By Erika Anderson, Staff Writer

ATLANTA—Sister Peggy Fannon, RSM, a registered nurse and patient education specialist, was recently honored by Saint Joseph’s Hospital as the 2001 recipient of the Ernest W. Franklin III Award for Nursing Excellence.

The award, which was established in appreciation of the nursing staff of Saint Joseph’s, is memorialized by The Cross of the Millennium, a sculpture created by William Frederick Hart, America’s leading representational sculptor of the 20th century. The sculpture symbolizes the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ through the Star of David, as well as his subsequent crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.

The annual recipient of the Franklin Award is chosen to represent the Mercy Mission of Saint Joseph’s entire nursing staff and their dedication to excellence and compassion in the care of their patients. Nominations from the staff are reviewed by a selection committee, including nursing management, administration, pastoral care and medical staff.

Sister Fannon accepted the award from Franklin at a ceremony June 19. In a comment in the hospital newsletter, she said her work “has long been more of a ministry than a job to me.”

“It is an honor for me to participate in the healing ministry of Jesus through my work here at Saint Joseph’s,” she said.

After graduating from the Saint Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in 1968, Sister Fannon began her career with the hospital, working as a nurse in a variety of areas, including medical/surgical nursing, burn care, pediatrics, utilization review/discharge planning and diabetes education, before becoming a Sister of Mercy.

When she returned to Saint Joseph’s, Sister Fannon served as a staff nurse in the oncology department, where she cared for patients of Franklin. She later became the manager of the neuro-plastics head and neck unit, a position she held for nine years. In 1997, she began serving as a patient education specialist and became a certified diabetes educator and member of the American Diabetes Association and American Association of Diabetes Educators as well as its Georgia chapter. Sister Fannon also serves on the Saint Joseph’s Nursing Practice Council.

Vickie Moore, vice president of operations and chief nursing officer of Saint Joseph’s, offered praise of Sister Fannon, whose career at Saint Joseph’s has spanned 28 years.

“Saint Joseph’s was blessed when Sister Peggy dedicated her life to nursing and the Sisters of Mercy mission,” she said.

“As a leader and role model, she demonstrates all that Saint Joseph’s values most in our nurses—compassion for her patients, respect for her coworkers and dedication to clinical excellence.”