KNA Nurse of the Year Award Presented to Dr. Linda Thomas

Dr. Linda Thomas was presented with the Kentucky Nurses Association (KNA) Nurse of the Year award on November 4, 2016, at the KNA convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

At the award presentation, a KNA representative shared, Linda Thomas is an excellent candidate for nurse of the year. Linda has served and continues to serve the profession of nursing in so many ways. She served as faculty member and later became the program administrator at Madisonville Community College for many years. She promoted various programs of nursing to reach all learner types and to provide a need in nursing. Some of those included: LPN to RN programs, CNA to LPN programs, Weekend LPN option, and Hybrid formats. She has been a long time member of NLN, ANA, and KNA, serving on many committees, elected and voluntary. Additionally, she served as president of the Kentucky Board of Nursing. Her dedication for nursing has been seen in her community involvement through committee work with local community clinics, hospital committees, March of Dimes, American Heart Association, etc. She exemplifies caring in nursing through her mentorship of faculty and students. Although recently retired, she remains active in her professional nursing organizations as well as serves as a hospital board member at Baptist Health Madisonville. She is a legend and a role model for all nurses.

Dr. Thomas and her husband, Bob, reside in Hanson, KY.