2009 Ron W. Lee, MD
Excellence in Pediatric Care Awards
In May 2009, the Illinois Department of Public Health and Illinois Emergency Medical Services for
Children presented the following recipients with the 2009 Ron W. Lee, MD, Excellence in Pediatric Care
Awards.
These awards are given in recognition of excellence to those dedicated to pediatric care and childhood injury
prevention initiatives. The awards are presented each May in honor of Emergency Medical Services Week.
Dr. Lee was the Director of Emergency Medicine at Loyola University Medical Center and was
instrumental in establishing and fostering the EMSC program in Illinois. When he passed away in 1998,
these awards were set up in his honor to recognize those who carry on his commitment to childhood care.
Individuals or organizations can be nominated for one of the following three award categories – Lifetime
Achievement, Clinical Excellence and Community Service. Nominations for the awards were received
from throughout the state.
Lifetime Achievement
Earl Field, Paramedic Services of Illinois, Schiller Park (Posthumous award)
Earl began his EMS career in 1973 as one of the first paramedics certified by the Illinois
Department of Public Health. Prehospital education was exceedingly important to Earl
which is exemplified by the educational work that he was involved with. During the midto-late 1970’s, he was an EMS Instructor for Triton Junior College. During the 1980’s he
was the state PHTLS Director. He also was an ACLS and PALS Instructor during his
career. Over the years he mentored thousands of prehospital providers, many of whom
currently provide prehospital care throughout the state, and others who have moved to
higher levels in EMS.
Earl was passionate about EMS and was one of its biggest advocates. He constantly
promoted the benefits and skills of prehospital personnel.
Earl also established Paramedic Services of Illinois (PSI) Company. Throughout his
career, Earl challenged all of his employees to excel in their paramedic skills including
pediatric care. Earl was one of the first prehospital providers in our state to understand
the value of pediatric education by becoming PALS certified in 1983.
Earl became an original member of the initial Illinois EMSC Advisory Board and served
during the 1995 – 1996 term. Earl also served on other notable committees, including the
Illinois Fire Chiefs EMS Committee, the State EMS Disciplinary Review Board, PHTLS
Director for the State, American Heart Association Board and others.
In 1998 Earl moved to a new level and became Mayor of the Village of Norridge. This
provided him with the opportunity to further promote EMS within his community and
support programs that could improve the lives of children and the elderly. Some of these
programs include Jump Rope for Heart Program, D.A.R.E. Program, Ridgewood High
School Post Prom Lock-in Program, Shop-with-a-Cop Progeram, Misericordia Sponsor
Program, Safe Kids Coalition, Safety Town, Boy Scouts of America and the Norridge
Youth activities.
Over the years, Earl championed a number of causes that led to many accomplishments
within the field of EMS and pediatric emergency care. He became well respected and
well recognized in his field. In summary, Earl devoted much of his life to emergency
medical services, and was a strong advocate for the needs of children.
Lifetime Achievement
Charles Nozicka, DO, FAAP, FAAEM, Medical Director, Pediatric Emergency Services, Advocate
Condell Medical Center, Libertyville.
Dr. Nozicka began his medical career at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital as an attending
physician and then within a short period of time became the Head of the Department of
Emergency Medicine at Great Lakes. By 1989 he had completed a residency in
Pediatrics at Lutheran General Hospital, including serving an additional year as Chief
Resident. Following his residency, Dr. Nozicka became an attending physician in the
Pediatric Emergency Department at Lutheran General Hospital. Within a few years he
was named the Director of Pediatric Emergency Services there.
Next Dr. Nozicka started the pediatric emergency program at St. Alexius Medical Center.
Over the next several years he was involved in the very successful growth of this
program and also served as the Director of the Pediatric Center of Excellence for the
Alexian Brothers System. He then moved to Northwest Community Hospital where he
once again focused on improving services within the Pediatric Emergency Department.
Last year Dr. Nozicka joined the team at Advocate Condell Medical Center as the
Medical Director of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, and he led the effort to open the new
Pediatric Emergency Department.
He is recognized for the ongoing commitment that he has displayed to pediatric
emergency medicine, and for his role in assuring that the emergency care needs of
children have remained at the forefront. Throughout his career, he has been actively
involved in teaching at all levels, at both the bedside as well as in the classroom. His
teaching has included paramedics, nurses, medical students, residents and attending
physicians. Through the years he has also authored textbooks, served as faculty at
several medical schools, and has also lectured extensively at the community level. To
help get the message out about teen drug abuse, he has made appearances on national
television including the Today Show, The Early Show and Anderson Cooper 360.
Dr. Nozicka has also served on numerous hospital committees over the years to improve
pediatric care; served as both an Affiliate as well as a National faculty member for the
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) course; and been involved in community
volunteer work. One of his volunteer efforts has been serving on the board of the Malisia
Foundation, a non-profit group that raises money for health care and education for the
province of Mosche in Tanzania. He has spent several weeks there donating his time.
Dr. Nozicka has also been involved in statewide EMSC activities, including being a site
surveyor for the EMSC facility recognition program and offering guidance to other
hospitals within the state on how they can improve their pediatric services and better
address the needs of children. In addition, he serves on two state EMSC Committees.
The EMSC Facility Recognition Task Force oversees statewide pediatric recognition
activities. And the Pediatric Bioterrorism Workgroup promotes pediatric disaster
preparedness and develops resources that healthcare professionals can use to be enhance
their preparedness. These committees assist in integrating pediatric initiatives into the
state system, thereby assuring that the needs of children continue to be served. His
efforts have helped to make a positive difference in our state.
Dr. Nozicka is well respected and well recognized as an expert in his field. He has
always been a strong advocate for the needs of children and his dedication is an asset to
pediatric emergency care in Illinois.
Clinical Excellence
Leslie Wilkans, RN, BSN, CQI Liaison, Emergency Department, Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital,
Barrington.
Leslie has worked in the emergency department setting over the past 10 years as a staff
nurse. In the last 6 years, in addition to her staff nurse responsibilities, she has had the
responsibility of keeping the emergency department and the hospital abreast of current
pediatric practices as the EDAP CQI Liaison.
One of the letters of support that was submitted in her nomination application noted that
Leslie is “adored by patients, respected by her peers, and admired by those who have had
the pleasure to work alongside her.” Another letter noted that Leslie “is not only a stellar
bedside clinician, but has spent countless hours over the last few years in the pursuit of
excellence for pediatric care, not only in our Emergency Department, but also housewide,
systemwide and regionwide throughout EMS Region 9.” This is evidenced in several
projects and programs that she has spearheaded that have been aimed at supporting
pediatric care and enhancing capabilities.

Pediatric bereavement program;

Pediatric pain distraction/coping cart project;

Universal pediatric medication management system;

Assisting with the development of the new volunteer Child Life Specialist
program;

Initiation of and conduction of mock pediatric code blue;

Assuring consistent interdisciplinary collaboration to improve processes to
improve patient care.
Not only does she share her work and resources with others within her institution and
within EMS Region 9, but she has also begun assisting the State EMSC program with
pediatric site surveys throughout the state. Her energy and enthusiasm during these
surveys are infectious, and she offers practical tips and strategies to hospital personnel to
improve their pediatric care. She also shares her work through poster presentations and
other avenues so others can learn from her efforts.
Another letter of support that was in the nomination application noted that Leslie “is a
leader with great vision and determination.” Her leadership shines thru as the chair of
the Region 9 EMSC Quality Improvement committee, which she has chaired over the
past several years. Her leadership skills are also evident in her ability to always move
projects forward to completion. She also displays leadership talent as she challenges
others in a non-confrontational way to do the right thing.
In summary, Leslie is an exceedingly dedicated nurse who is always striving for the very
best care for children. She definitely goes above and beyond, and has devoted herself to
caring for and advocating for children.
Community Service
Front Row (from left): Diane Pflederer, Patient Care Director
of Children’s Services, Paula Atteberry, Special Programs
Coordinator for Illinois Emergency Medical Services for
Children, Dr. Kay Saving, Children’s Hospital of Illinois
Medical Director, Dr. Sam Gaines, Illinois Department of
Public Health Division of Emergency Medical Services
Medical Director, Vicki Lee, Manager of Pediatric
Developmental Rehabilitation and Child Life Services
Back Row (from left): Megan Mutti, Child Life Specialist
Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, Co-Chair of Children’s Hospital
Family Advisory Board, Stacie Osborne, Child Life Specialist,
Demetra Gaines, Child Life Specialist, Erin Durbin, Program
Coordinator, Yvette Whitehurst, Program Coordinator, Lori
Fuller, Children’s Hospital Business Development Manager,
Rich Draeger, Vice Chair of the Children’s Hospital’s
Advocacy Committee, Ginny Everett, Past Chair of the
Children’s Hospital’s Advocacy Committee, Jim Stowell,
President of Children’s Hospital Community Advisory Board
Children’s Hospital of Illinois, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria.
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center truly excels in providing care and support to children.
Children’s Hospital was the first hospital in Illinois to pursue designation as a Pediatric
Critical Care Center (PCCC) by the Illinois Department of Public Health as part of the
EMSC Facility Recognition program. The hospital is also designated as a Level I
Trauma Center, as well as a Regional Perinatal Center, and serves as the only Level III
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in EMS Region 2. The aeromedical program (LifeFlight) is
able to quickly transport ill and injured children, and also links the region’s premature
infants with world-class neonatal care.
It was noted in the nomination application that Children’s Hospital has over 127 pediatric
inpatient beds and over 75 pediatric subspecialists. As the third largest pediatric hospital
in Illinois and the only full-service tertiary hospital for children in Central Illinois – this
allows the hospital to care for a large number of children each year.
Several special programs conducted by the Children’s Hospital of Illinois are recognized
through this award:
Be A Buckle Buddy! Hotline – this program was developed in 2004 by
Children’s Hospital of Illinois to educate drivers on Illinois child restraint
laws and to reduce the number of children riding unbuckled in vehicles;
Statewide Special Needs Resource Center – this program provides car seats
for special needs children to children and families in need. Since 2003, over
1000 car seats have been distributed to underprivileged families The program
also provides education on child passenger safety that is specific to the
special-needs population;
Mobile Safety Van – The mobile safety van brings injury prevention
programs such as bicycle safety and child passenger safety to neighborhoods
and communities;
Undercover Helmet Program – Each spring the hospital partners with
Russell’s Cycling and Fitness to promote bicycle helmet use and provide
helmets to school-age children (kindergarten through fifth grade) in 5
surrounding counties;
Parent Advice On-line – This online program offers education to parents via
the hospital website. Parent Advice On-Line covers many basic topics and is
designed to assist parents in determining if medical care is needed when their
child feels sick. It also provides suggestions for symptom relief at home for
more simple issues;
Community Advocacy Awards – Every year, Children’s Hospital recognizes
advocates throughout central Illinois who are making a difference in the lives
of children. These awards are based on the following categories:
professional, volunteer, youth and organization/business;
Advisory Boards – In order to obtain input and feedback on various
programs, Children’s Hospital has the following advisory boards in place: the
Community Advisory Board, the Cystic Fibrosis Board, the Family Advisory
Board and the Kids Advisory Board (this board is comprised of 8 past
patients, all of whom are 18 years of age or younger).
In summary, there is commitment to the children and families within Central Illinois by
the Children’s Hospital of Illinois at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. Their work is
exemplary and helps to ensure a healthy future for children and families.
Community Service
Zaida Nava, RN, Public Health Nurse, Chicago Department of Public Health, Chicago.
Zaida began her career as a nurse nearly 25 years ago. For 22 of those years she has
worked at the Chicago Department of Public Health. She began in the Maternal Family
Planning Department; then moved to the Mammogram Department; and for the last 15
years has led the Pediatrics Department as the key resource nurse for West Town staff,
providers and hundreds of underserved families and children living in the Humboldt
Park/West Lawn area.
At the West Town Center, Zaida addresses the referral, school physical, developmental,
immunization and various other health needs of anywhere between 10-30 patients a day.
She is known to display strong telephone triage skills, is able to calm parents, and gathers
important clinical data to refer them to the right resources. From triaging acutely ill
“walk-in” pediatric patients to interpreting complex immunizations records that patients
bring in from all over the world, Zaida is viewed as an invaluable resource for her
patients. In addition, she teaches parents how to better bond with their children, how to
keep them up-to-date with immunizations and she also shares relevant child development
information with parents.
Over the years, many of the West Town families have come to know Zaida so well, that
they often request her. Her fluency in Spanish and Hispanic culture allows her to better
assess the problems and needs of this community. There is no doubt that our current
healthcare system can be very overwhelming. For families that do not speak English, it
can be even more daunting. Zaida is able to navigate children and families through the
healthcare system and link them with appropriate resources and referrals. She makes sure
that patients receive appropriate followup care and health education opportunities. Some
of this work is done on her own time – as one of the letters that was submitted in her
nomination application indicates - “She is willing to stay over if needed and also comes
in early to get a headstart on the next days work.”
It is clear that Zaida is truly passionate about the children that she takes care of every
single day. In the nomination application that was submitted, Zaida’s co-workers call her
one of the best and brightest in the nursing profession. In summary, Zaida is a dedicated
nurse who is always striving for the very best care for children. She definitely goes above
and beyond, and has devoted herself to caring for and advocating for children.