Next week brings Valentine’s Day once again, and with it some news you’re really going to love.
Granted, some will delight in it more than others, but it involves something everyone in long-term care can celebrate: the unveiling of the 2023 McKnight’s Women of Distinction Awards winners.
Now in its fifth year, this most-distinguished program recognizes standouts in skilled nursing, senior living and home care. It has already built an elite sorority of outstanding professionals. They come from sole facilities and national chains, every corner of the US, and every level of experience.
Nowhere else do you get the likes of Lynne Katzmann, Mary Ousley, Katie Smith Sloan, Patricia Will, Carol Silver Elliott, Leigh Ann Barney, Mary Alice Ryan and dozens and dozens of others of their caliber in the same place.
On successive days next week, we’ll announce the winners in the Rising Stars (early career), Veteran VIPs (mid-to-late career) and Hall of Honor (executive) categories. (Wanna see who’s won in past years in these categories? Check out this or head to mcknightswomenofdistinction.com and scroll to the bottom.)
I have seen with my own eyes how close some great candidates were to making it in this year. The competition was that tight because the quality was so high.
Once again, the long-term care community delivered a record number of nominees in November, December and January. A respected, national, independent panel of judges studied the credentials, backgrounds and results of each and every one of the nominees before making their decisions.
Like the Olympics, tenths of a point literally made the difference between getting in or not in some cases. For some winners, it was a third attempt that was the charm. For others, it was their first.
If you were nominated and you don’t get a congratulatory call during the week ahead, it doesn’t mean you’re not a huge winner already. This is truly one competition where simply being nominated is an honor. My wish is that all nominators let their nominees know they were so respected, they were nominated for one of these outstanding honors.
One thing is very clear: We will not have to worry about a shortage of qualified candidates any time soon. Patients, past and present, thank you for that, as do we at McKnight’s. Certain elements of society seem to be intent on dragging nursing homes through the mud at every opportunity. Isn’t it time somebody exalted them and their top performers instead?
After next week’s wave of announcements, there will be a brief pause before winners of the program’s Lifetime Achievement and Spirit categories are made public.
Everything will culminate May 22 at the historic Ivy Room in Chicago with an awards ceremony and banquet not to be missed. You don’t have to be a winner to buy tickets and attend. On the contrary. In the past, future winners, and just plain fans of good long-term care, have filled the audience and enjoyed a festive event. (Here are two examples of last year’s magazine coverage.)
Details on the program, the awards ceremony and that all-time roster of winners can be found on the program website.
Check it out — if you don’t know somebody on that list, you definitely should. And maybe your name should be on it too. Wouldn’t that be lovely?
James M. Berklan is McKnight’s Executive Editor.
Opinions expressed in McKnight’s Long-Term Care News columns are not necessarily those of McKnight’s.
