Emerging Leaders Award

As part of HPNA’s Year of Leadership in 2021, HPNF introduced the Emerging Leaders Award. This honor is designed to celebrate and encourage early career hospice and palliative nurses.

Thirty awards are given every three years to nurses under the age of forty, OR over the age of forty with less than five years’ experience in hospice and palliative nursing, who demonstrate significant leadership in hospice and/or palliative care nursing.

Recipients of the Emerging Leaders Award will receive:

A one-year HPNA membership
A plaque
A pin, and
Special recognition at a dedicated virtual event

HPNF would like to recognize Washington University in St. Louis and Drs. Patrick and Libby White for their generous support of this award.

Hear from our 2025 recipients

Congratulations to the recipients of the Emerging Leaders Award!

2025 Recipients

Jarryd Blanchard, BSN, RN, CHPN®, CHPPN®
Alexa Bobelis, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC
Jessica Casey, MSN, RN, BS-Kin, CHPN®
Lei Cheng, PhD, RN
Leah V. Estrada, PhD, RN
Shena Gazaway, PhD, CHPN®, RN
Kimberlee Grier, PhD, BSN, RN, CHPN®, CHPPN®
Andrew Harte, MSN, AGNP-C, ACHPN®
Jacqueline Higginbottom, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, ACHPN®
Hannah Holbrook, MSN, RN, CHPN®
Savannah Horvick, BSN, RN
L. Alison Lyon, DNP, NP-C, ACHPN®
Natalie Marie Mansouri, BSN, CHPN®, RN
Joshua McCullough, DNP, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, ACHPN®
Ryan Murphy, MSN, RN, AGNP-C, ACHPN®
Hannah Murphy Buc, PhD, RN
Scott Nguy, DNP, FNP-C
Jyotsana Parajuli, PhD, RN
Arienne Patano, BSN, RN
Carlie Pierorazio, MSN, CRNP, ACHPN®
Emily Pupo, BSN, RN
Maggie C. Root, PhD(c), MSN, RN, CPNP-AC, CHPPN®
Lacy Rugaber-Williams, BSN, RN, CHPN®, CHPPN®, CCM
Christina Lynn Savage, CRNP
B. Elias Snyder, PhD, FNP-C, ACHPN®
Grace Tervin, MSN, RN, CHPPN®
Caitlin Tomko, DNP, FNP-C, ACHPN®
Brandon M. Varilek, PhD, RN, CCTC, CNE, CHPN®
Chava Vidal, BSN, RN, CHPN®
Kimberly Woodford, DNP, MSN, RN, CHPN®

2022 Recipients

The following individuals received a one-year HPNA membership, plaque, pin, and were recognized at the 2022 Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care. A special thanks to the BJC Institute for Palliative and Supportive Care for its generous support of the 2022 awards.

Nicole Apprill, MSN, APRN, ACHPN®, ANP-BC
Jackelyn Y. Boyden, PhD, MPH, RN
Nai-Ching Chi, PhD, RN
Katherine E. DeMarco, DNP, MSHS, FNP-BC, APN, ACHPN®
Shelli L. Feder, PhD, APRN, FNP-C, ACHPN®
Amanda Lee Federovich-Hogan, DNP, RN, NP-C, CNRN, ACHPN®
Anessa M. Foxwell, MSN, AGACNP-BC, AGPCNP-BC, ACHPN®
Elizabeth Giles, RN, BSN, CHPN®
Marika Haranis, MSN, AGACNP-BC, FNP-BC, ACHPN®
Alison Harrison, DNP, RN, NP-C, ACHPN®
Mansara I. Hassan, MSN, APRN, AGNP-C
Elizabeth Hesse, BSN, RN, CCRN, CHPN®
Kari Hill, BSN, RN, CHPN®
Katie Jones, MSN, APRN
Danielle Larkin, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CHPN®, CHPPN®
Kristin Levoy, PhD, MSN, RN, OCN, CNE
Nicole Loving, DNP, AGPCNP-BC, ACHPN®
Jessica M. Luciano, NP
Rebekah Malloy , RN, CHPN®, CCRN
Natalie F. Mohammad, MSN, APRN, CNP, AGPCNP-BC, ACHPN®
Kathleen Montgomery, PhD, RN, PCNS-BC, CPHON
Caitlyn M. Moore, DNP, MS, CRNP, ACHPN®
Laura Tycon Moreines, RN, MSN, FNP-BC, ACHPN®
Brianna Morgan, MSN, CRNP, ACHPN®
Komal P. Murali , PhD, RN, ACNP-BC
Emily Palmer, AGPCNP
Rachel Mann Sabolish, RN, MSN, AGNP-C, ACHPN®
Traci Sickich, FNP-BC, ACHPN®
Elise Tarbi, PhD, MBE, AGPCNP-BC, ACHPN®
Angeline Renee Wlock, MSN, RN, CHPN®

I am very honored to have been selected as a recipient for the 2022 HPNF Emerging Leaders Award. Hospice is the heart and purpose of my nursing career, and I am grateful to HPNA and HPNF for supporting my hospice education and ongoing professional development. As an educator, I enjoy sharing the benefits I have reaped through certification, ELNEC training, and HPNA resources. I often experience coworkers being inspired and encouraged by what I have to offer, and I know that sharing this honor with them will positively affect our whole hospice organization. I look forward to continuing to engage with and depend on HPNA and HPNF as my hospice nursing career moves forward.

— Kari Hill, BSN, RN, CHPN® — HPNF Emerging Leader, 2022

I am honored, and a bit in shock, to receive the Emerging Leaders Award. I am grateful to be able to contribute to patient care and strive to be a positive and productive palliative leader. I am mindful and excited to support and encourage our next generation of leaders. Thank you for acknowledging all that I have contributed to palliative care.

— Katherine E. DeMarco, DNP, MSHS, FNP-BC, APN, ACHPN® — HPNF Emerging Leader, 2022

As a PhD-prepared nurse scientist, with research, teaching, and clinical experiences in palliative care, I have a deep commitment to improving care for people affected by serious illness. Being selected as a 2022 HPNF Emerging Leader represents recognition of the work I have done and the potential of the work I intend to do on behalf of this population. I am inspired by my fellow award recipients and look forward to working together to transform our system of care to prioritize the needs and experiences of individuals and families navigating serious illness.

— Elise Tarbi, PhD, MBE, AGPCNP-BC, ACHPN® — HPNF Emerging Leader, 2022