Katie Heldt, RN, BSN, Trauma Program manager at Iowa Health - Des Moines (IHDM), was named the 2012 Society of Trauma Nurses (STN) - Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST) Foundation Nurse Fellow Program recipient at the EAST Scientific Assembly this January.

The Nurse Fellow Program enables trauma nurses to gain access to leaders in their field at the EAST Scientific Assembly. Heldt was selected from a national pool of applicants.

"It was an honor to be nominated and chosen as the Fellow," said Heldt. "Attending the EAST conference was an excellent opportunity for education and networking with other nurses working in trauma. It was a privilege to serve in the Fellow capacity."

As the Fellow, Heldt was assigned a mentor who assisted her in organizing a plan for programs to attend, as well as interviews to conduct with trauma leaders. Heldt drafted daily electronic blasts, which highlighted programs and events from each day of the conference. Additionally, Heldt authored an editorial in the Journal of Trauma Nursing summarizing her experience and issuing a call to action for future Nurse Fellows.

"I could not be more proud of Katie," said Iowa Health - Des Moines Chief Nursing Officer, Deb Moyer. "She certainly deserves this award, and it's exciting for a member of the Iowa Health - Des Moines family to be recognized at the national level."

To learn more about Heldt's experience, follow her blog from the Scientific Assembly at blog.traumanurses.org.