New Mexico Department Of Health Honors Award Winning Nurses

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 06 Nov 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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For the second year in a row, a New Mexico Department of Health nurse won the Distinguished Nurse of the Year award from the New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence. The Center for Nursing Excellence recently honored 23 nurses out of 201 candidates. "My congratulations to our award winning nurses and to all the dedicated nurses in our Department who work hard every day to serve people in need," said Health Secretary Dr. Alfredo Vigil.

Martha Tanuz, who recently retired from her position as infectious disease nurse with the Public Health Division in Albuquerque, received the Distinguished Nurse of the Year award. Tanuz worked as a public health nurse in Northern New Mexico, then worked for years with the Epidemiology and Response Division. She is currently working on contract with the Tuberculosis Program.

In her nomination letter, Dr. Naomi Kistin, a pediatrician and regional health officer in Albuquerque, praised Tanuz' service to public health, citing her involvement in some of the higher profile public health issues: tracking down tainted queso blanco, beef jerky and Ltryptophan; identifying and addressing hantavirus; and working to protect thousands of people against meningitis after an outbreak.

"Ms. Tanuz embodies public health principles of prevention and of concern for the entire community, and her work has helped all of us," Dr. Kistin wrote. "For most of her 34 years of nursing she has been crucial to New Mexico's efforts and ability to perform one of the most important functions of Public Health - to prevent or control the spread of infectious diseases throughout the state."

Janet Mason, a school health advocate in Albuquerque, received the Community/Public Health Nursing award from the Center. Mason was the 2008 recipient of the New Mexico Public Health Association's Larrazolo Lifetime Achievement Award, New Mexico's highest achievement award in public health. "It is a huge honor to work with Dr. Kistin, public health staff and school nurses," Mason said.

Dr. Kistin nominated Mason for her great clinical and policy skills as well as her passion for giving people skills to improve their lives. Mason has cultivated many local partnerships to address significant issues in New Mexico, including nurse home visiting, improved parenting, access to quality health-care services, and helping schools prepare for a flu epidemic.

"She inspires people, believes in solutions and believes in communities being able to make a difference," Dr. Kistin wrote. The Department of Health has 450 nurses who work across New Mexico in the Department's long-term care facilities, public health offices, Epidemiology and Response Division, Developmental Disabilities Support Division and the Division of Health Improvement.

New Mexico Department of Health