St. Louis Magazine Names 5 SLU Nurses 2025 Excellence in Nursing Finalists
ST. LOUIS (Feb. 20, 2025) — St. Louis Magazine recently announced finalists for its 2025 Excellence in Nursing Awards. The Excellence in Nursing Awards were established to recognize the critical role that nurses play in the health care system, highlighting those who go above and beyond in their practice.
Nursing educators from Saint Louis University were selected for their work shaping the future of health care through their commitment to teaching, research, and mentorship. Their combined expertise ensures that students receive a top-tier education that prepares them for the dynamic and challenging world of health care.
St. Louis Magazine Execellence in Nursing winners will be revealed at an awards reception this summer and recognized in the June/July issue of St. Louis Magazine. Graphic by St. Louis Magazine.
After a rigorous review process conducted by an esteemed panel of judges, the following nurses from the Valentine School of Nursing have been selected by the magazine as finalists:
Excellence in Nursing Finalists
Acute Care/Family Practice/General Medicine
- Geralyn Ochs, associate professor of nursing and coordinator of the adult/gerontological acute care, nurse practitioner option
Administration
- Michelle Papachrisanthou, DNP, associate dean of graduate nursing education
Community/Ambulatory Care
- Diana Llamas, assistant professor of nursing and simulation operations manager
Educator
- Melissa Holman, adjunct professor of nursing
Oncology
- Kristin Keller, Ph.D., assistant professor of nursing
The finalists will be honored, and winners will be revealed at an awards reception this summer and recognized in the June/July issue of St. Louis Magazine. The event will bring together health care professionals, community leaders, and supporters to celebrate the incredible achievements of these nursing professionals.
About Valentine School of Nursing
Founded in 1928, Saint Louis University School of Nursing 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.
Latest Newslink
- Lawrence F. Barmann, Ph.D.: 1932-2025Lawrence Francis Barmann, Ph.D., emeritus professor of American Studies, died April 25, 2025. He was 92.
- Patricia L. Monteleone, M.D.: 1935-2025Patricia L. Monteleone, M.D., dean emerita of the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, died Sunday, May 4, 2025. She was 89. A true trailblazer, Monteleone was the first female dean of Saint Louis University School of Medicine.
- SLU to Serve as Regional Summit Hub Host Site in National Event Around Health Care Workforce ReadinessOn Wednesday, May 21, the Saint Louis University Interprofessional Education Program, the Doisy College of Health Sciences, will host the fifth annual Regional Summit sponsored by the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions.
- SLU Professors Recognized at 2025 St. Louis Theater Circle AwardsTwo Saint Louis University Theatre and Dance faculty members brought home awards at the 2025 St. Louis Theatre Circle Awards. Nancy Bell, professor of theatre, was awarded Outstanding Director of a Comedy for "As You Like It". The show also received Outstanding Production of a Comedy. Lucy Cashion, associate professor of theatre, directed "Romanov Family Yard Sale," which received Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy.
- Saint Louis University's New Venture Accelerator Names Second CohortSaint Louis University's New Venture Accelerator (NVA), launched in 2024 out of the Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship, announces its second cohort of participants. The NVA offers current SLU students and alumni who have graduated within the last five years equity-free investments of up to $50,000 through a special accelerator fund created through donor support. In addition to financial support, the teams receive additional resources and mentoring from SLU experts.
- Saint Louis University Students in Kenya, Malawi Embrace Opportunity to Be Part of University CommunityThe Saint Louis University-Jesuit Worldwide Learning program offers bachelor's degrees to international students displaced by conflict, lack of opportunity, and poverty in places such as refugee camps in Kenya and Malawi.