Category: 40 Under 40

INF 40 Under 40 Awardee: Maricela Lares Maricela Lares’ nursing career has been defined by determination, evolution, and a deep sense of purpose. What began as a career rooted in patient care as an LPN has evolved into a mission-driven path that spans rehabilitation nursing, clinical practice, and school health services. Maricela earned her Associate […]

INF 40 Under 40 Awardee: Colleen Hennigan For Colleen Hennigan, nursing was more than a career choice it was a calling shaped by family inspiration and her own childhood experiences as a pediatric patient. Colleen began her journey at Illinois Wesleyan University, earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing before starting her career at Advocate […]

INF 40 Under 40 Awardee: Jasmin Ford For Jasmin Ford, nursing has always been rooted in a simple yet powerful mission: to help people feel seen, safe, and whole. Her path has been winding but purposeful, with each role: bedside nurse, nursing professor, hospital administrator, school board candidate, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) […]

INF 40 Under 40 Awardee: Gins Thachil For Gins Varghese Thachil, nursing is more than a profession it’s a calling built on purpose, perseverance, and passion. His journey, which began in Karnataka, India, reflects resilience, hard work, and a vision to uplift both patients and the nursing profession across continents. Gins began his career with […]

INF 40 Under 40 Awardee: Jessica Panice For Jessica Panice, the journey to nursing began with a shift in focus and a realization about what mattered most. As a Kinesiology and Chemistry major on a premed track at the University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana, Jessica initially set her sights on becoming a pediatrician. By […]

INF 40 Under 40 Awardee: Antoinette Fox For Antoinette Fox, nursing has been a journey of growth, discovery, and finding her voice as a leader. After graduating from Saint Xavier University with her BSN, Antoinette began her career nearly seven years ago at Christ Medical Center on a telemetry unit. Determined to learn and grow […]

INF 40 Under 40 Awardee: Jaden Beckwith For Jaden Beckwith, the call to nursing began with a deep desire to give back to the people who helped him through some of life’s most challenging moments strangers whose compassion left a lasting impact. “That sense of service inspired me to earn my BSN and pursue a […]

INF 40 Under 40 Awardee: Kathleen Sarzyenski For Kathleen Sarzyenski, the road to nursing wasn’t linear. In fact, when she first applied to nursing school in 2014, she described her journey through an unexpected metaphor making caramels. “I kept trying to get them just right adjusting the temperature, changing the pan, fine tuning the timing […]

INF 40 Under 40 Awardee: Amanda Murray For Amanda Murray, nursing has been a journey of growth, advocacy, and evolution. A 2014 graduate of the University of Saint Francis, Amanda began her career at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab the same year and has continued to thrive there ever since. From starting as a student nurse to […]

INF 40 Under 40 Awardee: Ashley Black For Ashley Black, nursing was not part of her original plan. With a Bachelor of Science in Biology and plans to become a Physician Assistant (PA), Ashley was preparing for PA programs when a volunteer opportunity at La Rabida Children’s Hospital changed everything. While volunteering, Ashley was inspired […]