Pittsburgh Penguins Nurse Night: Nurses Honored and Ride Fanboni!

Savannah Edenfield

I am proud to nominate my wife, Savannah, for this recognition. She consistently goes above and beyond in every aspect of her work, and this past year has been no exception. Savannah was nominated for WVU Medicine’s Silver Nurse of the Year Award, an honor that recognizes promising newer nurses with fewer than five years of experience. With only 2.5 years in her career, she has already demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication, which speaks volumes about her potential and the impact she’s having in the field.

On October 1st, Savannah was also honored with a Bravo Award at her hospital as part of a team of Unsung Heroes. This team went above and beyond in providing extraordinary care to a pediatric patient with a concerning prognosis. In one particularly memorable moment, they helped the patient build a snowman and enjoy a snowball fight during one of the winter storms last year—an act that brought joy and hope during a difficult time.
Savannah’s passion for both emergency medicine and pediatrics is evident in everything she does. She approaches each day with a heart full of compassion and a commitment to her patients, while always striving to make a positive impact. Beyond her hospital work, Savannah is also a dedicated medic with the West Virginia Army National Guard (another role in which she exceeds standards as a medic NCO for a Cav scout unit). This further demonstrates my wife’s deep commitment to service in both her community and her country.

My nomination doesn’t stop there! My wife also enjoys giving back to the nursing community by serving as a preceptor for new graduates and nursing students. She finds great joy in mentoring the next generation, sharing her knowledge, and helping them build the confidence they need to succeed in this field. Recently, she also took on the role of Charge Nurse in her department, a position that has allowed her to develop and showcase her leadership skills while continuing to provide exceptional care to her patients.

Savannah’s selflessness, drive, and unwavering dedication to others truly make her a standout professional, and I am honored to share her story. She is the embodiment of what it means to care for and serve others.

As someone who grew up in PA, I have tried to make my wife a fan of a few sports teams here in Pittsburgh! So far her and I have enjoyed watching a few of the Steelers and the Pirates games, however, she has never seen the Penguins (or any hockey team) play, and this would be the perfect opportunity for her and I to do so together!

Tammy Quaye

Tammy Quaye has been exceptional in providing nursing care for several years to the students of the Moon Area School District.  In her role as a school nurse, she has gained quite a following in the community as someone who is dependable, competent, and loved by staff, parents, and students alike.  The day-to-day challenges she has faced in administering nursing care to all ages of students from teens in high school to toddlers in preschool are varied (even being bitten by a student once!), but she always tackles these challenges with optimism and a smile on her face.  Her love for her students shines through with every patient encounter, and this love is mutually reciprocated by the many cards, flowers, and gifts she has  received over the years from her students in turn, showing their appreciation for her warmth, kindness, and loving care she provides on a daily basis.  Tammy is a shining example of what all providers of health care should strive to achieve in maintaining the health of a student population and is a credit to the nursing profession!

Leo Julian

Leo Julian is currently a nurse at UPMC Presbyterian/Montifiore hospital. Starting his career in the height of COVID-19 Leo has been dedicated to uncompromising patient advocacy, evidence-based practice, and continual growth. He is now pursuing his DNP at the University of Pittsburgh with specialization in Gerontology and Psychiatry, translating graduate-level learning directly to the bedside while continuing to pick up shifts and complete clinical rotations across the city. Leo is the nurse you want on every shift. During his DNP work at UPMC Canterbury Place, Leo identified a need for structured, dementia specific training to better care for residents with memory disorders. He designed and implemented a formal education program aligned with person-centered care principles, including clear outcome measures for staff knowledge, self efficacy, and satisfaction. This is only one example of the motivated nurse Leo is and will continue to be. Recognizing Leo means honoring a nurse who raises outcomes and morale. 

Victoria Grigg

Victoria Grigg is a NICU (“neuro intensive care unit”) nurse who works at UPMC presbytery. In her career she also was a hospice travel nurse. During these experiences she has made tremendous impacts on personal lives. Her care and love for others shines bright in dark times for families and loved ones.