Maria Santaella Wins Nurse of the Year Award from National Hemophilia Foundation

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Maria E. Santaella, M.S.N., RN-BC, hemophilia nurse coordinator in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, has received the Nurse of the Year Award from the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF).

The award was presented during the foundation’s recent annual meeting in Chicago. The award honors a nurse who has demonstrated service to the bleeding disorders community beyond day-to-day responsibilities. It is given to an individual who serves as a role model for others in the field and has a minimum of two years’ experience working in the bleeding disorders community.

From left, Maria Santaella, M.S.N., RN-BC, with Val D. Bias, CEO of the National Hemophilia Foundation.

“I was nominated by my co-workers, who were notified in advance that I was the winner,” said Santaella, who has worked at the Miller School for 15 years. “They kept it a secret, and even though I was a co-chair of the annual meeting, I didn’t find out until it was announced at the nurses’ luncheon, the day before the award ceremony. I was very honored to receive the award because I’ve been working in this field a long time, and there are wonderful nursing professionals in it. My colleagues are incredible professionals who deserve it as much as I do.”

“This award is testimony to Maria’s devotion to, and expertise in, the bleeding disorders community,” said Joanna A. Davis, M.D., medical director of the Comprehensive Pediatric Hemophilia Treatment Center. “Those of us who work with her every day can attest to all the qualities which are recognized by this award. We at UM are very fortunate to have her as an integral part of our Hemophilia Treatment Center.”

Santaella, who has been the pediatric bleeding disorders nurse coordinator at the Hemophilia Treatment Center since 2003, also was the adult nurse coordinator from 2007 to 2014. She is a published author in several scientific journals, co-developed the nationally recognized workshops Infusion 101 and Lighten Up, chairs the NHF’s Nursing Working Group and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice, and is a member of several national interdisciplinary committees.

Tags: Maria E. Santaella, Miller School of Medicine, National Hemophilia Foundation, Nurse of the Year Award, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami