Award Nomination

I'd like to nominate Normadeane Armstrong RN, MSN, ANP-c for the 2008 Cherokee Inspired Comfort Award. The announcement for this award states that you are "searching for exceptional service, sacrifice and innovation." Normadeane is a person who has met these criteria on a number of levels:

Normadeane is the founding committee chairperson of the Community Health and Environment Coalition. This Coalition was formed by community residents to create awareness about health and environment issues such as the high incidence of breast cancer in the Mt. Sinai area. To encourage further research, Normadeane assisted in developing a petition to the Department of Health demanding them to continue their investigation. She and her 3 small sons went door to door throughout the community, obtaining signatures and educating residents about the risk of cancer. Her sense of humor helped put residents at ease with such a serious matter.

Additionally, Normadeane has been a founding member of Congressman Tim Bishop's Breast Cancer Advisory Board. She helps keep Congress up-to-date on the many facets of breast cancer on Long Island and assists in the formation of public policy.

Normadeane has represented the United States internationally on the status of rubella. She promotes immunizations and prenatal care through presentations and published articles. She frequently corresponds with developing nations in the management of women exposed to rubella. Most recently, she has chaired an international research symposium on Congenital Rubella Syndrome. She brought together medical professionals, rehabilitation providers, individuals with CRS and their family members as well as representatives from ten countries, the World Health Organization and the CDC. In addition she represented the United States as a nurse practitioner at the Pan American Health Organization's: Congenital Rubella Global Surveillance-Panel of Experts and has presented her findings at the Mayo Clinic and Global Health Council.

Currently, Normadeane is pursuing her Doctorate degree at Touro University. Her research involves the health of mothers caring for adult deaf-blind children living at home. She hopes to help these women identify potential health issues as well as prevent future problems.

Normadeane has developed a hand washing program in her children's preschool and later in their elementary school. On her own time and at her own expense, she conducted classes to teach students and their teachers on how illnesses are spread, as well as proper hand washing techniques. As a result of her efforts, the program was approved for a budget and the school nurses enforce what is taught in the classes.

Additionally, each spring she hosts a pool safety/CPR class in her home for her neighbors. This year, a neighbor who attended the class, had the opportunity to use what she had learned. The neighbor's toddler was choking on a coin, and as a result of Normadeane's class, she was able to save her son.

Normadeane has also assisted in the development and maintenance of an allergy friendly soccer league. As a team coach, she instituted the first "peanut free" awareness and to encourage children with allergies to play organized sports within the Mt. Sinai Soccer League, which includes over 250 players. With the increase in food allergies among young children, Normadeane created awareness by providing an educational venue for coaches, children and their parents with information on food allergies and the severity of food allergies, which many people where not aware of.

Furthermore, she addresses today's growing need for nurses by teaching nursing students at Molloy College. One course in particular, Global Health Nursing, educates RN's on world health issues, emerging diseases and environmental links. Normadeane has also coordinated the Mt. Sinai Civic Association community meeting on breast cancer awareness. Through Normadeane's efforts with CHEC and her nursing background, she was able to provide the community with a forum on cancer prevention, detection and the need for further research. Together with a panel of experts she was able to educate our community and empower the citizens to take an active role in their health.

As you can see from my description of her activities, Normadeane has generously donated a great deal of her time to several initiatives. But it has not just been the time. It is also the knowledge she possesses and the hands on nursing experience she has brought with her that gives her tremendous credibility with medical professionals and the public at large. When you combine these with her strong people skills, a warm, engaging personality, the highest of professional standards, a tremendous work ethic, and the fact she is an excellent writer and teacher, it's quite obvious why I consider myself blessed to know her.

With these accomplishments in mind, I think she is exactly the type of person you are searching for and I am hopeful that Cherokee sees fit to recognize her for all she has done.

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