This prestigious award is presented annually by the American Board for Occupational Health Nurses (ABOHN) to the individual who achieved the highest score on the previous year’s Case Management (CM) certification examination. 

This award was established in January 2000 to honor Ada Mayo Stewart.   In 1895, Ms. Stewart was one of the first industrial health nurses in the United States.  Her practice at the Vermont Marble Company involved many facets of occupational health case management.  She worked in the clinic, provided health education for employees and their families and made home visits.  She was the first case manager in occupational health nursing as we know it today.

The 2024 Ada Mayo Stewart Excellence in Occupational Health Case Management Award is presented to:

                                 Michelle Edwards, MSN-PH, RN, COHN/CM, COHC

Michelle Edwards has clinical experience in emergency nursing, experience as a first responder in EMS, and occupational health. She graduated with her ADN in 1996, and started immediately in the emergency room. She became an occupational health nurse by chance. Her first job was with a local metal fabrication and industrial contractor. Ironically, they had never had an occupational health nurse before. The greatest educator is experience. She became a member of AAOHN, joining both the state and local regional chapters as well. That was in 2008, and she has been passionately involved ever since. She has also worked with a pharmaceutical manufacturer, manufacturer of ballistic fiber, government services, and utilities. Currently she works as a case manager. She became certified with her COHN in 2015. She completed a certificate program in occupational health nursing at UNC Chapel Hill Gillings School of Public Health as a NIOSH recipient. In 2023 she graduated from an RN-MSN program with an MSN focused in public health. She remains active in her state AOHN chapter in North Carolina, currently serving as treasurer. She is also active in AAOHN as a member of the Awards Committee. 

She lives in eastern NC with her husband and their two Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Castle and Ellie. She is an avid hockey fan, attending Carolina Hurricanes games as often as possible. She also is a voracious reader, thinks the e-book and ability to take as many books as she wants on vacation is a wonderful invention. The remainder of her time is spent with her niece and nephews. 

Congratulations Michelle!