Contact:
Jason Merrill
314-286-0302
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December 2, 2009, ST. LOUIS – Susan Kraenzle, RN, manager of the Joanne Knight breast health center at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, is the Missouri Nurses Association (MONA), Third District, 2009 “St. Louis Nurse of the Year.”
The award is given for Kraenzle’s patient advocacy to promote and improve quality cancer care and nurse advocacy.
“She’s dedicated her life to advocating for patients, both as a staff nurse and as an advocate for women’s health,” says Florence Speer, RN, Vice President of MONA, Third District. “I nominated her and we chose her for her advocacy on behalf of underserved women not only in St. Louis city and county, but also around the Bootheel and St. Genevieve.”
Through grants from Missouri’s Show Me Healthy Women program and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Kraenzle oversees programs providing breast screening at no cost to thousands of women in the underserved community.
“It’s an honor every day to work with a tremendous group of people who allow us to care for women who otherwise would not be able to get this life saving care,” says Kraenzle.
Kraenzle has been actively engaged in outreach the state of Missouri for many years. Before coming to Barnes-Jewish, Kraenzle worked at Jefferson Memorial Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital focused on women and infant care.
“I’ve had a special interest in women and children’s health for years,” she says.