ROME - Connie Jastremski, M.S., R.N., assistant vice president of Nursing at Rome Memorial Hospital, received the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s "Distinguished Service Award" at the society’s 31^st annual Critical Care Congress in San Diego in January.

Jastremski was the first nurse to receive the award, which recognized her for making exceptional leadership contributions that furthered the vision and mission of the Society of Critical Care Medicine. With nearly 10,000 members worldwide, the society is the largest multidisciplinary, multi-professional organization dedicated to ensuring excellence and consistency in the practice of critical care medicine.

"Mrs. Jastremski has been an active and exceptionally valuable member of the Society for many years," said Ann E. Thompson, MD, immediate past president, Society of Critical Care Medicine. "She currently serves on the Scientific Program committee, probably the most important committee we have, and the Critical Care Education and Research Foundation Board of Directors.  Over the years, she has served the Society in countless capacities, and is as deserving of this honor as anyone could be."

Jastremski also received a "Presidential Citation" for making extraordinary contributions of time, energy and resources to the society.

Jastremski has more than 30 years of experience in the acute care setting and over 20 years as an educator. She received her diploma in nursing in 1969. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1980 and her master’s degree in 1982. In 1997, she graduated from Syracuse University with a master of business administration degree and received her post masters certificate for adult nurse practitioner in 1998 from SUNY Health Science Center.