St. Vincent’s University Hospital Announces Winners of 2024 Staff Recognition Awards

15th October 2024

Celebrating Excellence, Innovation, and Leadership Across Our Hospital

St. Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH) proudly celebrated its 2024 Staff Recognition Awards on Friday, honouring the exceptional contributions of staff who go above and beyond to deliver outstanding care to patients. The event recognised individuals and teams across the hospital for their dedication, innovation and leadership, highlighting the importance of every role in delivering world-class healthcare.

The night was made possible with the support of Investnet, the SVUH Board of Management, the SVUH Staff Recognition Awards Steering Group, a panel of external judges and of course, our amazing MC, Noel Cunningham. A huge thank you also to T-Pro, Kate Cowhig, St.Vincent’s Healthcare Group and Eurofins Biomnis Ireland for their generous support.

This year, we received an incredible 259 nominations across nine categories, a testament to the commitment of our staff to maintaining the highest standards of care.

Prof. Michael Keane, Interim CEO of SVUH, said:
“These awards not only give us the chance to say ‘thank you’ and ‘well done,’ but they also showcase the very best of St. Vincent’s University Hospital. We are so proud of our staff, and the work they do every day, and this celebration is a small way of acknowledging their immense contributions.”

Here are the winners of the 2024 SVUH Staff Recognition Awards:

Exceptional Patient Experience Award
Laura Kenny, Nursing, Older Persons Rapid Assessment Hub (OPRAH)
Laura’s leadership and empathy create a positive environment, always ensuring the best possible care for both patients and colleagues.

Clinical Area Innovation Award
Virtual Ward Team
Pioneering one of the the first two Virtual Wards in Ireland, this team uses advanced technology to provide safe and efficient acute care at home, reducing hospital stays while maintaining high-quality treatment.

Non-Clinical Innovation Award
ICU Team – Ireland’s Fittest ICU
The team launched a nationwide challenge for ICU staff to help improve the physical and mental well-being of ICU staff, promoting teamwork and self-care in a high-pressure environment.

Rising Star Award
Dr Alessandro Franciosi
Since joining SVUH in 2022, Dr Franciosi has led numerous initiatives in respiratory care, education and mentorship, positively impacting the department and hospital’s medical services.

Coaching, Mentoring, Research, Education and Training Award
Imelda Noone, Nursing 
Imelda, one of Ireland’s first Advanced Nurse Practitioners, has played a pivotal role in mentoring and developing stroke service CNS and ANPs across Ireland, shaping the next generation of nurses.

Excellence in Leadership Award
Eithne Thompson, Pathology
Eithne has made a significant impact in her short time leading the Histology Department, listening to staff, boosting morale and ensuring the highest quality standards in patient reports.

Best Team – Celebrating Commitment, Innovation, and Inspirational Leadership
AMU Team
This team excels under pressure, providing efficient, high-quality care to acutely ill patients within tight timeframes, ensuring seamless patient flow, care and outstanding service.

Quality Improvement Award
NCIS Project Team
The team successfully introduced SVUH’s first Electronic Prescribing and Medication Administration system, streamlining workflows and ensuring patient safety in anticancer medicine administration.

Unsung Hero Award
Idrissa Drame
Known for his ever-present smile and helpful nature, Idrissa ensures the Emergency Department is always stocked and running smoothly, making a huge impact behind the scenes every day.

Congratulations to all the nominees, finalists, and winners! The SVUH Staff Recognition Awards celebrate the dedication, passion, and hard work that make our hospital a leader in healthcare. We thank everyone who took part in this year’s awards and for their continued commitment to excellence in patient care.

We also want to extend a huge shout-out to our generous sponsors for the spot prizes! Your contributions made the evening even more special and the prizes were a big hit among our staff.

A heartfelt thank you to: Club Hotel at Goffs | Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel | The Address Sligo Hotel | Old Inn, Co. Down, part of Galgorm Collection | Shanahan’s on the Green | Intercontinental Hotel, Ballsbridge | Gleesons of Booterstown | Maldron Hotel Merrion Road | Hederman | Royal Marine Hotel, Dunlaoghaire | Omra Beauty, Merrion Centre | Peter Marks | Merrion Inn | Foodgame with thanks to SVUH Food Market | Madigans | Ribbon Rouge Boutique | Tony Walsh’s Allcare Pharmacy, Merrion Centre.

We are incredibly grateful for your kindness, thank you for being a part of our celebration!