Honors a nurse whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, peers and other health care providers.
JANA CAVENAUGH
TITLE: Opioid Treatment Program Nurse-RN
ORGANIZATION: Coastal Horizons
WHAT A NOMINATOR SAID: “In just over two years at Coastal Horizons’ Opioid Treatment Program, Nurse Jana Cavenaugh has become a vital source of hope and healing for patients struggling with opioid use disorder. Through Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) – an evidence-based approach that combines FDA-approved medications like methadone or buprenorphine with counseling and behavioral therapies – patients are given the tools to stabilize, reduce cravings and work toward recovery.…
“Jana consistently thinks outside the box to ease the treatment process. Recognizing how overwhelming induction day can be, she designed a ‘new patient informational sheet’ to help clients retain critical information during what is often a stressful and emotional time….
“Jana established a ‘little library’ at the dosing window, allowing patients to borrow and exchange books. One young mother shared, ‘You have no idea how much this means – to be thought of and have a break to read.’ She also purchases motivational stickers, birthday stickers and candies for holidays, understanding how even small gestures can make a profound difference.”
– Elizabeth Redenbaugh, vice president of development and external affairs, Coastal Horizons
SARA EVANS
TITLE: Cardio-Oncology Nurse Coordinator
ORGANIZATION: Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute
WHAT A NOMINATOR SAID: “Sara is not only an exceptional nurse; she is a true lifeline for our patients navigating the most difficult chapter of their lives: a cancer diagnosis.
“Sara consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty. Her compassion is matched only by her unwavering dedication. She has personally driven patients to procedures when transportation was unavailable, sat with them during treatments when no family could be present and offered her time, her presence and her heart when it mattered most.…“Her phone is always on – day or night – because she understands that fear, questions and medical concerns don’t stick to business hours. Patients and families alike lean on her for guidance, comfort and clarity, and she meets every call with calm, capable kindness.…
“For me, she has been so effective that my cardio-oncology program has doubled in size in the first year she’s held the position as nurse navigator.… For her tireless dedication, her unmatched empathy and the extraordinary lengths she goes to for those in her care, Sara Evans is truly a health care hero.”
– Kristopher Swiger, director of cardio-oncology, Novant Health
JAN PAHL
TITLE: Manager of Hemodialysis and VAT
ORGANIZATION: Novant Health NHRMC
WHAT A NOMINATOR SAID: “For decades, Jan Pahl has been the heartbeat of the Willie Stargell Hemodialysis Unit – pouring her expertise, her advocacy and her heart into caring for patients whose battles are often long, complex and unseen.
“Jan is more than a nurse leader; she is a fierce champion for every patient who walks through her doors. Whether fighting for resources, standing by a family in crisis or stepping in to help her team on the busiest of days, Jan leads by example – always with compassion, always with grace….
“Her leadership is perhaps best seen in the culture she has built. Under her guidance, the Dialysis Team doesn’t just provide treatment, they create moments of humanity. Like the time they cared for a woman who had been hospitalized for nearly a year – lonely, tired and losing hope. Jan and her team noticed she always wore a bracelet. They surprised her with a personalized Easter basket, including a bracelet just like hers and an Uber Eats gift card so she could choose a meal she actually wanted. Delivered over Easter weekend, it was a simple gesture, but it brought joy, dignity and the reminder that she mattered.”
– Kim Kennedy, director of nursing, Novant Health
Read more about all of the 2025 Health Care Heroes finalists here.
