Gloria Whitehead Named Summer 2025 Recipient of Vicki M. Stogsdill Nursing Award

Owensboro Health is proud to announce Gloria Whitehead as the Summer 2025 recipient of the Vicki M. Stogsdill Nursing Award. Gloria’s journey into nursing is a testament to perseverance, purpose and a heart for healing.

Her path to nursing didn’t begin with certainty. Right after high school, Gloria wasn’t sure which direction to take. On a nudge from her advisor, she enrolled in a CNA course to test the waters.

“That class opened the door,” she said. “I started working in a nursing home, and that’s where I got my first real experience in patient care.”

After a year in long-term care, she applied for a CNA role at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital and was hired to work in the Critical Care Unit. That was back in 201, and she’s been there ever since.

“From the moment I stepped into the CCU, I knew I had found something special,” Gloria said. “The fast pace, the complexity and the teamwork all pulled me in. But what really inspired me were the people I worked with. They were smart, kind and professional. I wanted to become a nurse like that, who carries both skill and compassion.”

Fourteen years later, she’s still learning, growing and deeply committed to the calling of healthcare.

“The CCU is challenging, but it’s also where I’ve found real purpose,” Gloria said. “There’s always something new to learn: a complex case, a fresh perspective or just the wisdom from a teammate. It keeps me engaged. It reminds me why I’m here.”

To Gloria, nursing is about more than clinical excellence. It’s about presence.

“Healthcare isn’t just procedures and protocols,” she said. “It’s about human connection. It’s about showing up when someone is at their most vulnerable and offering comfort, skill and hope. It’s about advocacy, equity and dignity. That’s what drives me every day.”

Receiving the Vicki M. Stogsdill Award is a powerful moment for Gloria, and she doesn’t take it lightly.

“It’s an incredible honor,” she said. “This award reflects the values I try to carry into every shift—compassion, integrity and excellence. It reminds me of how far I’ve come and of all the people who helped shape me: mentors, colleagues, professors and patients.”

But the award also means something more personal.

“I began my career as a CNA, unsure of where I was headed,” she said. “Since then, I’ve become a mother, balanced family and work, and kept pushing toward my goal. There were hard days, but I never gave up.”

What matters most to Gloria is that her children witnessed it all.

“They’ve seen the long hours and the sacrifices,” she said. “Now they can see what’s possible when you stay committed to your dreams. That’s one of the greatest rewards.”

For Gloria, the Stogsdill Award is more than recognition—it’s a responsibility and a challenge to keep growing. It’s also a reminder to lift others up, just as others once lifted her.

“It’s a moment of pride,” she said. “And a reminder that perseverance, integrity and compassion will always matter.”

Gloria Whitehead is more than a nurse in the making. She’s a role model, a caregiver and a quiet leader, carrying forward the spirit of Vicki Stogsdill with every step she takes.

To learn more about the Vicki M. Stogsdill Nursing Award and how Owensboro Health supports the next generation of nurses, visit https://www.owensborohealth.org/choose/vicki-m-stogsdill-nursing-award.