erri Holden, Kathleen LePain and Lisa Treadwell have been recognized with 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution Celebrating Nurses Awards, which honor 10 exceptional nurses who have made a positive impact in the lives of the patients, families and communities they serve. The Piedmont nurses, who were chosen from more than 570 nominees across Georgia, were honored at an awards program on May 12. 

“I want to congratulate Terri, Kathleen and Lisa on this prestigious award,” Piedmont Chief Nursing Executive Denise Ray said. “We’re very proud of them – and of all our nurses at Piedmont, who bring personalized care to patients across the state of Georgia and beyond. Thank you for making a positive difference in the lives of our patients.”

Holden, a Medical-Surgical Unit charge nurse at Piedmont Cartersville Medical Center, was recognized for finding creative ways to brighten the hospital stays of her patients.

“Terri exemplifies the professional nurse through her actions and the way she cares for patients. She makes particularly special connections with our patients that have extended length of stay,” a co-worker wrote in the nomination. 

LePain, a staff nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Piedmont Athens Regional, was honored for her kindness and comforting words for a worried mother whose baby has been in the NICU for several months. LePain, who also won a Celebrating Nurses Award in 2021, is the first nurse to be honored twice in the 18-year history of the awards.

“Kathleen has a supernatural gift of providing care, comfort and empathy for families in the darkest hours,” a co-worker wrote in the nomination.

Treadwell, a charge nurse in the Progressive Care Unit at Piedmont Eastside Medical Center, was cited for bringing comfort – and peach smoothies – to a patient during his final days.

“Taking care of others is part of her DNA. Her mantra is ‘nurse from the heart,’ ” a co-worker wrote in the nomination.