27 nominated by you for Lutheran’s annual awards!
Congratulations to the 12 physicians, nine advanced practice professionals and six nurses nominated by you to win our annual awards representing clinical excellence, heightened teamwork, leadership and loyalty. All nominees are included below with excerpts from their nominations. The winners will be announced and all will be celebrated at Lutheran’s Annual Medical Staff Meeting & Dinner in October.
12 nominees for Lutheran’s 2026 Physician of the Year Award
Andrew Buchholz, MD, Anesthesiology: Dr. Buccholz is an outstanding anesthesiologist who stands out at Lutheran as a physician who always leads by example, cares deeply for his patients, and is always kind and considerate to staff and other physicians. He takes excellent care of patients and is always available for clinical advice or a consult. He works extensively behind the scenes to ensure seamless, quality anesthesia care for our hospital's patients.
Dan Carlson, MD, Orthopaedic Surgery: Not only does he do the most surgeries of any surgeon in this hospital, he’s always a team player and is willing to take extra time for patients when it's required (without pushback). Recently, he covered an additional call roll, ortho hand, outside of his normal duties over a holiday weekend so that our patients weren’t transferred to another hospital. This kind of dedication and commitment to patients is what we need to be celebrating.
Brittany Coveyou, DO, Hospital Medicine: Dr. Coveyou is passionate about quality care and relationships. The level of attention and care she gives to her patients, their families and her colleagues is exemplary! She never fails to connect with families and close the loop, answer all of the questions and hand the patient off to the next level of care or to a colleague in the hospital. This level of detail and respect for the physician/patient bond is rare.
Gregory Fasani-Feldberg, MD, Orthopaedic Surgery: Dr. Feldberg demonstrates an exceptional combination of surgical expertise, clinical judgment and genuine compassion for his patients. He takes time to listen to them, to understand how their spinal condition is affecting their lives and thoughtfully guides them through both surgical and nonsurgical treatment options. He remains invested throughout their recovery and strives to help them regain function, independence and quality of life.
David Leventhal, MD, Emergency Medicine: Dr. Leventhal is an incredible medical director for the Emergency Department. He listens to all members of the team to create a place where patients flow quickly and receive incredible care at the best Emergency Department in greater Denver. Specifically, the recent implementation of the PIT process. Dave is very approachable and always reachable, a true leader.
Reuben Lufrano, MD, Orthopaedic Surgery: Dr. Lufrano takes on complex surgeries that other surgeons may not be willing or able to perform, giving patients options when they may otherwise have none. Often, he returns to the hospital after hours to speak with patients and their families about their injury so they don’t have to wait until the next day. His commitment, compassion and dedication to providing the best-possible care make him truly deserving of this recognition.
Jerry Miklin, MD, Cardiovascular Disease: He’s one of the best physicians I’ve ever met. His patients love him, he’s a skilled proceduralist, and he gives everyone the same level of respect. He provides amazing and comprehensive care for his patients. He’s very willing to help with complicated cardiac cases in an urgent manner. He has always been readily available to answer questions, see patients urgently and give timely feedback. I hold him in the highest esteem as a cardiologist and a doctor!
Aram Neuschatz, MD, Hospital Medicine: Dr. Neuschatz is who I want to be when I grow up. He is extremely knowledgeable, patient and compassionate. He is an active listener, both to his patients and his colleagues. He reminds me of why I went into medicine in the first place. We are so lucky to be able to work with him at Lutheran.
Jeffrey Owsley, DO, Hematology & Oncology: Jeff is an exceptional collaborator who consistently contributes to the success of our service line. Whether participating in multidisciplinary tumor boards, partnering with colleagues on complex patient care decisions, or supporting program initiatives, he brings a thoughtful and patient-centered perspective. He is respected by his peers and valued as a trusted partner across specialties. He combines clinical expertise with genuine compassion.
Franco Rea, MD, General Surgery: Dr. Rea is the epitome of collegiality. He is available by phone, day or night, to address specialty surgical issues that cannot be handled by most. He takes excellent care of patients. His surgical skill and fund of knowledge are outstanding. He has elevated our vascular and thoracic care. His skill set is unique among members of the Lutheran medical staff and he brings a level of service that benefits our community. I am grateful to have him as a colleague.
Jason Wang, MD, Hospital Medicine: Dr. Wang consistently provides excellent care for his patients, both as the primary team and medical consultant. He values collaboration with other teams, taking every opportunity to support other caregivers and, in doing so, raises the bar for the overall patient experience. He is kind, he is patient, and he is consistently available to patients, their families, the nursing staff and medical colleagues. It is a pleasure to work alongside him.
Chris Zaw-Mon, MD, Trauma Surgery: Chris is an outstanding colleague and clinician. He embodies true collegiality and approachability throughout the hospital, while playing an instrumental role in driving nursing education and staff development. I admire his steady leadership and exceptional professionalism.
9 nominations for Lutheran’s 2026 Advanced Practice Professional of the Year Award
Kristen Boyer, PA, Thoracic Surgery: She's outstanding. The absolute best. Clinically excellent, dedicated to the team and her patients, trustworthy and loyal.
Meredith Carey, PA, Emergency Medicine: Meredith is a great coworker in the Emergency Department. She is efficient, a caring provider who provides excellent care. Every day I work with Meredith I know that it’s going to be a good day. She does not get the credit that she deserves.
Kimberly Dineen, PA, Orthopaedic Surgery: She provides outstanding patient care.
Mike Dinh, AA, Anesthesiology: The APP team in anesthesia has brought so much benefit to Lutheran, and I would like Mike to be recognized. He routinely exceeds expectations and regularly stays late to finish cases.
Beth Eldridge, NP, General Surgery: Stellar attitude. One of the best APPs I’ve ever worked with. She is quick to connect with patients by finding common interests or by listening to their personal story. She advocates for patients' needs. She is an efficient worker, helping to move patients along their healthcare journey by completing notes and orders in a timely fashion. She is an asset to the team and we are grateful to have her.
Rhian Fitzgerald, NP, Hospital Medicine: Rhian has made a significant impact by improving communication and collaboration between different specialties, helping ensure that everyone is informed and working together toward the best outcome for each patient. Her dedication, compassion and commitment to improving both patient care and teamwork make her truly deserving of this recognition.
Elizabeth Hutto, CRNA, Anesthesiology: Elizabeth is an integral member of the anesthesia team who excels at coordinating patient care and who is an extremely compassionate provider, selfless in her dedication to her patients. She regularly stays late to finish cases, without complaint. She is an absolute joy to work with.
Selvi Kumar, NP, Bariatric Surgery: Selvi is an incredible provider and member of our team. She is smart, kind, collaborative, thorough, and our patients rave about her. I am so lucky to work with her - she is amazing!
Emmanuel Nti, NP, Internal Medicine: Emmanuel has been a steadfast advocate and guardian for patients, consistently ensuring they receive compassionate, high-quality care. Through a strong presence on the ground, Emmanuel has earned the trust of patients, families and colleagues alike. The commitment to patient well-being, attention to detail, and willingness to support others have made a meaningful difference in the lives of countless patients.
6 nominated for Lutheran’s 2026 Nurse of the Year Award
Mindy Alicea, PACU: She is incredible and works behind the scenes to a level I feel very few realize. She is the glue that holds the entire PACU together, and she is someone I am very proud to work with.
Victor Paul Ericson, OR: Paul is outstanding with patient families. He calls out to them regularly from the OR with updates, markedly reducing their anxiety, which creates a much smoother process for them, for the patient, for everyone, in transitioning patients from the OR to the ICU. Paul's presence, initiative and compassion make the patient's experience, and the surgeon's experience, better every time.
Jennette Kallendar, ICU: We have all seen Jennette catapult as a nurse over the last decade, from being a brand new CRNA to an excellent bedside nurse, to charge nurse, and now house supervisor. She is caring of her colleagues, delivers excellent patient care, and is admired by the medical staff. Jennette now serves on the Resuscitation Committee and has had a significant role in the growth of the neurocritical care and trauma programs. She leads by example and composure.
Jocelyn Marguin, RN Float Pool: Jocelyn is a truly amazing and dedicated nurse. She cares for her patients, works hard and just makes the day go by faster. A story to show her dedication: A stroke alert patient came in with an atypical presentation, seen by ED doc and neurologist. The patient had a normal CT scan and returned to the room. Jocelyn reevaluated the patient found a subtle neuro change and advocated for her patient, who was found to have an acute stroke and received the appropriate treatment.
Anastacia Marks-Rodriguez, Vascular & Heart: Anastacia provides state-of-the-art care to our patients each day. Additionally, she has worked on identifying areas of improvement, further magnifying her ability to help patients.
Lauren Ostuni, L&D: Lauren does things because they are the right thing to do. She advocates for patients who don’t have a strong enough voice to do so. She stays late to help because she knows the unit needs it. She takes on the role of educator to share her vast experience with others. She’s is a major asset for our hospital and for her patients.
Congratulations to all award nominees and thank you to everyone who took the time to ensure your team members received this well-deserved recognition. The winners will be announced and all nominees will be celebrated at the 2026 Medical Staff Meeting & Dinner on Thursday, Oct. 22, at Buffalo Rose in Golden.
Watch the awards ceremony unfold live! All medical staff members are invited to bring a guest to this special event. RSVP by clicking the button below.