In celebration of Delaware’s most exceptional nurses, Delaware Today and 302Health hosted 2025’s prestigious Excellence in Nursing ceremony at the White Clay Creek Country Club.

Top nurses in the state are selected through a survey led by the Delawares Nurses Association. The survey lets professional nurses choose peers across various categories of nursing expertise that best align with their experience. Nurses receiving the highest votes are then invited to the ceremony where all the top nurses are recognized for their unique impact on the field of nursing.

Shortly after arrival, nurses across Delaware health centers and universities shared dinner to kick off their celebrations. From here, nurses are recognized individually by category following a speech from the hosts. This year, the College of Health Sciences had three winners and nine honorable mentions spanning across the School of Nursing faculty and staff.

Christine Hoch, assistant professor, received 2025’s Top Nurses award for Research & Science. With a focus on advancing nursing science, Hoch’s research investigates biobehavioral mechanisms of symptoms in adults with heart failure, specifically fatigue.

“This work is deeply important because heart failure related fatigue is an invisible and often overlooked symptom that is poorly understood, yet highly prevalent with a profoundly negative impact on quality of life,” said Hoch. “Improving our understanding of biobehavioral mechanisms of fatigue in adults with heart failure is critical to improving patient outcomes and quality of life.”

“Receiving the Delaware Top Nurse Research and Science award is incredibly meaningful to me,” Hoch continued. “It’s a powerful reminder of the courage, strength, and commitment within our profession to improve the health of those in our communities and around the world. This recognition reaffirms the importance of continuing to push the boundaries of science in nursing.”

Nicole Moody, associate instructor, was selected for the Top Nurses award of Academic Educator. As a new nursing scientist recently obtaining her PhD, Moody is a board-certified clinical nurse specialist in acute care pediatrics and has practiced as a NICU nurse for more than 15 years. Her clinical experience and knowledge are essential in teaching future nurses at the College of Health Sciences.

“Nurses are one of the most trusted professions in our nation,” Moody declared. “Being involved in the shaping of compassionate and competent nurses and instilling cultural humility is an honor and important for the healthcare needs of today and the future.”

“The Top Nurses event embodied the importance of nursing and showcasing all the unique ways nurses make a difference, with a focus specifically on Delaware,” Moody continued. “Being acknowledged for this award was an honor and I enjoyed celebrating it with a room full of exceptional nurses.”

Kathleen Brewer-Smyth, professor, was chosen for the 2025 Top Nurses award for Rehabilitation & Long-Term Care award and received an honorable mention for the psychiatric mental health category. Brewer-Smyth is a neuroscience nurse with decades of experience as a staff nurse, clinical nurse specialist and educator across acute care, critical care, community, and rehabilitation. She has been a certified rehabilitation nurse (CRRN) since 1990.

Brewer-Smyth has received various recognitions throughout her career, including the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses Doctorate Prepared Research Award and was induction as Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) due to research and service focused on the neuroscience of trauma, resilience, and rehabilitation that has impacted practice and policy worldwide. Additionally, her publication titled Adverse Childhood Experiences, which focused on the neuroscience of trauma, resilience and healing throughout the life course, won four American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year awards.

“I am honored to have been selected for the Top Nurses distinction and thankful for the ability to do this work,” said Brewer-Smyth. “It is great that rehabilitation is recognized as an individual category for the Top Nurses ceremony because rehabilitation is an important component of all aspects of patient care throughout their lifespan.”

In addition to the three distinguished top nurses this year, the following nine faculty and staff members received honorable mentions:

· Susan Conaty-Buck, Assistant Professor, Telehealth & Virtual Nursing category

· Michelle DePhillips, Assistant Professor, Volunteerism & Service category

· Joanne Creasy Thomas, Associate Instructor, Volunteerism & Service category

· Christine Hanna, Instructor, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing category

· Lauren Covington, Assistant Professor, Nursing Professional Development category

· Jessica Madiraca, Associate Instructor, Informatics & Technology category

· Sandra Nolan, Director of Undergraduate Programs and Assistant Professor, Home Health & Hospice category

· Xiaopeng Ji, Associate Professor, Innovation & Entrepreneurship category

· Elizabeth Speakman, Senior Associate Dean of Nursing, Professor, Leading and Advancing the Profession category

“I couldn’t be prouder to be one of the 2025 Top Nurses winners and honorable awardees from the University of Delaware’s School of Nursing,” said Elizabeth Speakman, Senior Associate Dean of Nursing and Professor. “Having nine faculty members recognized is a testament to the University’s excellent reputation and outstanding nursing program.”