FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeannie Counce
Editorial Director
jeannie.counce@nhia.org
406-600-2649
Alexandria, Va. (February 20, 2024) —The National Home Infusion Foundation (NHIF) is proud to announce that Nancy Kramer, RN BSN CRNI FNHIA is the recipient of the 2024 Lynn Giglione Women in Leadership Award.
The Lynn Giglione Women in Leadership Award recognizes and honors trail-blazing and emerging women leaders who have demonstrated exemplary service to patients and their peers while promoting the mission of NHIF. The award was established in 2015 to commemorate the late Lynn Giglione—the award’s namesake and a trailblazer in the home and alternate site infusion industry—who was a founding board member of NHIF.
Kramer currently serves as the Vice President, Clinical Services at Optum Infusion Pharmacy. She has more than 30 years’ experience in home infusion nursing, clinical leadership, staff education and development, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and patient-centered care.
“Nancy is a true servant leader with a deep sense of empathy and way of working alongside her team that inspires them to do their best work,” said NHIF Board Chair David Franklin, MSA. “This award was designed to celebrate that very spirit.”
Kramer is a well-known and respected clinician. She began her career in 1989 as a field nurse for 1 of the 6 predecessor companies that formed Coram. She quickly moved into leadership roles advancing to VP of Nursing for a 20-branch pharmacy network and serving as the nursing representative during the Coram consolidation in 1995. Following the merger, she led strategic operations and corporate nursing operations at Coram, where she touched almost every aspect of the infusion business including operations, pharmacy, supply chain, materials management, nursing leadership, and quality assurance.
Kramer has also had a significant impact on the industry. For 9 years she was NHIA’s VP of Clinical Affairs, overseeing the development of top-notch educational resources for members and representing the industry in dialogue with related professional organizations, accrediting bodies, and policymakers. She collaborated with NHIA’s Education Committee to develop all of NHIA’s educational programming and resources, including webinars, enduring print materials, and Annual Conference sessions; led the formation of the NHIA Industry-Wide Data Initiative; initiated the poster abstract program at the annual conference; and was an invaluable resource in responding to regulatory agencies during the fallout from the NECC compounding crisis. She has always put patients first, focused on evidence-based medicine with a dedication to clinical excellence, and championed first in class infusion nursing care as evidenced by her participation in INS, IG NS, ASPEN, Oley Foundation, and other societies over the years.
In 2017, Kramer joined Optum Infusion Pharmacy as VP of Clinical Services where she is involved in every aspect of interdisciplinary quality practice. She is also a warm and caring mentor who is always willing to step up to the plate when needed. She listens to and serves her team, solicits feedback, and problem solves with them. But she also challenges team members to reach their highest potential while offering opportunities and guidance. With a reputation as a strong, supportive leader, Kramer is already thinking about ways to coach the next generation of home infusion leaders.
“Lynn Giglione served as the first woman and nurse to Chair the NHIA Board of Directors, and I had the good fortune of working closely with her in my early years at NHIA. I count Lynn among the influential mentors who supported my professional development, and I’m humbled and honored to receive this award in her memory,” said Kramer. “Sharing knowledge is essential for the advancement of clinical practice in home infusion, and a passion I’ve supported since my participation as an NHIA Education Committee volunteer. Mentorship takes this sharing a step further, ensuring the development of future industry leaders as the home and alternate sites of care continue to grow and evolve. Paying forward the foundational mentoring I’ve received along my home infusion journey has been a privilege.”
Kramer will receive the award at NHIA’s 2024 Annual Conference during the General Session, being held on Tuesday March 26 from 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm Central.
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NHIF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that aims to advance the home and specialty infusion field and to support the enhancement of patient care and patient outcomes through leadership, research, and education. Established by the National Home Infusion Association, the Foundation is founded on the belief that delivering the highest quality infusion care to patients is at the heart of the field. Through education and research, the Foundation will strive to build upon the solid groundwork established by the industry more than 30 years ago.
NHIA is a trade association that represents companies that provide medically necessary infusion therapies to patients in alternate sites, as well as companies that manufacture and supply infusion and specialty pharmacy products. The association’s mission is to provide advocacy, education, and resources to the home and alternate site infusion community so the patients they serve can lead healthy, independent lives. For more information, visit www.nhia.org.