KANSAS CITY, Mo., (Jul. 29, 2026) – The Research Foundation’s annual continuing education award, the Kathy DeGrande Award for Excellence, has been awarded to St. Joseph Medical Center employee Aimee Dennis.
Dennis is a dedicated registered nurse with 28 years of nursing experience, including 10 years as a Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN). She is recognized for her commitment to delivering compassionate, high-quality patient care while advancing clinical best practices and improving team collaboration. Aimee is an active leader in clinical advancement initiatives, helping create more efficient, patient-centered care environments. Equally respected for her support of colleagues, she is known for mentoring peers, fostering teamwork, and bringing positivity, creativity, and compassion to the workplace. Her leadership, integrity, and unwavering commitment to both patients and coworkers make her an outstanding healthcare professional.
The Kathy DeGrande Award for Excellence was created to honor Kathy DeGrande, former vice president and chief financial officer at Research Medical Center and Research Belton Hospital, now Belton Regional Medical Center. DeGrande passed away March 2000. The award provides $1,000 for continuing education to a full-time or part-time healthcare professional that is committed to excellence, abiding interest in the welfare of their co-workers, has a zest for life, and a sense of humor.
The award is given annually to area healthcare professionals who work at hospitals in the region including AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, Belton Regional Medical Center, Cass Regional Medical Center, Centerpoint Medical Center, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, Liberty Hospital, Olathe Medical Center, Research Medical Center, Truman Medical Center, and Western Missouri Medical Center. Funds can be used to attend local, regional, or national symposiums or applied to tuition, textbooks, journals, and other professional materials. Recipients can also accept the award as a stipend.
The Research Foundation supports professional development in healthcare through several other continuing education opportunities. Visit theresearchfoundationkc.org/what-we-do to learn more
