Three award recipients named from Florida, Minnesota, and New Jersey for their remarkable personal challenges while continuing to serve
DENVER, April 9, 2025 – The American Case Management Association (ACMA) and Xsolis, an AI-driven technology company that reduces administrative waste by enabling collaboration between healthcare providers and payers, announce the 2025 Case Management Hero Award recipients. The honorees, Andrea Wallaker, Denise Hassle Goewey, and Ava Scheffler were recognized at the ACMA 2025 National Conference in Denver, Colorado, on April 5. The ACMA Case Management Hero Award was established in 2021 and recognizes case managers and transitions of care professionals who face difficult life challenges while continuing to deliver exemplary service to patients and families.
“One of the guiding principles of our organization is to help our clients practice their craft efficiently and holistically, which is hard to do when faced with personal adversities,” said Joan Butters, CEO and co-founder of Xsolis. “What’s most inspiring about Hero Award recipients is that they go above and beyond to serve, despite personal adversities that are significant — illness, displacement, taking care of extended family, and the loss of life in some cases. Case Management Heroes are courageous, resilient, put others first, practice patient advocacy, and are the embodiment of high standards within their craft.”
Andrea Wallaker, RN, BSN, nurse case manager at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida – Andrea lost most of her belongings and had to leave the home where she raised her three children as the aftermath of Hurricane Helene devastated Madeira Beach, Florida. Her house flooded with three feet of storm surge and sewage, forcing her, her three children, and her mother, who has severe dementia, to take refuge upstairs. Just two weeks later, Hurricane Milton struck, forcing another evacuation and leaving their home uninhabitable. With no other option, Andrea and her family sought shelter in a short-term rental. As a mother and full-time caregiver, she juggled salvaging what was left, managing demolition work, and serving as caretaker for her mother. Despite the overwhelming challenges, Andrea continued to show up for those she served with empathy and kindness.
Denise Hassel Goewey, ACM-SW, social worker at Allina Health System in Minneapolis, Minnesota – Denise has been a steadfast advocate for her patients, taking on the toughest cases for 31 years, with unwavering commitment and compassion. Described as the heart of her hospital’s care management team, Denise has been a constant source of hope and support for those in need. In 2023, despite being diagnosed with both ovarian and breast cancer, she continued to show up for those she served, never letting her personal struggles interfere with her dedication. In early 2025, after a recurrence of cancer, Denise faced yet another battle but once again refused to let it define her. Her strength and determination remain unshakable, even as she faces overwhelming health challenges.
Ava Scheffler, MSW, case manager at Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health System in Long Branch, New Jersey – Ava began her case management career as a student working in the hospital coffee shop to be close to the patients she hoped to one day serve. After earning her MSW, she was thrilled to start as a case manager at the same hospital, but just before her bridal shower, she was diagnosed with two types of breast cancer. Despite undergoing a double mastectomy and grueling chemotherapy just weeks after her wedding, Ava refused to step back. She returned to work, showing up even when she was sick, weak, and financially strained. Her personal battle has transformed into a source of empathy, allowing her to connect with and inspire patients facing similar challenges. Though she has been a case manager for just a year, her resilience, positivity, and compassion have earned her the respect and admiration of colleagues and patients.
“This award is one of the most rewarding things ACMA does,” said L. Greg Cunningham, CEO of the American Case Management Association. “It recognizes individuals who face personal struggles while still showing up for those they serve. That makes each of them a hero, and with Xsolis’ support, ACMA is able to support those heroes with recognition and personal assistance. Hopefully, through these awards, we show our colleagues that we care and support them during adversity in the same way they continue to serve the health care needs of their community.”
ACMA and Xsolis, a premier sponsor of the Hero Award since its inception, have provided various means of recognition and financial assistance to help support Hero Award recipients over the past five years — from childcare expenses and educational stipends to home mortgage payment support. Previous recipients include Liane Sigle from Mercy San Juan Medical Center with Dignity Health (Carmichael, California), Robin Simpson from Harris Health System (Houston, Texas), and Kyle Galyean from University Medical Center (Lubbock, Texas) in 2024; Patrick Gilbert from Blue Cross Blue Shield (Kansas City, Mo.,) and Jacqueline Pokuaa from Dallas Methodist Medical Center in 2023; Monica “Tisha” Ouzts from Self Regional Healthcare (Greenwood, South Carolina) in 2022; Jamie Clardy from Lexington Medical Center (Columbia, South Carolina) and Linda Kuitert from Memorial Hermann (Houston, Texas) in 2021.
Nominations open for the annual awards program during Case Management Week in October.
Learn more about the award and recipients here: https://info.acmaweb.org/heroaward.
About ACMA:
Founded in 1999, the American Case Management Association (ACMA) is the largest national, non-profit, professional membership association, which strives to provide resources, solutions and support for Case Management and Transitions of Care professionals. ACMA has more than 12,000 members nationwide, including nurses, social workers, physicians and other professionals affiliated with case management and over 48,000 educational subscribers. Through a variety of educational conferences and networking events at both the state and national level, ACMA provides its members with numerous opportunities to develop their skills, grow in their profession and learn from the experiences and practices of fellow members. For more information, visit http://www.acmaweb.org.
About Xsolis:
Xsolis is an AI-driven technology company that reduces administrative waste by enabling collaboration between healthcare providers and payers. Dragonfly®, its AI-driven proprietary platform, is the first and only solution to use real-time predictive analytics to continuously assign an objective medical necessity score and assess the anticipated level of care for every patient, enabling more efficiency across the healthcare system. Xsolis is headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.xsolis.com.
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