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The Haitian American Nurses Association of Florida, Inc. celebrated its 25th Annual Scholarship Fundraising and Awards Gala. The theme was “Celebrating 25 Years of Service, Collaboration and Excellence.” The new president of the HANA, Guerna Blot, RN, MSN, MBA/HCA, OCN, a nursing director at Mount Sinai Hospital, challenged its members to embark on their journey for the next two years to continue the legacy of all past presidents. One of her pressing goals is to continue to work on securing funding to help support the HANA’s health initiatives such as health education and screenings for hypertension and diabetes.

Other presenters at the event included HANA co-founder Alice Casimir, RN, and guest speaker Lillian Rivera, RN, MSN, PhD, administrator of the Miami Dade County Health Department, who promised to continue the collaboration with the organization.

The keynote speaker, Marie O. Etienne, MSN, ARNP, PLNC, associate professor, Miami Dade College, challenged members and attendees to influence and groom other nurses in the nursing profession by helping nursing students and novice nurses to facilitate their transition in the profession and in the association. Etienne challenged HANA members to engage in research to improve patient care by using evidence-based practice.

Florida State Rep. Yolly Roberson, RN, BSN, Esq., the first Haitian-American nurse attorney in the Florida Legislature, challenged HANA members to get involved politically in addressing healthcare policies and legislative issues affecting the nursing profession and the well-being of citizens in Florida.

Scholarship recipients at the event included: Tamara Pluviose, Barry University; Marie Lemaire, Broward College; Marie M. Nicholas, Florida Atlantic University; Jessica Mondestin, Nova University; and Jefferson Ganthier, Miami Dade College, School of Nursing.

Other newly elected HANA officers include: Odiane H. Medacier, MSN, ARNP, 1st vice president; Amina Dubuisson, RN, MSN, MBA/HCM, LNHA, 2nd vice president; Katiana St. Thomas, RN, MSNc, treasurer; Lisa Francois, RN, MSNc, assistant treasurer; Camala Jourdain, RN, MSHSA, secretary; and Nancy Henry, RN, MSN, assistant secretary.

Emmanuela Jean-Baptiste, RN, BS, PLNC, an ED nurse at Jackson Health System, received the Nurse of the Year 2009 award.