Independence Blue Cross has announced the three winners of its seventh annual Celebrate Caring campaign, which honors extraordinary nurses in the region:
- Lisa Koung, who works in the Interventional Radiology Department at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
- Trina Smith, who serves as a healthcare coordinator at Divine Providence Village
- Alexandra Uscatu, a nurse at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Among the hundreds of nominations submitted by patients, colleagues, family members, and community members, these three nurses go above and beyond to exemplify dedication, compassion, and excellence in their field. Their stories reflect the profound impact nurses have on the lives of their patients and communities.
This year, the winners are once again being recognized with the Sunshine Award, an accolade paying tribute to Paula Sunshine, IBX’s former Chief Marketing Officer who played a significant role in the campaign’s inception. Each winner will receive a $500 gift card and a $2,500 donation to a nonprofit organization of her choice. IBX’s media partners, 6abc and iHeart Radio, will spotlight the stories of these remarkable nurses.
Lisa Koung
Koung fled Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge regime and faced immense challenges in refugee camps before settling in South Philadelphia with her family. Koung is a highly specialized nurse who works on the peripherally inserted central catheter team at Jefferson University Hospital. Koung also founded the Khmer Performing Arts and Culture (KPAC) group, dedicated to healing and bridging communities through the teaching and performance of traditional Khmer music, dance, and cultural awareness. KPAC also organizes free health fairs throughout the year, providing vaccines, health screenings, and healthy food to the local Cambodian community.
Trina Smith
Smith has more than 25 years nursing experience and works at Divine Providence Village, a residential campus that supports adult women with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Springfield, Delaware County. Smith is also the founder of Trinity Transitional House, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing homelessness prevention resources to displaced women, single mothers, and children in Delaware County. Trinity Transitional House offers vital support services such as housing resources, counseling, and access to community programs, helping vulnerable families regain stability and independence.
Alexandra Uscatu
Ten years after getting her first degree, Uscatu went back to school to pursue a BSN in Nursing. She has been a nurse at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for four years and recently became a nurse practitioner. Uscatu has a personal mission of advocacy and volunteerism. Through a fellowship grant program with CHOP called the Community Nurse Advocacy Fellowship, she spent nine months creating a program to help support mental health and the adolescent population at Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter School.
“Nurses are the backbone of healthcare, offering compassion and care to our loved ones during their most challenging times,” said Koleen Cavanaugh, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at IBX. “At Independence Blue Cross, we take immense pride in the Celebrate Caring campaign, as it gives us a chance to honor the extraordinary nurses who make a difference in our lives.”
Learn more about Independence Blue Cross and how it enhances the health and well-being of the people and communities it serves.
