FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              Connecticut Department of Public Health

April 11, 2012                                                             Contact: William Gerrish

                                                                                    (860) 509-7270

Hartford –Alice Martinez, R.N., of the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) and Eileen Boulay, RN, a Nurse Consultant with the DPH Asthma Program, have been selected to receive the Nightingale Award for Nursing Excellence. Both nurses were nominated by DPH staff based on criteria that included making a significant impact on patient care and/or the nursing profession while working at DPH, going “beyond the call,” and for being professional role models at DPH.   

The Nightingale Awards for Excellence in Nursing program was originally developed by the Visiting Nurse Association of South Central Connecticut to be a collaborative effort to celebrate outstanding nurses and elevate the nursing profession. The goals of the program are to encourage retention, inspire future nurses, focus public attention, and recognize the breadth and scope of nursing practice at the local level. 

Alice is a Nurse Consultant with the DPH Facility Licensing and Investigation Section (FLIS) and has been employed by the department for over ten years. She began her experience in long term care and has since surveyed hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, residential care homes, and behavioral health facilities. She is being recognized for showing true compassion for her work and ensuring each individual receives the care needed with the respect deserved. Alice is a resident of Newington.

Eileen is a Nurse Consultant with the DPH Asthma Program and has been employed by the department for nine years. She brings over 40 years of nursing experience, with the last 20 years in public health at the local and state level. Prior to joining DPH she had many years of acute care experience in labor and delivery and neonatal intensive care.  She resides in Wolcott with her husband Jerry. She has two sons, her eldest, Jer Jr. a MSgt. in the Air Force for 18 years and stationed in Germany, and her son, Michael, a Forensic Head Nurse at Whiting Forensic Institute at Connecticut Valley Hospital. She is the proud grandmother of Vanessa and Michael.

Both will be recognized at the Nightingale Award Ceremony, which will take place on Thursday, May 10, 2012 at the Hartford Marriott Downtown.  For more information on the Nightingale Award, please go to http://www.nightingalenursingawards.org/hartford/.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health is the state’s leader in public health policy and

advocacy with a mission to protect and promote the health and safety of the people of our state.  To contact the department, please visit its website at www.ct.gov/dph or call (860) 509-7270.

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