The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses is pleased to announce the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Lifetime Achievement Award is AWHONN’s most prestigious honor for those who have shown exemplary characteristics in the nursing care of women and newborns. This coveted award is given to an AWHONN member whose accomplishments in the specialties of women’s health, obstetric, and neonatal nursing and contributions to the association exemplify a commitment to excellence.
The 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to Melanie Chichester, BSN, RNC-OB, CPLC, RNC-IAP.
Melanie Chichester is a staff nurse, clinical level III, in Labor & Delivery at ChristianaCare with over 35 years of experience. She received her BSN from the University of Delaware, and holds 3 board certifications- Inpatient Obstetrics, Perinatal Loss Care, and Inpatient Antepartum care.
She is passionate about perinatal loss care and education, teaching students, peers, and allied health care professionals locally and nationally about best practices for anyone experiencing pregnancy loss. She has helped facilitate the Loving Arms Perinatal Loss support group for over 20 years, advocated for loss education for all health care professionals, been part of IMPACT, the Infant, Maternal, and Perinatal Advance Care Team, an interdisciplinary group which offers an extra layer of support to families anticipating a baby with a life-limiting diagnosis, and the planning committee for a multidisciplinary biennial Perinatal Palliative Care conference.
“Melanie embodies ChristianaCare’s core values of love and excellence with every patient, family member and caregiver whom she touches,” said Danielle Weber, MSN, MSM, RN-BC, NEA-BC, interim chief nurse executive at ChristianaCare, a 3-time Magnet®-designated health system. “A tireless advocate for newborns and their mothers, Melanie has elevated the level of labor and delivery education nationwide through her tireless work. But she’s also just as committed to taking on the hardest jobs – supporting parents who have suffered a loss during their pregnancy. She is a shining example of what every nurse should strive to be.”
The Lifetime Achievement Award is sponsored by Johnson’s®.
About AWHONN
The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit membership organization. Our mission is to empower and support nurses caring for women, newborns, and their families through research, education, and advocacy. Learn more about us at awhonn.org.
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