The Department of Pediatrics Section of Emergency Medicine has announced their Joan Bothner Award for Excellence and Tim Givens Award for Service in Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) winners for their accomplishments and contributions in 2023.
The Joan Bothner Award for Excellence in Pediatric Emergency Medicine is presented annually to the PEM faculty (physicians and APPs) and Emergency Department staff members who best embody Bothner’s values of exceptional emergency care for children, leadership and unwavering commitment to education, research and advocacy. Providers and staff are nominated by and voted upon by their peers.
Children’s Hospital Colorado South Campus, Highlands Ranch
- Irina Topoz, MD (associate professor of pediatrics, Section of Emergency Medicine/Urgent Care/Network of Care)
- Jenny Peterson, RN
Children’s Hospital Colorado North Campus, Broomfield
- Nikita Habermehl, DO, FAAP (instructor of pediatrics, Section of Emergency Medicine/Urgent Care/Network of Care)
- Nicki Peckman, RN
Children’s Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
- Rachel Cafferty, MD (assistant professor of pediatrics, Section of Emergency Medicine)
- Peri Sandusky, EMT
- Trish Witzel, RN
Children’s Hospital Colorado Urgent Care
- Erin Harvey, MD (assistant professor of pediatrics, Section of Emergency Medicine; director, Urgent Care, Children’s Hospital Colorado)
- Teri Lausmith, RN
Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs
- Chris Cavagnaro, MD (assistant professor of pediatrics, Section of Emergency Medicine)
- Liz Cox, RN
The Tim Givens Award for Service to the Section of Emergency Medicine is presented each year to an Advanced Practice Provider, PED and PEM faculty member who best exemplifies Givens’ service and commitment to the Section of Emergency Medicine/Urgent Care program and its faculty.
- Joseph "Bob" Kelly, MD (instructor of pediatrics, Section of Emergency Medicine)
- Cam McFarland, FNP, MS (instructor of pediatrics, Section of Emergency Medicine)
- Ben Elkon, MD (assistant professor of pediatrics, Section of Emergency Medicine)
- Joe Grubenhoff, MD, MSc (associate professor of pediatrics, Section of Emergency Medicine; medical director, Diagnostic Safety Program and chair, Professional Standards Committee, Children’s Hospital Colorado)
About Joan Bothner and Tim Givens:
In 1986, Joan Bothner, MD, commenced her service at Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHCO). She served as the pioneering medical director of the Emergency Department and later as the first chief of the Section of Emergency Medicine. Joan was instrumental in establishing the Section of Emergency Medicine and expanding our services to the Network of Care and Colorado Springs. Throughout her three decades at CHCO, Bothner assumed numerous leadership roles, focusing mainly on supporting others to achieve success. Today, we honor Joan for her steadfast dedication to providing outstanding emergency care for children and for mentoring many of us in pursuit of that objective.
Tim Givens, MD, FAAP, began his service to CHCO as medical director of the Pediatric Emergency Department in 2009. By 2012 he was named section head of Emergency Medicine (PEM). During Givens’ tenure, the program added pediatricians and advanced practice providers to our PEM faculty, oversaw expansion of the Network of Care, established the Transfer Center, and worked to develop the Trauma Program. In addition, he recruited and promoted faculty to leadership positions with the goal of growing the academic program and supporting our membership in PECARN. In addition to all these accomplishments, Tim led the section with heart, taking every opportunity to support faculty in their clinical work and academic goals.
