News

Meet 40 Under 40 Awardee: Keith De Los Santos

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 […]

Meet 40 Under 40 Awardee: Theresa Frawley

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 […]

Meet 40 Under 40 Awardee: Dainel King

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 […]

Meet 40 Under 40 Awardee: Leesa Thompson

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 […]

Help Shape the Future of Nursing Innovation in Illinois

The Illinois Nurses Foundation is seeking nurses interested in serving on the INF Grant Committee and helping guide the next chapter of the License Plate Grant Program. Over the past year, the Grant Process Review Taskforce completed an extensive review of the program. From August 2025 through March 2026, taskforce members examined and strengthened the […]

Meet 40 Under 40 Awardee: Randa Melms

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 […]

Meet 40 Under 40 Awardee: Jessica Schomer

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 […]

Meet 40 Under 40 Awardee: Sagar Patel

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 […]

Celebrating Excellence: Dr. Colleen Morley Receives National Case Management Honor

Illinois Nurses Foundation is proud to celebrate Board Member Dr. Colleen Morley on being named the Case Management Society of America’s (CMSA) Case Manager of the Year. This prestigious national recognition honors outstanding leaders who have made significant contributions to the field of case management and have demonstrated excellence in improving patient care, advancing healthcare […]

Nominations Open for the 2026 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leader Awards

The Illinois Nurses Foundation invites nominations for the 2026 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leader Awards. This marks the 12th year of recognizing Illinois nurses under age 40 who demonstrate leadership, initiative, and meaningful impact in nursing practice, education, research, and administration. These awards honor nurses who extend their influence beyond daily responsibilities. Honorees improve patient […]