[Pictured Above: ANA Vice President Girard (left), UCLA Health Chief Nurse Executive Karen Grimley (second from right) with nurses at the appreciation event.]

ANA joins HBO to celebrate nurses in Los Angeles

The American Nurses Association (ANA) marked a meaningful moment of connection, celebration, and strategic engagement in Los Angeles on January 8 alongside partnering organizations HBO, Cedars-Sinai, and UCLA Health to celebrate nurses and healthcare workers in conjunction with the Season 2 premiere of the Golden Globe award-winning drama, The Pitt, on HBO Max.

ANA and HBO co-hosted appreciation breakfast events for healthcare workers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, both American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet®-designated hospitals, creating opportunities for recognition and gratitude for nurses and care teams. These events brought ANA leadership directly into healthcare settings to engage with nurses, listen to their experiences, and visibly recognize the essential role they play in caring for patients and communities.

“Nurses and healthcare workers are the backbone of our health system, showing up day after day with skill, courage, and heart,” said Angela Beddoe, chief executive officer of the American Nurses Enterprise (ANE). “We were honored to work with HBO to celebrate the professionals whose experiences inspire the stories audiences see on screen and whose impact is felt in communities across the country.”

Along with Beddoe, ANE representatives included Anita Girard, DNP, RN, CPHQ, NEA-BC, ANA vice president;

Bradley Goettl, DNP, DHA, RN, FAAN, FACHE, chief nursing officer; Michael Feigenbaum, JD, MBA, chief communications and strategic engagement officer; Graig Eastin, executive director, American Nurses Foundation; and Stanton Adams, director, brand and content.

The appreciation events underscored a shared commitment to honoring the nursing profession and elevating the voices and experiences of those on the frontline of care.

This work was made possible through close collaboration with ANCC partners and the team from ANA\California, whose partnership and leadership were essential throughout the planning and execution of these engagements.

ANA and Cedars-Sinai surprised nurses and healthcare workers with a special early screening of the first episode of The Pitt Season 2, including gift bags as a token of appreciation. ANA President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, and Vice President Girard attended a dinner hosted by ANA leaders with chief nursing executives from across the greater Los Angeles area.

The gathering provided valuable time to build relationships and hear directly from nurse leaders about their priorities, challenges, and opportunities and how ANA can best support nurse executives, their organizations, and the nurses they lead through advocacy, professional resources, and continued collaboration.

ANA president named among healthcare’s 100 most influential people

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is proud to announce that ANA President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, was recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare for 2025. The complete ranking can be found in the magazine’s December issue, and profiles of all the honorees are available online at ModernHealthcare.com/100MostInfluential.

This prestigious recognition program acknowledges and honors individuals who are deemed by the Modern Healthcare newsroom to be the most influential figures in the industry in terms of leadership and impact.

“It is an incredible honor to be recognized among so many distinguished leaders who are shaping the future of healthcare,” said Dr. Mensik Kennedy. “This recognition reflects the collective strength and influence of the nursing profession. Every day, nurses across the country lead with skill, compassion, and courage, and it is their unwavering commitment to patients and communities that continues to inspire my work and drive our advocacy.”
Dr. Mensik Kennedy was recognized for her exceptional advocacy and impact on behalf of the nursing profession. Her leadership continues to elevate the voice of nurses in shaping policy, advancing innovation, and improving healthcare for all.

“Influence can be exerted in many ways but regardless of whether it is used to internally shape organizations, the healthcare industry as a whole, or both, playing a positive role benefits patients and the professionals responsible for their health,” said Mary

Ellen Podmolik, editor-in-chief of Modern Healthcare. “Our ranked list of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare highlights the executives in all corners of the industry who are striving to advance medicine and how care is delivered—and succeeding in doing so.”

Dr. Mensik Kennedy is continuing her second term as the 38th president of ANA, which began on January 1, 2025. This is her third time placing on Modern Healthcare’s 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare list.

National Nurses Week 2026 toolkit now available

Planning for National Nurses Week 2026 is underway! The American Nurses Enterprise is excited to recognize the invaluable contributions nurses make in healthcare and our lives while addressing the real-life challenges they face every day.

This year, as the American Nurses Association celebrates our 130th anniversary, and as America celebrates its 250th, we’re honored to play a key role in elevating nurses’ voices, stories, awareness, engagement, and local celebrations in coordination with our sponsors and partners.

As you start planning for your National
Nurses Week (NNW) celebrations in May, the NNW digital toolkit is designed to help you bring #ThePowerOfNurses to light in your community, in the press, on social media and to honor nurses wherever they practice. Share your ideas and plans for NNW with us at Nursesweek@ana.org.

Access the toolkit at americannurs.es/1a1mrh4cat.

We hope you will join us as we celebrate the 5,000,000+ nurses across the country by shining a light on The Power of Nurses™.