This award is given in honor of Robyn Main, MSN RNC, to encourage and recognize neonatal nurses who provide exemplary direct patient care.
Robyn was a staff developmental specialist and perinatal clinical nurse specialist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, FL. She received the Florida Nurses Association “Nurses Who Make a Difference Award” and received one of the first research grants awarded by NANN. Her continued dedication to patients, families, and neonatal nursing in spite of a battle with terminal cancer was a source of inspiration to her colleagues.
Candidates will be able to meet the following criteria:
• Maintain currency in clinical knowledge
• Demonstrate expert communication skills
• Practice a model of family-centered care
• Exhibit meticulous attention to detail in daily practice
• Facilitate an interdisciplinary plan of care for patients
• Be viewed as an exemplary role model
Nomination and Selection Process:
NANN members can nominate a peer or self-nominate themselves for the Robyn Main Excellence in Clinical Practice Award. Nominations must include one letter of recommendation and a CV. Submitted applications are shared with the Awards Committee. Committee members review and score the applicants based on their ability to meet the award’s criteria.
Recognition and Reimbursement:
The awardee will receive complimentary conference registration, airfare/ground transportation stipend of $500, housing stipend of $500, and a trophy at NANN’s Annual Conference.
2025 Recipient:
Melinda Pariser-Schmidt, MSN RNC-NIC IBCLC
Melinda Pariser-Schmidt works as a direct care nurse in the Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at University of Vermont Medical Center and is a full-time student in the Nursing Research PhD program at University of Nebraska Medical Center. Melinda’s areas of interest include SIDS mitigation strategies for at-risk infants and support for opioid-exposed infants and families with substance use disorders. Melinda has a Bachelors Degree in Nursing from the University of Vermont and a Masters Degree in Nursing Leadership from Norwich University. Melinda maintains specialty certifications as an RNC-NIC and an IBCLC. Melinda was honored to join the NANN Citizen Delegation to Sweden in February 2025 and was a participant in the 2023 NANN Research Summit for her quality improvement project using responsive infant bassinets for NICU infants with NAS / NOWS. In her free time Melinda loves to travel and explore the world with her three children Isabel, Owen, and Liv, and her husband Andrew.
Past Recipients:
2023 – Joleen Farina, RN, BSN, RNC-NIC Clinical Nurse IV/Clinical Practice Specialist Liaison/Resource Team
2022 – Jenna Davis, PhD RNC-NIC
2021 – Raymond K. Riley, BSN RNC-NIC C-NPT
2020 – Tamara Robinson, BSN RNC-NIC
2019 – Barbara O’Rourke, RN
2016 – Rebecca South, BSN RNC-NIC
2015 – Michelle Nicoli, RNC-CNRP IV
2014 – Barbara K. Labuda, RNC-NIC MSN
2013 – Julianne Dahl, RNC-NIC MSN
2012 – Abigail Lonergan, BSN RNC-NIC
2011 – Julie Fullerton, BSN RNC-NIC
2010 – Deanna J Speicher, BSN RNC-NIC
2009 – Barbara J. Hering, MSN RNC-NIC CCNS
2008 – Lisa Festle, MSN RNC-NIC CCNS
2007 – Jeanette Cronin, RNC BSN
2006 – Mary Anne Bennett, BSN RN
2005 – Nancy Gray, BSN RNC
2004 – Linda K Delaney, RNC
2003 – Donna Freshwater, BSN RN|
2002 – Marie Bonneman, RNC CCRN EMT-B
2001 – Marie Campbell, BSN RN
2000 – Joan Townsend, RN
1999 – Jill Herr, MSN RNC
1998 – Julie Harrell, BSN RNC
1997 – Nancy Altenburg, BSN RN
1996 – Myrna Gordon, BSN RN
1995 – Florence Gosnell, BSN RNC
1994 – Mary Short, RNC
1993 – Alison Kirse Coit, MN ARNP
1992 – Justine O’Flynn, RN
1991 – Deborah Milesky, RNC
1990 – Kristina Plaas, BSN RN
1989 – Joan Bitter, BS RNC
