Category: 40 Under 40

Catherine Cooke, MSN, RN, CPN For Catherine Cooke, nursing has always been about making a difference through compassionate care, meaningful leadership, and unwavering advocacy. From caring for children with complex medical conditions at the bedside to leading pediatric nursing teams, she has embraced every opportunity to support patients, families, and fellow nurses. As a 2026 […]

Brittany Holliday, BSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC, GERO-BC For Brittany Holliday, nursing leadership is about empowering others to create meaningful change. Throughout her career, she has championed the belief that the best ideas often come from the nurses providing care at the bedside. By fostering collaboration, advancing professional governance, and leading evidence-based initiatives, Brittany has helped create […]

Paige Oxley, BSN, RN-BC For Paige Oxley, exceptional patient care begins by supporting the people who provide it. Throughout her nursing career, she has dedicated herself to empowering nurses, fostering collaboration, and creating environments where teams feel confident, heard, and equipped to succeed. As a 2026 Illinois Nurses Foundation 40 Under 40 Awardee, Paige continues […]

Keith De Los Santos, MSN, RN For Keith De Los Santos, the road to nursing was anything but conventional. His journey began in the classroom as a high school science teacher before a life changing health experience revealed the profound impact nurses have during a person’s most vulnerable moments. That experience inspired him to pursue […]

Theresa Frawley, MSN, RN, CPN For Theresa Frawley, nursing has always been about caring for others while never stopping the pursuit of learning. From participating in global health experiences as a nursing student to educating pediatric nurses and leading innovative professional development initiatives, her career has been guided by curiosity, compassion, and a commitment to […]

Dainel King, DNP, CRNA, CPPS, CNE, FNAP For Daniel King, nursing began long before he ever stepped into a classroom, it began from the perspective of a patient. As a child hospitalized with complex medical needs, he experienced firsthand the difference compassionate nurses can make during life’s most uncertain moments. Those experiences, coupled with the […]

Leesa Thompson, DNP, RN For Leesa Thompson, nursing has always been about people the patients whose lives she has touched, the students she has inspired, and the colleagues she has encouraged along the way. From caring for critically ill children to educating the next generation of nurses, she has embraced every opportunity to make a […]

Randa Melms, EdD., MSN-Ed, RN, NE-BC For Randa, nursing has been a journey defined by service, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to helping others succeed. From serving as an Army Nurse to leading emergency department operations and advancing nursing education through doctoral research, she has embraced every opportunity to grow while making a meaningful impact […]

Jessica Schomer, BSN, RN, SCRN For Jessica, nursing was never simply a career choice it was inspired by a life-changing experience that forever shaped her perspective on compassion and care. After witnessing the extraordinary support nurses provided to her brother and family following his traumatic brain injury, Jessica discovered the profound impact nurses can have […]

Sagar Patel, MSN, MS, FNP-BC, BSN, RN Nursing has provided Sagar Patel with the opportunity to combine scientific discovery, compassionate patient care, and leadership into a career dedicated to improving healthcare. Through a commitment to evidence-based practice, research, and quality improvement, Sagar has built a career that extends far beyond the bedside. As a 2026 […]