ATLANTA (January 2010) – Today, the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta announced that Lashawn Ireland, R.N., and Mary Nolan, R.N., have been presented with the Laura Snitzer-Boozer Nursing Award. The award honors nurses who have demonstrated professional excellence and leadership in pediatric cancer care and provides financial support for continued education in the field of oncology. Two additional nurses are also being honored with the 2009 Continuing Education Award, a new addition to the award program.
“I am pleasantly surprised to receive this award,” said Lashawn Ireland, R.N. ”I worked with Laura Snitzer-Boozer and to have known such a caring and dedicated employee makes me humbled to receive this award named in her honor.”
The award is given in memory of Laura Snitzer-Boozer, an Aflac Cancer Center nurse who died unexpectedly in 1999. After Snitzer-Boozer’s death, many individuals including close friends of the family, donated funds to create the Laura Snitzer-Boozer Nursing Fund for Continued Education. Ireland and Nolan will receive a scholarship to attend a nursing conference of their choice in honor of Laura Snitzer-Boozer’s strong commitment to nursing education.
“I feel very honored to receive this award,” says Mary Nolan, R.N. “I feel that the group of nurses I work with are exceptional and to think that they would recognize me is very humbling. “
Also, Lisa Fisher and Audrey Grizzle are honored with the 2009 Continuing Education Award, a recent addition to the Laura Snitzer-Boozer Award. Fisher, who has recently completed her Masters of Nursing Education at North Georgia College and State University, and Grizzle, who is currently working toward a Masters in Public Health from the University of Georgia, are recognized for their dedication to the field of nursing.
About the Award Winners:
Lashawn Ireland, R.N.
As a registered nurse, Ireland has worked at the Aflac Cancer Center for 19 years, caring specifically for patients in the infusion room. Ireland received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Indiana University. Ireland currently resides in Stone Mountain, Ga. with her two children, Jordan and Jhaylen.
Mary Nolan, R.N.
As a registered nurse, Nolan has dedicated more than 29 years to providing care at the Aflac Cancer Center. Nolan served inpatient as a staff nurse for 20 years with a period of time as a family/staff educator and mostly recently serves as a Leukemia/Lymphoma nurse. Prior to joining the Aflac Cancer Center, Nolan receive her Bachelors of Science in Nursing and achieved status of Registered Nurse at East Carolina University. Nolan currently resides in Alpharetta.
Lisa Fisher
For more than five years, Lisa Fisher has cared for patients at the Aflac Cancer Center. She previously served as a brain tumor nurse at the Children’s at Egleston campus and is currently the clinical educator for the Aflac clinics at both Children’s at Egleston and Children’s at Scottish Rite. After receiving her ASN from Wesley College in Dover, Delaware, Fisher obtained her Bachelors in Nursing from York College. Fisher also recently completed her Masters in Nursing Education in December at North Georgia College and State University while working full time at Children’s. She currently resides in Decatur.
Audrey Grizzle, R.N.
Serving as a registered nurse, Audrey Grizzle has provided care at the Aflac Cancer Center of Children’s at Scottish Rite for two years. Grizzle received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Mercer University. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Public Health at the University of Georgia. Grizzle currently resides in Brookhaven.
