HSHS names its Nurses of the Year in Northeast Wisconsin

Rich Palzewic

Staff

June 29, 2026

NORTHEAST WISCONSIN – Four Northeast Wisconsin nurses – Whitney Kosobucki, Heidi Gleason, Stephanie Kurek and Sara Kaffine – were recently recognized as Hospital Sisters Health Systems (HSHS) Nurses of the Year (NOTY) in their respective regions.

According to HSHS officials, NOTY award recipients are honored for demonstrating passion, quality and excellence in nursing and carrying out the core values of HSHS – respect, care, competence and joy.

Recipients are nominated by nursing colleagues and chosen by nursing leadership and the hospitals’ Professional Nurse Practice Council (PNPC).

Kosobucki (Green Bay), Gleason (Green Bay), Kurek (Oconto Falls) and Kaffine (Sheboygan) were selected in their respective regions from a pool of hundreds of nominations.

Whitney Kosobucki

Kosobucki, a registered nurse in the emergency room at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay, said being named a NOTY recipient was both humbling and unexpected.

“While I knew I had been nominated, I honestly never thought I would be the one selected,” she said. “To be recognized by my peers and leaders for doing work I genuinely love is an incredible honor.”

Kosobucki said the day she learned she had been selected began like any other shift in the emergency room at St. Vincent Hospital.

“It was a typical fast-paced day in emergency nursing,” she said. “At one point, my director approached me and said they would be announcing the NOTY award, and that since I serve on the PNPC, they wanted all council members present for the announcement.”

Not thinking much of it, Kosobucki said she headed to the conference room.

“Not wanting to sit in the front row, I walked past that entrance toward another door,” she said. “As I entered, I saw my family sitting in the front row. At that moment, I realized I was the NOTY recipient.”

Kosobucki said for her, the recognition represents more than an individual accomplishment.

“It reflects the support, mentorship, teamwork and encouragement I have received throughout my nursing career,” she said.

With no prior healthcare experience – spending 16 years as a bartender before switching careers – she said her path to the award was almost “unimaginable.”

“This award reminds me that hard work, compassion, lifelong learning and dedication to patients truly make a difference,” she said. “While receiving the NOTY award was an incredible honor, the greatest reward continues to be caring for patients and working alongside the amazing team in the ER.”

Raised in the Stevens Point area, Kosobucki said she went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP), where she earned a bachelor’s degree in health promotion and wellness, along with minors in nutrition, biology and strength and conditioning.

“In 2010, I moved to Green Bay for an internship at Bellin Health as an athletic performance trainer,” she said. “My passion for health care continued to grow, leading me to further my education at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, where I earned my associate degree in nursing. I later completed my Bachelor of Science in Nursing through the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.”

Kosobucki said her years working as a bartender taught her invaluable skills she still uses every day.

“I learned how to communicate with people from all walks of life, remain calm under pressure, multitask in fast-paced environments, de-escalate difficult situations and build connections with people during both good times and challenging moments,” she said.

Kosobucki said she has worked exclusively in the emergency department throughout her nursing career.

“From the beginning, I knew emergency nursing was where I belonged,” she said.

In her role as charge nurse, Kosobucki said she helps manage patient flow and supports nurses, providers and patients throughout the department.

She said she cannot point to a specific moment she chose nursing, but has always been drawn to helping others and building relationships. 

“Nursing offered the unique opportunity to combine compassion, critical thinking, teamwork and lifelong learning into a career that truly makes a difference,” she said.

Though she doesn’t see herself leaving the emergency department anytime soon, Kosobucki said she does plan to grow professionally through conferences, seminars and additional emergency nursing certifications.

“I am also considering returning to school to pursue a master’s degree in leadership and management,” she said.

Heidi Gleason

Heidi Gleason, an RN at St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay’s Center of Digestive Health, said being named NOTY reflects the “incredible” team she works alongside. 

“It’s a big ‘thank you’ to my colleagues, leaders and mentors for their support and encouragement,” she said. “I am privileged to be a nurse and beyond grateful for this honor.”

Gleason said she was also aware of the nomination, which she considered an honor in itself, but did not know she had been selected until just before receiving the award.

“One of the directors distracted me, and when I came around the corner of the conference room thinking I was there for another reason, my husband, children, family and coworkers were all there cheering me on,” she said.

Gleason said the chief administrative officer of the hospital, Leah Bergstrom, was there to present the award and read what her peers had said about her.

“There was a nice reception after for my colleagues and family – I felt so appreciated,” she said.

Growing up in the small town of Trenary in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Gleason said she attended Superior Central High School before attending Northern Michigan University in Marquette, where she received her bachelor’s degree in nursing.

After marrying her husband, she said they moved to Loveland, Colorado, where they started their family, living there for seven years before realizing they wanted to raise their two children back in the Midwest closer to family.

“My dad, who still lived in Trenary, was in poor health, so we wanted to be closer to help when needed,” she said. “We searched all over Wisconsin and decided on the Green Bay area. I interviewed at St. Mary’s in the GI lab, and once I found out I had gotten the position, we settled a bit north of Green Bay.”

Gleason said her background in the previous five hospitals she worked at is extensive – from med/surg, oncology and cardiac stepdown to trauma stepdown and GI.

“In those previous settings, I worked inpatient, outpatient, days, PMs and nights,” she said. “In my current role at St. Mary’s, I like the variety and fast-paced environment. I also love the fact that our department is always growing and learning new procedures. My colleagues help make our department a great place. They are team players, and I enjoy my days with them.”

Gleason said she knew from a young age that nursing was the right path for her.

Coming from a large, supportive family, she said she grew up watching her parents help others. 

“They instilled in me from a young age that helping others was what we did – it was in our blood,” she said. “Health care was a direct path for this passion. In my first year of college, some of the best advice I got from my advisor was to get a CNA job at the hospital. Once I was helping and working with patients, I knew nursing was my career path.”

Stephanie Kurek

Though not born in the area where she now works – 19 years in the emergency department at St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls – Kurek said she moved there as a nine-month-old.

She said her healthcare career started at UWSP, where she earned a degree in health promotion and wellness.

Growing up in Oconto Falls, Kurek said, gave her a deep appreciation for the people, values and strong sense of connection that make rural communities special.

“It wasn’t until after I had children that I began thinking about a career that would offer greater flexibility while still allowing me to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” she said. “Nursing became a natural fit and provided an opportunity to care for others while also being present and available for my family.”

Kurek said her parents – who have owned an Oconto Falls business for nearly five decades – have been a huge influence in her life.

From learning the importance of being involved in the community to helping others and giving back whenever she could, she said her parents helped shape the person she is today.

“They always believed in helping those who had less and finding ways to support others in need,” she said. “My dad was one of my biggest supporters. If he were still alive today, I know he would be incredibly proud of this recognition. He was always telling people that his daughter was a nurse, and his pride in my career meant the world to me.”

Kurek said her mother taught her the importance of kindness, patience and compassion, teaching her that even the smallest act of kindness can make a difference in someone’s life.

“In nursing, I try to carry that lesson with me daily by being a source of comfort and support and whenever possible, a light during someone’s darkest day,” she said.

Kurek said receiving the award is especially meaningful because it reflects the values her parents instilled in her throughout her life.

“Their influence continues to guide me both as a nurse and as a member of this community,” she said.

Kurek said being named a NOTY recipient is not something she ever expected.

“I was genuinely surprised and overwhelmed with gratitude,” she said.

However, Kurek said nursing is a team effort built on the work of many talented and compassionate colleagues. 

“I am fortunate to work with an amazing team and to serve a community that has been my home my entire life,” she said. “This award reminds me why I chose nursing in the first place.”

Though she has predominantly worked in the emergency department at St. Clare, Kurek said her various roles over the years have helped her grow professionally.

“In the emergency department, no two days are ever the same,” she said. “The ER challenges you to think critically, adapt quickly and work closely as a team to provide care when patients need it most.”

Kurek said working in rural hospital settings requires care for a wide variety of emergencies, often with limited resources.

“That requires strong teamwork, communication and clinical judgment,” she said.

Kurek said nursing stood out to her early on because it combined compassion, flexibility, problem-solving and service.

She said she eventually realized it was more than a career, but a calling. 

“My faith has played an important role in shaping that perspective,” she said. “I embrace the mission of the Franciscan Sisters and strive to continue Christ’s healing ministry through the care I provide each day.”

Kurek said she plans to continue serving the Oconto Falls community to the best of her ability, while also growing in her role as a nurse leader.

“I plan to remain actively involved in initiatives that improve patient care, safety and staff engagement,” she said. “I’m also eager about mentoring newer nurses as they begin their careers. Throughout my time at HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital, I’ve had the opportunity to precept and support new nurses, and helping them build confidence and develop their skills is something I find very rewarding.”

Believing that growth comes from involvement, Kurek said if people don’t challenge themselves to participate, learn and contribute, they risk becoming stagnant.

“Throughout my career, I have always looked for opportunities to get involved, whether through leadership roles, quality improvement initiatives, mentoring, education or community outreach,” she said. “I am proud to represent HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital and the values it stands for.”

Sara Kaffine

A registered nurse in the gastrointestinal department at St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan,

Kaffine said she is deeply honored to have received the NOTY award – noting it was especially meaningful that the nominations came from her GI colleagues. 

“I am the lead RN in GI, and each staff member nominated me,” she said. “I am here to care for patients, but I try hard to take care of the team, also. Our colleagues deserve our respect and care, too. It was incredibly meaningful that they appreciate how the department is led.”

Kaffine said she does not see herself as above anyone on her team, and, in many ways, believes many of her colleagues are stronger nurses than she is.

“I learn from them, enjoy working alongside them and feel grateful to be part of such an amazing team,” she said.

Kaffine said the GI department went to great lengths to keep her NOTY award a secret, including calling her away from her duties under the pretense of a meeting.

“There was a roomful of colleagues, past patients and family/friends cheering for me,” she said. “It was a very special day.”

Growing up in Wausau, Kaffine said after graduating from Newman Catholic High School, she went to college in Milwaukee, where she then worked for the first several years of her career.

From Milwaukee, she said she landed in Sheboygan after her husband got a job in the area.

“We thought we would try Sheboygan for five years,” she laughed. “We are celebrating our 32nd year of marriage and raised our three boys here – I think we are here to stay.”

Unlike several of the previously mentioned NOTY recipients, Kaffine said she has “moved around quite a bit” in different departments.

“My early years of nursing were in med/surg, followed by 18 years in an outpatient oncology clinic,” she said. “Ten years ago, I was searching for something new and even considered going back for an advanced degree. A fellow RN from my med/surg days asked me to consider a role in GI.”

Having been in GI ever since, Kaffine said it’s a perfect balance of all the things she loves about nursing – assessment, patient education, compassion during difficult moments, working with a team of physicians and nurses and starting IVs.

“I was obtaining a biology degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and working closely with two professors who suggested I become a nurse,” she said. “At the time, they saw something in me that I did not. I knew I enjoyed science and was good at it, but they told me I was good with people and thought nursing was where I should be. Wherever those professors are, I’d like to thank them.”

Hoping to retire within the next 10 years, Kaffine said she loves working in the GI department at St. Nicholas.

“I love taking care of people, so who knows what retirement will look like for me,” she said. “I love singing, traveling and spending time with family.”

Other recognitions

In addition to recognizing nurses in each of its Northeast Wisconsin hospitals, HSHS also recently highlighted specialty award winners.

The health system recognized two registered nurses with DAISY Nurse Leader of the Year awards.

This year’s recipients include:

• Jennifer Witterholt – nursing director of inpatient medical and surgical services, HSHS St. Vincent Hospital, Green Bay
• Kayla Hinch – medical and surgical nursing manager, HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center, Green Bay

In addition to the awards given to individuals for their excellence in nursing, HSHS also honored one nursing team from the entire system – across Illinois and Wisconsin – with the Nurse Team of the Year Award.

This award, per HSHS officials, is given to a team that has made a measurable and lasting impact on patient outcomes, safety and experience.

This year’s recipient is the St. Vincent 9th Floor Medical Oncology Nursing Team, HSHS St. Vincent Hospital.

According to their nomination form, the 9th Floor Medical Oncology team is a “highly skilled, compassionate group providing patient-centered care to individuals with complex medical and oncologic needs. 

The team is known for meaningful acts of compassion – celebrating final chemotherapy treatments, supporting patients at end of life and caring for the mind, body and spirit through presence and prayer.”