Moffitt Cancer Center gives out many awards to team members for their dedicated service and commitment to our mission, but there is no higher honor than being recognized by patients and caregivers. For over a decade, Moffitt’s Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) has honored team members with the PFAC Award of Excellence.

This award is given to Moffitt departments who demonstrate excellence in patient-and family-centered care. The council recognizes these teams for their warm, caring approach to care and their dedication to going the extra mile to connect with patients and caregivers. The winners were also chosen because they had either the highest or the most improved Press Ganey patient satisfaction scores (a survey of patient satisfaction). Finally, teams were recognized for achieving Magnet re-designation – the highest honor in nursing excellence.

The winners of the PFAC Award of Excellence are:

• Department of Radiation Therapy
• Department of Transport Services
• Nursing Leadership
• The Senior Adult Oncology Program

In 2020, the council began the new tradition of recognizing individuals within these teams that display an engaging approach to care and a continued commitment to improving the patient experience. These team members were given the PFAC Individual Award of Excellence.

The winners of the PFAC Individual Award of Excellence are:

• Louisa Rattini-Reich, RN
• Karen P. Rogers, BSN, RN, CNOR
• Jennifer Trudeau, BSN, RN, OCN
• Joel Stettler, BSN, RN, OCN
• R.J. Suarez
• Amanda Werner, MSN, RN
• Cassandra Vonnes, DNP, APRN, GNP-BC, AOCNP, CPHQ, FAHA

“Receiving an award from our patient advisors means the world to our team members,” said Anne Bidelman, manager of the Patient Advisory and Executive Patient Programs. “These award recipients truly exemplify Moffitt’s commitment to patient-and family-centered care.”

Before the coronavirus pandemic hit in early 2020, patient advisors from PFAC began visiting different teams across the cancer center and handing out awards. There isn’t a formal ceremony for the PFAC Award of Excellence, making these special moments of recognition a lovely surprise in the workday. Unfortunately, because of the pandemic our patient couldn’t deliver all the awards to their recipients until later in the year.

Since the cancer center’s founding in 1986, the focus on patient and family centered care has been the cornerstone of Moffitt’s mission. Since day one, Moffitt has encouraged the full involvement of family and friends and recognized them as a valuable piece of a patient’s care team. The Patient and Family Advisory Program was established in 2005 and is dedicated to strengthening collaboration between patients, family members and their care teams.