Dyer resident named Nurse of the Year

Dyer, Ind. resident Kimberly Wilkerson, a registered nurse specializing in cardiac care at Advocate Trinity Hospital, in Chicago, was selected as a 2024 Nurse of the Year for her exemplary demonstration of Advocate Health Care’s core nursing values and unwavering delivery of best-in-class care.

Wilkerson works in Advocate Trinity’s busy Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, where minimally invasive tests and procedures are performed to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease. In 2024, Kimberly and her team administered nearly 1,300 interventional radiology and cardiology procedures – including saving the lives of patients who suffered heart attacks and saving the limbs of patients facing amputation.

“I can’t think of a more deserving member of our nursing team to receive this great honor. Kimberly is known for going above and beyond to help patients feel comfortable, relaxed and anxiety-free,” said Dez Pearson, Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer of Advocate Trinity. “Patients often ask to have Kimberly as part of their care team, which indicates the level of trust, connection and respect she continuously builds with the population we serve.”

Over 1,200 nominations for this premier award were received on behalf of nurses from a variety of specialties across Advocate’s patient care continuum. These frontline nurses represent diversity in backgrounds and experiences, including honorees with decades of experience and others new to the profession — each making an impact on their patients, colleagues and communities.

“Advocate Health nurses are committed to delivering exceptional, evidence-based and equitable care for all. It is a true honor to witness the remarkable impact they make in transforming lives through innovative and compassionate care every day,” said Jane Dus, Senior Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer of Advocate Health – Midwest Region.

Nominations were submitted by clinicians and teammates, then reviewed by peer committees for blinded judging according to each nominee’s passion for patient care, commitment to service, solution-oriented abilities and evidence-based practice.

Advocate Trinity is part of Advocate Health, which employs more than 42,000 nurses across the nation, including 29 acute care facilities and more than 450 sites of care in the Midwest.