Milford, CT (May 6, 2026) – Twenty-five nurses and staff members from Bridgeport Hospital were honored for their incredible work during the 2026 Evening of Nursing and Philanthropy. The award ceremony, which took place at Tyde at Walnut Beach in Milford, recognized the unwavering dedication of the nursing staff and their counterparts. It honored their steadfast commitment to delivering patient-centered care every day.
The event, which was held in association with the Bridgeport Hospital Foundation, took place during Nurses Week, a time to show sincere gratitude and support for the nurses who work around the clock.
“This is a time to recognize and celebrate our exceptional nurses and clinical staff, whose commitment, compassion and strength never go unnoticed,” said Mary Christoffersen, DNP, RN, chief nursing officer at Bridgeport Hospital. “No matter the challenge, they continue to care for our patients with resilience and grace. We are deeply grateful for the impact they make every single day.”
Below is a list of the awards given out at the Evening of Nursing and Philanthropy. Many of them are made possible by philanthropic gifts from the community to the Bridgeport Hospital Foundation.
Advanced Practitioner Excellence Award - Maia Weed, APRN
Magnet Nurse of the Year - Krystin Gaetano, RN
Bickel Family Mobility Excellence Award - Sheryl Pinho, RN
Bridgeport Hospital Nursing Excellence Award - Rachel Varney, RN
Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing Award - Amelia Taddei, RN
Cardiothoracic Nursing Excellence Award - Tammy Freeman, RN
Connie DeMattia Emerging Leader Award - Emily Meyers, RN
Excellence in Burn Nursing Award - Kailin Kyle, RN
Excellence in Emergency Nursing Award - Cortney Zawesza, RN
Excellence in Psychiatry Nursing Award - Kimber Roberts, RN
Greater Bridgeport Medical Association Nursing Excellence Award - Brittany Sendzik, RN
Helen Baumister "Miss B" Nursing Excellence Award - Analese Labbadia, RN
James and Lisa Bernstein Nursing Excellence Award - Brooke Mazzamaro, RN
Joyce Arena Nursing Development Award - Imelda Benedicto, RN
Milford Campus Nursing Excellence Award - Genalyn Dacuycuy, RN
Nurse Manager of the Year Award - Marie Pham, RN
Park Avenue Nursing Excellence Award - Mary Nucci, RN
Susan B. Tenney Oncology Nursing Award - Danielle Oswin Kelly, RN
Susan Carol Bolack Sulier Nursing Excellence Award for Critical Care - Daisy Aguilar, RN
Susan Carol Bolack Sulier Nursing Excellence Award for Maternal Child Health - Tina Tagliamonte, RN
The Guardian of Breath Award - Jennifer Iamiceli, RRT
The Rose Award - Althea Cowan, PCT
The Rose Award - Barbara Schlesinger, PCT
The Rose Award - Lauren Bogert, PCT
The Service Excellence Award - Cindy Santos-Edwards, BA
Bridgeport Hospital, part of Yale New Haven Health, is a non-profit 501-bed acute care hospital with two campuses (plus 42 beds licensed to Yale New Haven Children's Hospital). Its Bridgeport and Milford Campuses serve patients from across the region. The hospital admits more than 23,000 patients and provides nearly 350,000 outpatient treatments annually. The Connecticut Burn Center at Bridgeport Hospital is the only burn center in the state and one of only 64 verified burn centers in the United States. Bridgeport Hospital is committed to providing safe, compassionate and cost efficient care to its patients and the community. www.bridgeporthospital.org
