NNMC Board Members Honored as Healthcare Heroes

Thursday, October 12, 2017
Northern Nevada Medical Center Board Member, Dr. Patsy L. Ruchala, DNSc, RN

Northern Nevada Medical Center Board Member, Patsy L. Ruchala, DNSc, RN, was the recipient of the Healthcare Heroes Community Partner Award. She is the Dean of the University of Nevada, Reno, Orvis School of Nursing, and has been recognized for revamping the curriculum and raising the bar for her faculty and the nursing program.

Ruchala serves on the NNMC Board of Directors and is very active with NNMC’s Nurse Staffing Committee and Patient Safety Council.

“It is rare to have someone from the nursing field sit on the hospital board. We are proud to have Dr. Ruchala’s clinical mind and brilliance at the table,” said NNMC Chief Nursing Officer, Carla Adams, RN, MSN. “She challenges the nurses to think differently, to think beyond our city or state and look at what’s going on nationally.”

NNMC Chief of Staff, James Sullivan, DO

NNMC Chief of Staff, James Sullivan, DO, was recognized as the Healthcare Heroes Humanitarian of the Year. Dr. Sullivan serves on the NNMC Board of Governors, Medical Executive Committee and is co-Chair of the Bio-Ethics Committee. 

“There are times when we have an emergency with the Ethics Committee when a family is struggling with end of life decisions,” says Terri Ward, NNMC Director of Risk Management and Quality Improvement. “Dr. Sullivan is always right there with us. He has great heart, but also has a depth of knowledge on policy, patient care and compliance.”

Dr. Sullivan is Sierra Nevada Nephrology Consultants’ representative in the Donate for Life organization. He also is involved in rescuing and raising therapy dogs for dialysis patients. Dr. Sullivan has volunteered for two medical missions to Cambodia. He also serves as medical physician on cruises for dialysis patients allowing them to enjoy a vacation while on dialysis.