From bedside to system-wide change, Niagara Health team members continue to shape what exceptional care looks like every day. Whether through quiet acts of compassion, bold innovation, or strong leadership, their impact is felt across our hospitals and in the lives of patients and families.
This year’s Niagara Health Awards of Excellence shine a spotlight on those individuals and teams whose commitment to care goes above and beyond — not for recognition, but because it’s who they are.
“This is about more than just awards. It’s about celebrating the everyday excellence, compassion and commitment that define who we are,” says Niagara Health President and CEO Lynn Guerriero. “Because behind every shift, every patient experience, every quiet act of kindness — there’s a person choosing to make a difference.”
These are just a few inspiring examples of this year’s award recipients, handed out Wednesday during a ceremony at Niagara College’s Benchmark Restaurant.
“I feel incredibly proud to be part of this team, to work alongside individuals who don’t just do their jobs, but create moments of comfort, healing and connection every single day,” says Guerriero.
This year’s President and CEO Award for Extraordinary Performance — the organization’s highest honour — was presented to Caitlin Muhl, a Quality and Patient Safety Specialist, known for turning complex challenges into practical improvements that strengthen patient care.
Muhl has led work to improve delirium prevention and detection, advancing Niagara Health’s Care for Older Persons strategy. She developed education bundles that increased use of the Confusion Assessment Method, resulting in about 40 per cent more patients being screened — a meaningful step toward better outcomes for older adults across Niagara.
“I'm incredibly humbled to receive this award and grateful for the opportunity Niagara Health gives me to do this work alongside such an exceptional team,” says Muhl. “It’s a privilege to support safe, high-quality care for our patients and community.”
Muhl has also contributed to emerging areas of care, including social prescribing, helping translate research into practice to address social isolation and loneliness among older adults. Her efforts have supported successful funding opportunities and strengthened Niagara Health’s leadership in innovative, patient-centred approaches.
Beyond her project work, Muhl is deeply committed to supporting others. Through the Quality Improvement Academy, she mentors colleagues, builds organizational capacity and encourages teams in leading their own improvement initiatives. She is also a champion of knowledge sharing, encouraging teams to showcase their work and helping elevate Niagara Health’s presence in quality improvement and research.
“Our hospitals may be built from bricks and mortar, but the true foundation lies in our people,” says Guerriero.
Together, this year’s recipients reflect the many ways excellence shows up across Niagara Health, bringing out the best in others.
The remaining 12 award categories were presented to exceptional Niagara Health team members during the awards ceremony.
The Chief of Staff Award for Extraordinary Physician Impact was awarded to Dr. Lorraine Jensen with the Department of Medicine, for her extraordinary physician leadership. Dr. Jensen is known not only for her clinical excellence, but for the way she shows up for her colleagues, patients and the organization. She is a trusted mentor to emerging physician leaders, generously sharing her time, experience and insight to help others grow. When the system is under pressure, Dr. Jensen steps forward — chairing key committees, taking on critical leadership roles and ensuring no clinical need goes unmet. Dr. Jensen leads with a true spirit of service.
The Achieving Ambitious Results Award went to Laura Agnoletto, an Emergency Department (ED) Nurse and Hospital Information System (HIS) Application Analyst, for her exceptional work improving clinical workflows and efficiencies, streamlining processes and strengthening patient safety. One of Agnoletto’s most significant achievements was redesigning the Emergency Department triage form to better align with clinical practice. Her work reduced unnecessary documentation and improved usability, saving an average of four minutes per patient during triage. Across approximately 12,500 Emergency Department visits each month, this translates to an estimated 10,000 clinical hours saved annually.
The Extraordinary Future Through Innovation Award was presented to the Emergency Department Task Force — Rachael Cooke, Sarah Latham, Kathleen Kullerkup and Caitlyn Wilson — whose work has driven meaningful improvements in patient flow and care delivery. By combining frontline insight with data-informed strategies, they have helped redesign key processes, improving efficiency and access to care while fostering stronger collaboration across teams. One of their most significant contributions was leading the redesign of the Rapid Assessment Zone (RAZ) to reduce Physician Initial Assessment times and streamline patient movement through the Emergency Department.
The Extraordinary Team Award was presented to the Switchboard/Resource Centre for outstanding commitment to supporting patient care across Niagara Health. As a central hub connecting teams, they ensure timely, accurate communication in high-pressure situations. Last year alone this team answered more than 700,000 calls. Their standardized processes, problem-solving and strong partnerships improve coordination and reduce delays to keep operations running smoothly across the organization.
The Extraordinary Patient Experience Award went to Lauren Mullin, Registered Practical Nurse in Detox and Mental Health, for her ability to see the person behind every diagnosis. Even in very challenging high-pressure situations, she remains calm, compassionate and deeply focused on protecting patient dignity. She is guided by a strong sense of ethics and a commitment to doing what’s best for patients. Mullin not only brings a respectful presence to her work, but she is thoughtful about improving care, taking what she learns from experience and using it to help strengthen practice and patient outcomes.
The Compassion in Action Award was presented to Marie Cordero, a Personal Support Worker in the Intensive Care Unit at the Welland Hospital. Known for her calm presence and unwavering dedication, Cordero consistently goes above and beyond to support patients, families and colleagues during some of the most challenging moments in care. Her kindness, patience and respect — especially when caring for elderly and vulnerable patients — help create a sense of comfort, dignity and trust.
The Driven by Optimism Award was awarded to Dorothy Baarda, a Peritoneal Dialysis Nurse with the Kidney Care team, for her leadership, enthusiasm and commitment to patient education and program development. A trusted mentor and patient advocate, Baarda’s positivity and collaborative approach continue to strengthen kidney care across Niagara Health.
The Extraordinary Leadership Award was presented to Matthew Baronaitis, Manager of the Telemetry, Heart Investigation Unit and Coronary Care Unit at Marotta Family Hospital. Through his strategic focus, commitment to staff development and emphasis on accountability and trust, Baronaitis has strengthened both performance and culture within the cardiology program, supporting improved outcomes for patients and teams alike.
The Extraordinary Caring Award went to Tanja Groeneveld, a Clinical Manager with Professional Nursing Practice, for her compassionate leadership and commitment to improving patient care and safety. Groeneveld advanced pressure injury prevention across Niagara Health through system-wide, evidence-informed strategies centred on education, teamwork and frontline support. Her leadership improved outcomes, strengthened accountability and fostered a culture of inclusive, collaborative teams. Known for empathy and integrity, she champions professional growth while ensuring compassionate, high-quality care, leaving a lasting positive impact on patients, staff and the organization.
The Extraordinary Interdepartmental Collaboration Award went to the UKG Project Team for demonstrating exceptional teamwork, resilience and shared leadership in advancing a major organizational initiative. They are integrating key systems — scheduling, payroll, time tracking and attendance — into a streamlined platform to improve the employee experience. Bringing together cross-functional teams, they collaborate thoughtfully, considering impacts across departments. Despite tight timelines and complexity, they work with trust, respect and a solutions-focused mindset, strengthening relationships and modeling a culture of collaboration.
The Extraordinary Volunteer Award went to Debbie Starrs for being the kind of volunteer who reminds us just how powerful quiet dedication can be. Since joining Niagara Health in 2020, Starrs has led the Gift Shop, supported fundraising and served in auxiliary leadership. She brings energy, care and a strong commitment to patients, families and fellow volunteers. She goes the extra mile to meet individual needs and contributes countless hours behind the scenes, organizing events and strengthening the volunteer community. Having served more than 1,700 volunteer hours, her impact is extraordinary.
The Extraordinary Patient Partner Award was presented to Barbara Smith, Patient Partner, for her work on Niagara Health’s Delirium Aware Safer Healthcare (DASH) working group. Smith generously shared her story of caring for her elderly mother, who experiences delirium, with staff across Niagara Health. Staff didn’t just hear about delirium as a clinical condition — they understood what it feels like for patients and families and how important their role is in preventing and managing it. Smithcontinues to contribute in a meaningful way as a Patient Partner in a province-wide delirium research study, where her insights help shape the work as it happens.
