St. Louis Magazine Names 5 SLU Nurses 2025 Excellence in Nursing Finalists
ST. LOUIS (Feb. 20, 2025) — St. Louis Magazine recently announced finalists for its 2025 Excellence in Nursing Awards. The Excellence in Nursing Awards were established to recognize the critical role that nurses play in the health care system, highlighting those who go above and beyond in their practice.
Nursing educators from Saint Louis University were selected for their work shaping the future of health care through their commitment to teaching, research, and mentorship. Their combined expertise ensures that students receive a top-tier education that prepares them for the dynamic and challenging world of health care.
After a rigorous review process conducted by an esteemed panel of judges, the following nurses from the Valentine School of Nursing have been selected by the magazine as finalists:
Excellence in Nursing Finalists
Acute Care/Family Practice/General Medicine
- Geralyn Ochs, associate professor of nursing and coordinator of the adult/gerontological acute care, nurse practitioner option
Administration
- Michelle Papachrisanthou, DNP, associate dean of graduate nursing education
Community/Ambulatory Care
- Diana Llamas, assistant professor of nursing and simulation operations manager
Educator
- Melissa Holman, adjunct professor of nursing
Oncology
- Kristin Keller, Ph.D., assistant professor of nursing
The finalists will be honored, and winners will be revealed at an awards reception this summer and recognized in the June/July issue of St. Louis Magazine. The event will bring together health care professionals, community leaders, and supporters to celebrate the incredible achievements of these nursing professionals.
About Valentine School of Nursing
Founded in 1928, Saint Louis University School of Nursing has achieved a national reputation for its innovative and pioneering programs. Offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral nursing programs, its faculty members are nationally recognized for their teaching, research and clinical expertise.
About Saint Louis University
Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Catholic research institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, SLU offers more than 15,300 students a rigorous, transformative education that challenges and prepares them to make the world a better place. As a nationally recognized leader in research and innovation, SLU is an R1 research university, advancing groundbreaking, life-changing discoveries that promote the greater good.