10 Northern Nevada Healthcare Heroes Honored at Donor Network West’s Champion of Hope Appreciation Awards
Nov. 14, 2025 (RENO, Nev.) — Donor Network West, northern Nevada’s only federally-designated organ procurement organization, recognized 10 northern Nevada healthcare honorees at the Champion of Hope Appreciation Awards for their essential role in saving and healing lives through organ, eye and tissue donation. Donor Network West also presented hospital teams with the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration’s DoNation awards, which recognize workplaces nationwide that encourage organ, eye and tissue donation.
The event took place Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, at the Nevada Museum of Art and brought together local hospital staff and organ recipients in a shared celebration of hope and gratitude.
“We’re honored to recognize our incredible northern Nevada healthcare partners at our Champion of Hope Awards,” said Janice Whaley, PhD., president and CEO of Donor Network West. “Their care, commitment and advocacy make the gift of life possible every day for the people of Nevada—these individuals are true champions of hope. Through their partnership, Donor Network West has seen record growth since 2020.”
Individual Champion of Hope Appreciation Awards were presented to hospital staff honorees from four local hospitals, including Carson Tahoe Health, Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Northern Nevada Medical Center and Sierra Medical Center. Each of the recipients were recognized for their outstanding leadership, unwavering dedication and compassion in caring for patients and their families who said yes to furthering hope through organ, eye and tissue donation.
The winners of the 2025 Champion of Hope Awards are:
Carson Tahoe Health:
- Legacy Builder Award: Jillian Arevalo, ICU manager
- Guardian Award: Jordan Beck, ICU charge nurse
Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center:
- Gift of Life Award: Meeta Patel, ICU charge nurse
- Beacon Award: Patrisha Fanter, director of perioperative services
- Hope & Healing Award: Father Conrado J. Lomibao, reverend and hospital chaplain
Northern Nevada Medical Center:
- Unity of Life Award: Curt Aberle, lead surgical technician
- Rising Star Award: Andrea Ritter, ICU director
- Compassion in Action Award: Sean Schnitzius, ICU nurse
Sierra Medical Center:
- Community Champion Award: Sherry Hynes, ICU director
- Legacy of Light Award: Shelby Hunt, chief nursing officer
National DoNation honors from HRSA were awarded to the teams at Carson Tahoe Health, Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Northern Nevada Medical Center and Sierra Medical Center. DoNation honors are awarded to hospitals for saving and improving lives by promoting the lifesaving gift of organ, eye and tissue donation and increasing organ donor registrations.
With year-round support from hospital partners, Donor Network West serves the northern Nevada community by connecting organ donations with people on the organ transplant waitlist awaiting a second chancåe at life. Currently, more than 700 Nevadans are on the transplant waitlist and there is an urgent need for more donors. One organ donor can save up to eight lives, and a tissue donor can heal as many as 75 lives.
To learn more about organ, eye and tissue donation, or to join the registry, visit DonorNetworkWest.org.
Donor Network West saves and heals lives by facilitating organ and tissue recovery for transplantation and research. Established in 1987, Donor Network West is designated and certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB), is a member of the Organ Donation Alliance and is an official Donate Life organization. Donor Network West is federally designated to serve 45 counties in northern California and northern Nevada, Donor Network West partners with the Department of Motor Vehicles and the state-authorized donor registries to help increase donor registration. For information, visit www.DonorNetworkWest.org and follow us on social media: @mydnwest.
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