Allies celebrated Nurses Week 2026 with a luncheon and special surprises for every nurse at the agency.
The week culminated in a celebration at the Allies main office in Hamilton, where the theme of the day was celebrating nursing excellence. In the week leading up to the celebration, nursing staff around the state participated in nursing bingo challenges to earn prizes for their program.
“This is an event that I look forward to every year,” Mike Haggerty, president of Allies, said. “We could not do the work we do without our amazing nursing staff, thank you to all of our nurses around the state.”
This year, the nurse honored as the Allies Nurse of the Year is Elizabeth Dutka, LPN.
Elizabeth was described by her colleagues as always having a positive and uplifting presence and sense of humor in addition to her exceptional clinical skills and judgement. She is always a compassionate professional who prioritizes the needs of her patients and ensures that every person whose life she touches is treated with dignity and respect. For these reasons and more, Elizabeth epitomizes the nursing excellence that we continually strive for at Allies.
After being named the Allies Nurse of the Year, Elizabeth immediately displayed those admirable traits that made her eligible for the honor. Elizabeth shared credit with every nurse throughout the agency and the DSPs that she works with every day.
“I can only say that this experience of working with Allies has been the most humbling, rewarding, and challenging experience of my life,” Elizabeth said. During remarks, Elizabeth’s colleagues described her as caring, nurturing, and willing to teach at a moment’s notice to be certain that the team that supports each individual has the necessary tools and knowledge needed to provide the best care.
Every nurse throughout the agency also received a blanket in celebration of their work. The blanket symbolizes the power of nurses – compassion, empathy, and resilience.
In addition to the Nurse of the Year award, other honors were presented.
The first honor, Health and Safety Champion, recognized nurses who consistently support the overall health, safety, and well-being of the individuals served. This award was presented to Ernest Siaw, LPN, Mary Wambu, LPN, and Jibba Jalloh, RN, Nurse Navigator.
Next, the Safe Administration Excellence award recognized excellence in medication administration safety, attention to detail, and clinical oversight. This award was presented to Pauline Cenor, LPN, and Ernest Siaw, LPN.
The Most Likely to Answer After Hours award recognized nurses who consistently support programs and teams outside of normal business hours. This was awarded to Josephine Sewe, LPN, and Charles Jallah, LPN.
Finally, the Above and Beyond Coverage Award recognized nurses who demonstrate flexibility and teamwork by supporting staffing and medical needs across homes. This award was presented to Sia Bockarie, LPN Support Manager, and Chantel Jean-Pierre, LPN.
Congratulations!
