A Look at the May 2026 Winner for the Betty Casali Transformational Leadership Award
Lavonia Walker, RN, Assistant Nursing Director for Perioperative Services
(summary of her nomination) Lavonia demonstrates transformational leadership through her ability to balance empathy, innovation, and decisive action. She provides individual consideration by mentoring with authenticity, meeting people where they are, and supporting both professional and personal challenges with compassion and respect. She fosters intellectual stimulation by challenging traditional approaches, engaging teams in problem-solving, and developing innovative programs that address workforce needs. Lavonia inspires through her responsiveness, presence, and commitment to supporting her team, stepping in during critical moments and reinforcing a shared purpose. She leads by example with integrity, calmness, and professionalism, particularly during high-pressure situations where patient safety is paramount. Her leadership has led to measurable improvements in staffing, patient safety outcomes, and operational performance. Lavonia’s ability to lead with both heart and strategy makes her a powerful transformational leader.
Lavonia’s leadership transforms not only systems, but the people within them. She has created an environment where individuals feel seen, supported, and empowered — meeting each person where they are with authenticity, humility, and respect. Her mentorship has helped others grow in confidence and leadership, encouraging them to take on new challenges, pursue professional development, and realize their full potential. She leads with both compassion and action, stepping in during critical moments — whether supporting her team through personal challenges, working alongside staff during shortages, or ensuring patients and families feel cared for beyond their clinical needs.
Her innovative thinking has led to meaningful, lasting solutions, including the development of programs that strengthen workforce pipelines and address long-standing staffing challenges. She actively engages her team in problem-solving, creating a culture where ideas are welcomed, ownership is shared, and improvement is continuous. Lavonia’s leadership is also reflected in measurable patient safety outcomes, with high-performing perioperative standards that demonstrate her commitment to excellence and accountability.
What truly sets Lavonia apart is her ability to lead with both strength and heart. Whether responding calmly during high-pressure situations like a department-wide power failure, or going above and beyond to support a patient and family in need, she consistently demonstrates integrity, empathy, and unwavering dedication. She inspires pride in her team, models professionalism in every interaction, and reminds us all what it means to lead with purpose. Lavonia Walker embodies transformational leadership in every sense.
A look back at past winner
A Transformational Leader stimulates and inspires followers to achieve positive outcomes through growth, development and empowerment.
The recipient of the Betty Casali Transformational Leadership Award should reflect by example specific qualities that resulted in empowering/encouraging others to achieve a positive outcome. This leader utilizes the four (4) core components (listed below) of transformational leadership to achieve results:
1) Individual Consideration: The leader acts as a mentor or coach, listens to concerns and attends to the needs of those they are leading.
- Mentor/coach
- Good communicator
- Empathetic
- Demonstrates respect for team
2) Intellectual Stimulation: For such a leader, learning is valued and unexpected situations are seen as opportunities to learn. Those being led, ask questions, think deeply and figure out better ways to execute their tasks.
- Risk-taker
- Solicits ideas from followers
- Encourages innovation and creativity
- Challenges assumptions
3) Inspirational Motivation: Those being led by this leader are willing to invest more effort in their tasks; they are encouraged and optimistic about the future and believe in their abilities.
- Visionary
- Optimistic
- Goal-oriented
- Relay a strong sense of purpose
4) Idealized Influence: Followers tend to identify with their leader and desire to emulate them; the leader is respected and trusted.
- Role Model
- Highly ethical behaviors
- Persistence/determination
- Instills pride
Nomination Requirements
- The nominee must be a registered nurse and in a formally appointed position such as Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), Associate Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO), Director, Assistant Director, Clinical Service Manager (CSM), Assistant Clinical Service Manager (ACSM), Clinical Specialist (CS), APRN Coordinator, RN IV, RN V or applicable. Nurses in a shift or term limited role such as Charge Nurse, Team Lead, or Resource Nurse are not eligible for this award.
Nomination Process
- Complete online application below in its entirety relating to the nurse you are nominating. If you have any supportive information in the area provided in the nomination form, please attach it. NOTE: Nominations will not be accepted after the closing date.
- The nominator may provide evidence from the nominee to include as evidence to support the nomination.
Selection Process
- Nominations, that meet criteria, will be blinded and reviewed by the Awards Committee. The Awards Committee will select winners based only on the information provided in the nomination and supportive information.
- Nominees who meet the criteria, as well as the selected winner, will be celebrated during annual Professional Nursing Awards ceremony .
Click here to view past nomination example.