work culture through HumanGood’s Inclusion Council.

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care. PointClickCare is the Diamond sponsor of this year’s program. PharMerica is the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors include American HealthTech, Healthcare Services Group, Omnicare, Sentrics and ShiftKey.

Visit this web page to see lists of honorees from 2023 and previous years.

Judy Plantinga began her career in healthcare at age 15 as a dietary aide. A few decades and several degrees later, she was named executive director of the Cedar Creek Health Campus for Trilogy Health Services, an organization she joined as a medical records worker in 2003. 

Plantinga has earned bachelor’s degrees in business and healthcare management, as well as a master’s degree in health administration. 

During her time at Cedar Creek, she has earned numerous awards and was instrumental in achieving its highest ever occupancy rate, 93.4%, in 2021. The campus also has earned numerous customer satisfaction awards under Plantinga’s leadership, even throughout the pandemic. 

Plantinga’s leadership skills and dedication to excellence have helped the company thrive, and she has used her skills to train an additional five administrators who now run other health facilities. It isn’t just administrators she mentors, either. Using her own experience in moving from dietary aide to qualified medication aide, certified nursing assistant and eventually an award-winning administrator, Plantinga has helped to advance the careers of countless employees under her wing, including CNAs and nurses.

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care. PointClickCare is the Diamond sponsor of this year’s program. PharMerica is the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors include American HealthTech, Healthcare Services Group, Omnicare, Sentrics and ShiftKey.

Visit this web page to see lists of honorees from 2023 and previous years.

Gina Mizzoni joined Benchmark Senior Living 16 years ago as an associate. She has been a director for the past decade. Over the past three years, though, it became particularly evident what an asset she was to Benchmark and its residents. 

Running a traditional care department as well as the mind and memory department, throughout the pandemic, Mizzoni set an example of hard work and dedication. As Benchmark looks to fill the role of director for the mind and memory department, Mizzoni hasn’t hesitated to pick up extra duties. She’s also known for picking up extra shifts, working double time herself and even working overnights to help alleviate staffing concerns rather than hire the wrong person for the job. 

In addition to her strengths as a leader and manager, Mizzoni also is known for the caring and compassionate way she enhances the lives of both workers and residents. Despite her own personal challenges and private losses, Mizzoni makes those around her feel as if they are part of the family, and she selflessly works to constantly elevate the level of care offered at Benchmark.

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care. PointClickCare is the Diamond sponsor of this year’s program. PharMerica is the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors include American HealthTech, Healthcare Services Group, Omnicare, Sentrics and ShiftKey.

Visit this web page to see lists of honorees from 2023 and previous years.