The Indiana University East School of Nursing and Health Sciences honored four individuals and the Lighthouse Assembly of God with Nursing Excellence Awards during its gala “Excellence Beyond Borders” on October 29. The nursing gala was held at Forest Hills Country Club in Richmond.

The Nursing Excellence Awards honored Toni Reinke, recipient of the Lifetime in Nursing Award; Dr. Patricia O’Malley and Joyce Darnell, recipients of the Nursing Excellence Award; Ryan Williams, Outstanding Alumni Award; and the Lighthouse Assembly of God Church, recipient of the Friend to Nursing Award.

The gala is a night to celebrate nursing. Contributions benefit the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. The goal is to enhance the teaching and learning for all IU East nursing students.

2016 Nursing Excellence Award Recipients
Lifetime Achievement in Nursing Award
Toni Reinke has led a distinguished career in nursing and service. Reinke graduated from the Reid Memorial Hospital School of Nursing and later attended the Pediatric Nurse Associate program at Good Samaritan Hospital and the College of Mount St. Joseph. She also completed a Parish Primary Health Ministry course at the University of Indianapolis.

Toni Reinke

During her career as a nurse, Reinke’s employment has been varied, as she focused her attention on vulnerable groups. Reinke worked for the Eli Lilly Clinical Research Nursing at Wishard Hospital, the Wayne County Health Department, the Internal Medicine Practice with Dr. Patrick Anderson, and the Wayne County Jail. She also served as nursing supervisor at the Indiana Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Children’s Home, provided monthly women’s health clinics at Earlham College and was a parish nurse at Central United Methodist Church.

Reinke has traveled to Haiti and Northern India to provide nursing and primary care to those in need. She also helped to organize the Siloan Health and Wellness Free Clinic, an organization that cares for the underserved in the community, which she continues to serve.

Nursing Excellence Award
Dr. Patricia O’Malley’s career has been dedicated to nursing practice, nursing research, and nursing education. She received her B.S.N. degree from the College of Mount Saint Joseph. Her M.S.N. and Ph.D. are from The Ohio State University.

Patricia O’Malley

Her practice career has been with Miami Valley Hospital, first as a staff nurse, then a clinical nurse specialist and now as a nurse researcher. She serves as a column editor for the Clinical Nurse Specialist—Journal for Advanced Nursing Practice and is author of more than 75 published works. She has presented internationally and nationally in areas related to nursing practice and research.

O’Malley was a National Institute of Health Doctoral Fellow. She is a member of multiple professional organizations including Sigma Theta Tau International, the National League for Nursing, the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. In addition, she has shared her expertise with the nursing education community as an adjunct instructor at IU East and Urbana University.

Nursing Excellence Award
Joyce Darnell’s passion for primary care and the health of community are evident in her nursing career. She is a graduate of the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing. She received her B.S.N. from Indiana University and completed the Wichita State University Nurse Clinician program. She also has a Master of Arts from Ball State University in Applied Gerontology.

Joyce Darnell

Darnell began her career at Riley Children’s Hospital as a staff nurse, taught technical nursing at Reid Health, served in staff nurse and leadership roles at Rush Memorial Hospital, and provided care as a family nurse practitioner in various primary care offices and clinics. She also provided leadership to Miller’s Merry Manor and Miller’s Home Services.

For the past 25 years, Darnell has provided healthcare to children as a Rush County School nurse and as the Health Services coordinator. From a professional perspective, Darnell is very active in the Indiana State Nurses Association and the Indiana Association of School Nurses, having served in a variety of capacities, including president of both organizations. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International and has served on many community organization boards. She received the Indiana School Nurse of the Year Award in 2006-2007 and was the recipient of the Indiana State Nurses Association President’s Award.

Outstanding Alumni Award
Ryan Williams is a 1991 B.S.N. graduate of IU East. He is currently pursuing his Master of Science in Nursing and Business Administration at Indiana Wesleyan University. He is also a graduate of the Clarke State Community College RN to Paramedic Bridge Program and the Indianapolis Fire Department EMT basic program.

Ryan Williams

William’s passion in emergency nursing and trauma has directed his career. He has dedicated a large portion of his career to providing emergency and trauma care. He is the Trauma Program Manager and EMS Coordinator at Reid Health and served as a flight nurse for both Indiana University Health and Miami Valley Hospital. Williams is a member of the Society of Trauma Nurses, the Air and Surface Transport Association and the Indiana and Wayne County Firefighters Association.

He also serves the Emergency Nurses Association and was recently elected to lead the group as president in 2018. Williams also serves on the Indiana State Council—Emergency Nurses Association as the EMS Liaison. The Governor of Indiana has also appointed Williams to serve on the Indiana Trauma Care Committee.

Friend to Nursing Award
Lighthouse Assembly of God has been privileged to be a part of the Richmond Community for 38 years. Current Pastors Ralph and Kathy Holdeman have served since 1988. From that time, the church has grown from 35 members to over 600.

Ralph Holdeman

The emphasis of their ministry has been “Reaching the world with the love of Jesus.” Those ministries include (but are not limited to): A very charismatic and high energy worship team, thriving ministries for all ages with emphasis on children and youth, and a bus ministry featuring a fleet of seven buses which reaches hundreds in the community. Meals are provided weekly to the children who ride the Lighthouse buses. Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter at Lighthouse are all major outreaches to the Richmond community.

Lighthouse services can be seen weekly on local cable Channel 21. For several years, Lighthouse Assembly of God has opened its doors to the IU East School of Nursing and Health Sciences as a location to hold the annual pinning ceremony.