“Unwavering commitment,” “compassionate care,” “lasting impression” — the nominations are in, and Northside Hospital Cherokee’s nurses are being honored in a big way. During Patient Care Week, the hospital unveiled its 2026 Nursing Excellence Awards winners, featuring nearly a dozen health care professionals who received high praise from their peers.
"Our Nursing Excellence Award is one of the highlights we look forward to celebrating each year,” Northside Hospital Cherokee Chief Nursing Officer Brandy Jackson said. “What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that it comes from the very colleagues nurses work alongside every day, those at the bedside, at the elbow, and across the organization who witness their compassion, skill, and dedication firsthand.”
2026 Northside Hospital Cherokee Nursing Excellence Awards winners
From ambulatory to surgical services, the annual award series honored 11 nurses across eight categories of care this year. Winners were selected by Shared Governance, a committee dedicated to shared decision-making between Northside staff and leadership.
| Award winner | Award category |
| Randall Cronin | Ambulatory |
| Kayci Burnette | Inpatient |
| Veronica Cardenas | Inpatient |
| Liezl Sodsod | Inpatient |
| Julie Holloway | Leadership |
| Liz Dart | Specialty Services |
| Amy Pickett | Specialty Services |
| Alyssa Vaughn | Specialty Services |
| Kristen Davis | Surgical Services |
| Angela Benjumea | Women’s Services |
| Tori Clift | Women’s Services |
The award recognizes each nurse for their competence, compassion, knowledge, professionalism, excellent service and teamwork within their winning category.
“I am incredibly proud of our nursing team and the culture they continue to foster, one built on strong relationships, mutual respect, and a genuine commitment to celebrating one another’s contributions and successes,” Jackson said.
To celebrate their accomplishments, the recipients’ families were invited to witness the award reveals firsthand. A surprise to the winning nurses, the smiling family moment was captured on camera.
LEARN MORE ABOUT NURSING CAREERS AT NORTHSIDE.
Pictured above, top row, from left: Liz Dart, specialty services; Kayci Burnette, inpatient; Veronica Cardenas, inpatient; and Liezl Sodsod, inpatient. Middle row, from left: Julie Holloway, leadership; Alyssa Vaughn, specialty services; and Kristen Davis, surgical services. Bottom row, from left: Amy Pickett, specialty services; Angela Benjumea, women's services; Randall Cronin, ambulatory; and Tori Clift, women's services.
