St. Louis Magazine Salutes SLU's Top Nursing Educators
06/06/2025
ST. LOUIS — Four nursing educators in Saint Louis University’s Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing have been honored with a St. Louis Magazine’s 2025 Excellence in Nursing Award. This recognition underscores the dedication and leadership of SLU’s nurse educators in advancing the profession and shaping the future of health care.
In February, the magazine selected five finalists from SLU’s Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing for their commitment to teaching, research, and mentorship. Nominees included Geralyn Ochs, associate professor of nursing; Michelle Papachrisanthou, DNP, associate dean of graduate nursing practice; Diana Llamas, assistant professor of nursing; and simulation operations manager; Melissa Holman, adjunct professor of nursing; and Kristin Keller, Ph.D., assistant professor of nursing.
After a rigorous review process conducted by a panel of judges, St. Louis Magazine named four winners at an awards reception held Wednesday, June 4, at the Missouri Botanical Garden. The winners will also be featured in the June/July issue of St. Louis Magazine.
2025 Excellence in Nursing Winners
Geralyn Ochs – Acute Care/Family Practice/General Medicine
Geralyn Ochs, associate professor of nursing and coordinator of the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner option. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Geralyn Ochs, associate professor of nursing and coordinator of the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner option, has taught at the Valentine School of Nursing for the past 33 years. She led the development and implementation of the first ACNP program in Missouri 24 years ago. Her goal has always been to develop the next generation of highly skilled acute care nurse practitioners who are practice-ready upon graduation to deliver compassionate, attentive, holistic patient-centered care.
On her greatest impact in the field: Ochs participated in the acute care nurse practitioner expert panel discussing the American Nurses Credentialing Center's development of the first adult gerontological acute care nurse practitioner certification exam. She has presented at multiple advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) conferences locally, nationally, and most recently at an international conference for APRNs in Scotland.
Michelle Papachrisanthou – Administration
Michelle Papachrisanthou, DNP, associate dean of graduate nursing education. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Michelle Papachrisanthou, DNP, associate dean of graduate nursing education, is celebrated by her peers for her proactive approach, meticulous attention to detail, and inspiring leadership. Papachrisanthou is instrumental in driving the strategic vision of the school. Under her guidance, the graduate programs have expanded, the curriculum has been refined, and she has played a pivotal role in authoring the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Self-Study Report, a comprehensive document used by nursing programs seeking accreditation or reaccreditation, for the Valentine School of Nursing. Papachrisanthou is deeply committed to the school’s core values and is passionate about advancing graduate nursing education.
Two-time Excellence in Nursing finalist: Papachrisanthou was named St. Louis Magazine’s 2018 Excellence in Nursing finalist in the Pediatrics: Non-Neonatal Category. Then, she was recognized for her work as a pediatric nurse practitioner in primary care, serving predominantly medically underserved pediatric populations. She emphasizes the importance of growth, development, and the support of family and community surrounding the child.
In her own words: "Driven by a passion for growth and excellence, I’m dedicated to shaping the future of graduate nursing education at the Valentine School of Nursing with purpose and unwavering commitment."
Diana Llamas – Community/Ambulatory Care
Diana Llamas, assistant professor of nursing and simulation operations manager. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Peruvian native Diana Llamas, assistant professor of nursing and simulation operations manager, has gained invaluable knowledge, skills, and cultural competence from living in Peru, Spain, and the U.S. Llamas is actively involved in developing practical resources to meet mental well-being needs and reduce health disparities among the Hispanic community in the St. Louis area amid a nursing shortage.
Llamas began her career as a nurse in St. Louis and move back to Madrid, where she grew up, to teach. The courses she taught at SLU Madrid focused on health promotion and prevention, an experience that sparked her curiosity to do research and find ways to improve the health of the Hispanic community in St. Louis.
"I love the Spanish culture, and the beauty about that is how easy it is to be able to access health care and how well your doctors treat you, plus how much intention they put into taking care of you. That is the trusting relationship that I eventually want to create with my students and patients here," Llamas said in a recent interview with KSDK-TV Ch. 5.
On the job’s most rewarding aspect: As a clinical nurse leader at SLU, Llamas is also committed to training culturally competent nursing students, engaging them in quality improvement projects during their public health clinical rotations at various not-for-profit organizations and clinics. Llamas is a Ph.D. candidate at SLU and is working to expand the SLU Madrid campus for Master of Science nursing students to increase global health opportunities.
Kristin Keller – Oncology
Kristin Keller, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of nursing. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Kristin Keller, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of nursing. Her contributions to nursing science include publications regarding symptom management and improving the quality of life among patients living with cancer during their treatment trajectory. Keller was also recently recognized as a finalist for the March of Dimes Heroes in Action Award in the education category.
In her own words: "It is a deep honor and privilege to be a part of shaping the next generation of nurses who will embody excellence in nursing care."
About Valentine School of Nursing
Founded in 1928, the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing at Saint Louis University has achieved a national reputation for its innovative and pioneering programs. Offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral nursing programs, its faculty members are nationally recognized for their teaching, research and clinical expertise.
About Saint Louis University
Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Catholic research institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, SLU offers more than 15,300 students a rigorous, transformative education that challenges and prepares them to make the world a better place. As a nationally recognized leader in research and innovation, SLU is an R1 research university, advancing groundbreaking, life-changing discoveries that promote the greater good.
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