2019 NYSAOHN Nurse of the Year

The New York State Association of Occupational Health Nurses (NYSAOHN) is honored to recognize Cheryl Stapleton, RN, CCM as the 2019 NYSAOHN Nurse of the Year.

After receiving an Associate degree in Animal Science from SUNY Canton in 1985, Cheryl "switched gears" and earned an Associate degree in Nursing from Mohawk Valley Community College in 1991.  

Previously, Cheryl worked at the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company doing telephonic workers' compensation case management.  In 1997 she took and passed the national certification exam for case managers through the Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC). 

In 2015 Cheryl joined Sysco Corporation as Occupational Health Nurse Manager.

Cheryl became a member of AAOHN in 2015 and attended the AAOHN National conferences in 2016 and 2018.  She recently joined the Board of Directors of her local chapter, Central NYAOHN.  Cheryl also recently attended a Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN) certification workshop and hopes to sit for the COHN exam in fall 2019.

In addition to case management and occupational health, Cheryl has worked 25 years in emergency room/urgent care.  She joined Upstate University Hospital Level 1 Trauma Center in Syracuse in 2010 as Senior Staff in the Telephonic Injury and Illness Triage Call Center.  She is still working there 1/4 time.

Cheryl was highly recommended to receive the 2019 NYSAOHN Nurse of the Year award by current Central NYAOHN President, Karen Runeare, who praised Cheryl for "stepping up to the plate when our member numbers are dwindling and helping to revive our local chapter.  She graciously accepted a Board position while she has  full-time and part-time jobs and juggles it all with family and studying for her COHN".

 Her manager at Sysco, Paul LeBlanc ANP, COHN-S,  also offered high praise for Cheryl. He wrote:

"As the Director of Occupation Health Services for Sysco Corporation, I was given the challenge and opportunity to develop a best in class organization that included placing Occupational Health Nurse Managers (OHNMs) around the country in operating companies (OpC0s), which presented the greatest challenges but with the most opportunities.  Within 3 years we have placed 38 OHNMs in OpCos around the US, and Cheryl Stapleton was one of our first to join the new organization."

"Being one of the first to join the organization, there were many challenges to overcome from the corporate side to the “boots on the ground” at the operating companies. Cheryl was instrumental in assisting in growing this organization to where it is today. As a team we developed protocols, standing orders, programs, roles and responsibilities and even designed on-site clinics.  As a “charter” member of the Occupational Health Services Organization, Cheryl had to integrate herself into the OpCo in order to be effective in gaining their trust and influencing change.  In less than a year Cheryl was able to establish herself as an integral part of the operating company’s management team and corporate organization. It was not an easy task since the operating company had no prior experience of having an OHNM, yet alone one on site.  Through assessing where the organizations was on acceptance to change, employee health and wellness, overall safety and prevention and community resources, Cheryl implemented a plan that consisted of employee and management education on the scope of practice of an OHNM,  collaboration, value added services."

"In less than 3 years, Cheryl has reduced employee lost work days by 80%, litigated worker compensation claims by 88%, Indemnity claims by 76%, overall worker compensation claim cost by 76% and OSHA recordable injuries by 42%!  This was accomplished through total cultural integration and a multidisciplinary approach. She gained the trust of the management team and the employees enabling her to implement wellness programs, partner in safety initiatives, ensuring employees received appropriate medical interventions.  The focused changed from a focus on managing medical costs to focusing on the employee total wellness and health."

"Cheryl has exemplified all the attributes of an Occupational Health Nurse and has changed the lives of those she has touched. The management team and employees now rely on her holistic approach to care for them, their families and the community." 

"Cheryl has not only changed the lives and culture of the OpCo, but managed to still be a mother, spouse, mentor and friend!"

"I have been an OHN for over 20 years and no one deserves this recognition more that Cheryl. It has been an honor and a privilege to work with Cheryl!"

Best Regards,

Paul LeBlanc, ANP, COHN-S

Congratulations, Cheryl!