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Lynn Giglione, RN, BSN, was an inspirational, energetic, and dedicated leader and patient advocate with an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of patients and to furthering the home and specialty infusion therapy profession.
Lynn joined NHIA’s Board of Directors in 2005, and in 2009 became the first woman to be elected as NHIA Board Chair. She also played a direct role in the formation of NHIF. Not only was Lynn the first woman to hold this vital leadership position, but she was also the first nurse—a fact that gave her a tremendous sense of pride.
In 2014, Lynn was a founding Board member of the newly formed National Home Infusion Foundation. The industry lost Lynn shortly thereafter, but she will forever be remembered for her extraordinary spirit and inspiring courage.
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 the National Home Infusion Foundation. Nominees for this award work in a leadership role for a home infusion provider or supplier company where they inspire professional growth in those they manage or mentor through their actions and encouragement. Candidates for this award have made significant contributions to the home infusion industry through their leadership and by inspiring others to overcome barriers to achieve excellence.
Award Criteria:
Be prepared to include the following information about the candidate:
Nomination:
Submission Deadline has Closed
The winner of the Lynn Giglione Women in Leadership Award will be recognized at NHIA’s Annual Conference.
Nomination:
Deadline January 6, 2024
Attending NHIA’s 2024 Annual Conference? Then make sure you’re attending the DEIA & Leadership Event being held on Tuesday, March 26, 1:30pm-2:45pm EST.
During the session, this year’s Lynn Giglione Women in Leadership Award will be presented, headlining a general session focused on celebrating and promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. The award is given each year by NHIF to recognize the contribution of women leaders in the industry.
NHIF is proud to announce that Nancy Kramer, RN BSN CRNI FNHIA is the recipient of the 2024 Lynn Giglione Women in Leadership Award.
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.”
NHIF is proud to announce that Janice Elliott, BS, RN, CRNI®, VA-BC is the recipient of the 2023 Lynn Giglione Women in Leadership Award.
Elliott currently serves as the Director of Vascular Access at Upstate Home Care headquartered in Utica, New York. She has 28 years’ experience as a registered nurse in the home care setting.
“Janice’s peers say she is a trailblazer who makes them better providers through her compassion, dedication, knowledge and positivity,” said NHIF Board Chair David Franklin, MSA. “This is the same spirit that Lynn modeled, and that this award was designed to celebrate.”
Elliott has administered infusion therapy, developed vascular access teams, and provided education for clinicians in the home, long-term care, hospice, and acute care settings. She has also worked for various U.S. medical device companies as a clinical specialist, preceptor, and educator. Elliott started a mobile vascular access team 17 years ago using portable ultrasound technology in the home setting that she continues to lead today. Her dedication is evident in the excellent care she provides and the leadership qualities she demonstrates. Elliott continually goes above and beyond, making herself available for patients or fellow health care workers, providing advice or education.
Elliott has been an active member and local chapter president of the Association for Vascular Access for over a decade and received that organization’s Impact Award in 2020. She is also an active educator, presenting at AVA, INS, and NHIA in addition to conducting skills labs validation workshops and developing educational content for both nurses and patients. She earned an associate degree in Nursing from Broome Community College in Binghamton and a bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration and Management from SUNY Empire State College in Utica. She is board-certified in vascular access and is CRNI® certified.
“I cannot thank NHIF enough for this prestigious award,” Elliot said. “I am so blessed, grateful, and honored to be the recipient.”
NHIF has announced Melissa Leone, RN, BSN, Executive Director of Nursing Operations at Coram CVS Specialty Infusion Services as the recipient of the 2022 Lynn Giglione Women in Leadership Award. Leone started working in home infusion in 1990 and through various acquisitions and changes, has been in the business for more than three decades.
Leone is highly involved in the home and alternate site infusion industry and has supported several industry organizations including INS and NIOSH. She has been an integral member of NHIA’s Education Committee for more than 20 years helping to generate highly specialized home infusion clinical and nursing content and building out the RN Essentials programming. Leone is also a regular contributor to INFUSION magazine where she has been a leader in sharing practice-related data and clinical practice guidelines. Last year, she was recognized as an NHIA Fellow. Leone earned an associate in Nursing from Macon Junior College and a bachelor’s in Nursing from Southern Connecticut State University.
“I am honored to have been selected for this recognition. I admired Lynn for many years as she expanded her contributions and leadership within NHIF and it is an incredible feeling to be recognized in her memory,” Leone said. “I have enjoyed the opportunity I have had to bring greater attention to the benefits home infusion offers to people seeking alternative care settings and influence change in the health care arena.”
NHIF has announced Cindy Sumrall, RN, BSN, CRNI, IgCN, chief clinical officer at Paragon Healthcare as the recipient of the 2021 Lynn Giglione Women in Leadership Award. Sumrall has more than 25 years of home infusion leadership and clinical experience.
Sumrall currently serves as the Chief Clinical Officer at Paragon Healthcare and has 25 years of infusion leadership and clinical experience. In her role, she is responsible for oversight of home infusion nursing, clinical intake division, infusion center operations, hemophilia nursing services, quality assurance programs, and staff development for the organization.
“Lynn Giglione was a pioneer for women and nurses in the home infusion industry, and it is an honor to receive this award. My hope is that I will inspire other women and nurses to participate in leadership roles and model how we should support and lift one another to advocate for excellent patient care,” said Sumrall.