Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award announces Top 10 finalists for 2024

• With top 10 finalists shortlisted from 78,000+ nurses from 202+ countries across the world, one nurse will win the grand title award of US $250,000. 
• The top 10 finalists were selected through a meticulous review process carried out independently by Ernst & Young LLP, Expert Jury and the Grand Jury

The top 10 finalists for 2024 includes: Archimedes Motari (Kugitimo Health Centre, Kenya), Johnsy Inni (Immanuel Lutheran Rural Hospital, Papua New Guinea), Laarni Conlu Florencio (New York Presbyterian, USA), Lilian Nuwabaine (Aga Khan University School of Nursing Midwifery, and Manyangwa Best Medical Services Center Limited, Uganda), Nelson Bautista (Tawam Hospital, UAE), Nilima Pradeepkumar Rane (President of Nursing Association – Goa state branch, India), Maria Victoria Juan (Consultant at Philippine Army Health Services, Philippines), Martin Schiavenato (Gonzaga University, USA), Hoi Shu Yin (Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore) and Sylvia May Hampton (Wound Care Consultants Ltd, England). To know more about the top 10 finalists, please visit: https://www.asterguardians.com/

Commenting on this, Dr Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman, Aster DM Healthcare, said “Each and everyone of these nurses have showcased excellence – going above and beyond their duties for the wellbeing of patients and the community. The Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award was established with this very aim – to honour, celebrate and reward the remarkable contributions of nurses and establish them as role models in the field of nursing.”

He also added, “With more than 9,000 nurses working across Aster DM Healthcare’s facilities across 7 countries, we have witnessed the commitment and efforts put in by nurses very closely. This is the least we can do to shine a spotlight on the work being done by the nursing community globally.” 

The third edition of the award will not only award the winner with USD 250,000 but also recognize the other nine finalists with a reward. The final round will include interviews with respected members of the grand jury, including: Mr. Howard Catton, Chief Executive Officer of the International Council of Nurses, Switzerland; Prof. Sheila Tlou, Co-Chairperson of the Global HIV Prevention Coalition and former Minister of Health & Member of Parliament of Botswana; Prof. James Buchan, Adjunct Professor at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing; Dr. Peter Carter, an OBE awardee and independent healthcare consultant, and former CEO of the Royal College of Nursing; and Dr. Niti Pall, Senior Digital Advisor for AXA (EC), Board Chair of Harbr, and Managing Director of Health4all advisory.

The final winner will be announced at a gala event in Bengaluru, India by December 2024. Last year Nurse Margaret Shepherd from the UK won the grand title award of USD 250,000.

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The top 10 finalists for 2024 includes:

1. Archimedes Motari, Kugitimo Health Center, Kenya: Recognizing the potential of community health volunteers, Archimedes Motari established a robust community unit that empowered locals and enhanced access to healthcare services. Archimedes tackled cultural barriers, high maternal and neonatal mortality rates, to ensure that the most vulnerable people such as pregnant women, children under the age of 5, and the elderly received the attention they needed. Within the first year of his initiative, maternal deaths were reduced to zero. His initiatives led to a 92% increase in skilled birth attendance and a dramatic reduction of over 70% in perinatal deaths. Beyond patient care, he inspired many students to train as nurses, secured vital medical equipment, and ensured reliable power supply, elevating Kugitimo Health Center to a model of excellence.

• Hoi Shu Yin, Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), Singapore: HoiShu Yin has been credited for two pioneering solutions: PreSAGE, a globally deployed fall prediction and prevention system, and the Bedside Alarm Recognition (BAR) System, designed to address reduced alarm audibility in isolation rooms. These innovative solutions have significantly improved patient safety and operational efficiency, with PreSAGE reducing fall rates by 36% in its deployment across 108 single rooms in the hospital and garnering international recognition. Hoi Shu Yin has been instrumental in advancing TTSH’s digitalisation strategy, challenging current care paradigms, and creating sustainable models for future care. She drove the Wards Without Walls (WoW) program and launched the SMART ward@TTSH in 2022, featuring AI-enabled fall prevention systems, voice-activated smart communication headwear, and commercial robots to support care delivery. Her impact extends beyond technological advancements. During a global Covid outbreak, Shu Yin mobilized over 3,600 nurses, orchestrated the conversion ofsix wards into pandemic wards, and facilitated thedeployment of over 380 nurses to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases.

• Johnsy Inni, Immanuel Lutheran Rural Hospital, Papua New Guinea: With years of experience, Johnsy is a dedicated nurse at Immanuel Lutheran Rural Hospital in Papua New Guinea, leading the Wanikipa Health Centre in a remote area. In the past, Wanikipa faced high infant and maternal mortality rates due to geographical barriers and resource limitations. Johnsy voluntarily provides essential healthcare services to underserved populations and remote places – often having to swim across fast-flowing rivers and climb over high steep mountains, risking his life to reach certain places and deliver basic health services. Collaborating with the Hela Provincial Health Authority and the Oil Search Foundation resulted in the provision of a solar vaccine fridge, which significantly reduced annual child mortality rates from 50% to 20%. He has also influenced policies on basic patient care and improved immunization programs, further lowering child mortality rates. Through his perseverance, Johnsy secured an outboard motor and chartered helicopters from Hela Province Health Authority for patient transport and mass immunization.

• Laarni Conlu Florencio, New York Presbyterian, USA: With an illustrious career spanning over 33 years, Laarni oversees the continuing professional development of nurses employed at New York Presbyterian campuses including the well-renowned NYP Cornell and NYP Columbia University Hospitals. Laarni’s commitment to nursing education is evident in her role as an Affiliated Faculty at New York University and Chamberlain University for the MSN Informatics Program. She is currently the President of the Philippine Nurses Association of New York. Laarni introduced the Thinking of You Kindness Campaign, a virtual mental health support initiative for the wellbeing of nurses in the US and the Philippines. Recently, she established a global platform for a free continuing education program for nurses to help them elevate their clinical practice. Nurse experts and partners from various countries led 6 educational sessions, which received an attendance of global nurses from Asia, Europe, the US and the Middle East.

• Lilian Nuwabaine, Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery, and Manyangwa Best Medical Center, Uganda:  Lilian Nuwabaine stands as a dedicated healthcare professional in Uganda, who established the ‘Best Medical Center’ to address the healthcare needs of people living in remote areas, reducing their need to travel nearly 30 kilometers to access care. By providing free healthcare services, Lilian has impacted over 5,000 community members. She also launched ‘Your Nurse and Midwife on Air’ project, to raise public understanding on nurses and midwifes, boosted their confidence and mentored 10,000+ nurses – enhancing their self-esteem, confidence and reputation of nurses across Uganda. She has conducted 80+ training sessions benefiting more than 3,100 nurses and midwives from different health facilities across Uganda in areas like RMNCAH, Basic Emergency Care, SRHR, Gender Based Violence and leadership among others. Lilian has also contributed to 10+ papers on reproductive maternal newborn child and adolescent health (RMNCAH). She also emerged as the Midwife of the year 2021 in the Heroes in Health Awards Uganda, an award by the Ministry of Health in Uganda.

• Maria Victoria Juan, Consultant at Philippine Army Health Services, Philippines: As the Chief Nurse of the Philippine Army, she was responsible for initiating the first aeromedical evacuation system in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). This system has greatly improved survival rates by enabling rapid evacuation and early treatment of casualties, especially in conflict areas. At the age of 54 years, she joined an intensive 9-month long aeromedical evacuation training program while working full-time as a chief nurse. As a leader who believes in leading from the front, she completed 200-hours of emergency ambulance conduction, 100 hours of clinical duty, 1-mile ocean swim, 3-day jungle survival, helicopter underwater escape and flight medical runs, while having a fear of flying and deepwater swimming. Maria also pioneered environmental health initiatives, integrating vetiver grass technology to combat soil erosion and water pollution. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Maria organized the Endurun Mega Swabbing Center, training troops as medical swabbers and coordinating healthcare professionals. The center conducted nearly 500,000 tests, significantly contributing to the country’s pandemic response.

• Martin Schiavenato, Gonzaga University, USA: With 30 years of experience, Martin stands at the forefront of innovation in healthcare technology. Martin’s journey took a transformative turn in the NICU, where witnessing the immense pain of a newborn with a genetic disorder ignited his passion for understanding and measuring pain in non-verbal patients. His groundbreaking work led to the development of a US-patented medical device prototype that detects, measures, and displays pain scores in real-time for infants, revolutionizing pain management and improving neurodevelopmental outcomes. This device, which integrates behavioral and physiological signals, allows for the optimal timing of medical procedures, minimizing distress and promoting better health. In addition to this pain detection device, he has also invented three other tools for the nursing care of premature infants, each at various phases of development. They include a) methodology to monitor procedures and interventions in premature infants which helps nurses and doctors schedule care interventions at a time when the infant is physiologically best prepared to endure them; b) a method to prevent plagiocephaly; and c) self-weighing diaper.

• Nelson Bautista, Tawam Hospital, UAE: As a Clinical Resource Nurse, Nelson has been actively engaged in pioneering several initiatives aimed at elevating the standard of nursing education and refining its methodologies. He initiated the ‘Your Health First’ program, which became crucial during the 2020 pandemic by bolstering the resilience of frontline heroes. This initiative garnered global recognition, achieving a 5-star rating at the 8th International Best Practice Competition in New Zealand and receiving an’Honourable Mention’ at theInternational Hospital Federation Awards in 2022 and 2024. He has also spearheaded initiatives such as Digital Transformation in Nursing Education, revolutionizing nursing education department’s practices, and leading the Digitization of the Nursing Orientation Program project, to streamline and expedite the onboarding process for new nurses. Nelson’s leadership and dedication to nursing have earned him numerous accolades, including The Abu Dhabi Healthcare Services (SEHA) Outstanding Nurse Award, Top Healthcare Professionals in the Middle East Award, and the prestigious “Asia’s Pinnacle Awards” in October 2023, where he was honored as ‘Asia’s Inspiring Multi-awarded International Nurse’.

• Nilima Pradeepkumar Rane, President of Nursing Association (TNAI), Goa State Branch, India: Nilima serves as the President of the Nursing Association (TNAI) Goa State Branch and is a member of the Indian Nursing Council. She has been associated with the Goa Medical College and Hospital as Assistant Matron. Her dedication to the nursing profession is exemplified by her leadership in establishing the Goa Nursing Council in 2014, which has been instrumental in advocating for the rights of numerous nurses. Through her efforts, new accredited nursing schools were created, significantly increasing the number of qualified nursing professionals annually and enhancing educational prospects for aspiring nurses in Goa. In her personal capacity, she also petitioned to the Public Health Department advocating for study leave for nurses pursuing part-time graduate and post-graduate degrees in nursing. As a staunch advocate for fair compensation for nurses, she addressed anomalies in the pay of Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANM) by representing their issues based on the advisory committee’s recommendations on equal remunerations to the Government of Goa. She also spearheaded initiatives to improve biomedical waste segregation by implementing colour-coded bins, reducing food waste, and ensuring the provision of safety gear.

1. Sylvia May Hampton, Wound Healing Centre, UK: With 30 years of experience, Sylvia Hampton is an esteemed Tissue Viability Nurse Consultant whose pioneering work in wound care has transformed the field. Beginning her nursing career at 41, she quickly rose to prominence, establishing the Wound Healing Centre in 1999 in UK, achieving an astonishing 83% healing rate within six weeks for chronic wounds. Sylvia’s patient-centric, collaborative approach garnered international acclaim, showcasing the superior outcomes of nurse-led care and elevating global wound care standards. She has authored 135+ articles and two books, and organized numerous training days and conferences, significantly improving local healing rates and healthcare professionals’ knowledge. Her personalized care and dedication have led to improved healing rates and patient satisfaction, reshaping wound care practices throughout the UK.