This prestigious award is presented annually to the occupational health nurse who receives the highest score on the previous year’s Certified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialist (COHN-S) certification examination.
This award has been established to honor Debra Lynn Fischer Gibbon, a former Certified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialist (COHN-S) and Certified Safety Professional (CSP), who lost her life on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, 2001. A senior vice president for AON Risk Services, Ms. Gibbon coordinated services for the company’s top clients. Ms. Gibbon worked for 17 years in the area of occupational health and safety.
In 2023, we had a tie!
The 2023 Debra L. Fischer Gibbon Excellence in Occupational Health Nursing Award is presented to:
Liza Korry, BSN, RN, COHN-S
Liza (Taylor) Korry attended the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee where she completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 1996. After graduation, Liza gained several years of inpatient medical/ surgical, community, utilization review, and case management nursing experience while working in varied RN roles: Wheaton St. Joseph’s Hospital, Milwaukee; Milwaukee Public Schools through Spectrum Services; American Mobile Nurses, assignments in CT, CA, and WI; Innovative Resource Group and iCare, Milwaukee; and Heartland Homecare and Hospice, metro Milwaukee.
When Liza moved to Illinois in 2002, she found her niche as an Occupational Health Nurse for Baxter Healthcare in Round Lake, IL. There she assisted local and global teams of Environmental Health and Safety professionals to deliver quality Occupational Health and Safety, population health, and wellness promotion programs. She was hooked on Occupational Health and Safety from that point on!
After Baxter, Liza worked in other related areas of Occupational Health, Safety, and Risk Management leadership and consulting with United Heartland Insurance, Lutheran Social Services of WI and Upper MI, and M3 Insurance. Currently, Liza is a Lead RN, Internal Occupational Health at Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. She feels fortunate to lead and assist a team of Occupational Health professionals as they serve the staff at this growing academic medical institution.
Liza lives in Wind Point, Wisconsin with her husband Tim, their son Joshua, two golden doodles-- Leo and Groot, Senegal parrot—Pogie, and guinea pig—Princess. In her free time she enjoys singing, writing, graphic design, photography, and traveling. Liza is honored and blessed to accept this award established in the name of Debra Lynn Fischer Gibbon, an Occupational Health Nurse who left an unforgettable legacy among her family, colleagues, and community.
Congratulations Liza!
The 2023 Debra L. Fischer Gibbon Excellence in Occupational Health Nursing Award is presented to:
Kristan Napier, MSN, RN, CEN, COHN-S
Kristan Napier began her occupational nursing career with Marathon Petroleum Company in 2019. Over the past 29 years Kris has worked in the emergency department of 3 different health systems, maintained Certification in Emergency Nursing since 2005. For 6 years Kris was the coordinator of a Forensic Program for a Level 1 trauma center, obtained the national certification in Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner for Adults, Adolescents and Pediatrics.
Kris is currently beginning her third year as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Findlay, teaching physician assistant students about addiction and the care of that patient population. Kris graduated from Capital University with a BSN in 1995 and from Chamberlin University with a MSN in 2020. Kris was awarded the Ohio Nurse of the Year in the Emergency Category from the March of Dimes in 2016.
Congratulations Kris!