Providence, RI - Brown University Health is delighted to announce that Debra Wolowicz, ASN, RN, an operating room nurse in the outpatient operating room at Rhode Island Hospital, has been named the 2026 recipient of its Lifetime Achievement in Nursing Award.
This award recognizes nurses with more than 20 years of service who have made a lasting impact on nursing practice, culture, and mentorship across the health system. Wolowicz’s career embodies every aspect of that mission. For more than two decades, she has been a steady, trusted presence—someone colleagues turn to for guidance, reassurance, and expert insight. Nominators describe her as a nurse who leads with integrity, models excellence, and elevates everyone around her.
“Debra’s influence reaches far beyond her daily responsibilities. She is celebrated by her coworkers as a mentor who generously shares her experience, supports professional growth, and helps shape the future of nursing with compassion and respect,” said Angie Wright, SVP, Chief Nursing Executive at Brown University Health. “Through every shift, every challenge, and every moment of change, Debra has remained grounded in what matters most: exceptional patient care and unwavering support for her colleagues. Her legacy is one of dedication, kindness, and quiet leadership that has strengthened the entire nursing community.
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