Knollwood, the premier life plan community of choice for those 62 and better in NW Washington, D.C., is especially pleased to honor Margo Buda, R.N., Clinic Nurse Manager for being recognized as an extraordinary health caregiver by Ceca Foundation with a 2020 Annual Ceca Award. Ceca Foundation is a nonprofit, who partners with communities to recognize their outstanding employees.
“I find great pleasure in my work and making a difference in the lives I encounter on a daily basis, from residents to staff to my clinical team that I manage,” said Margo Buda, R.N. “I know first-hand that the role of a nurse is one of the most difficult occupations, yet the most special, and for this I am thrilled to have received this award. My team and I work hard and take great pride in our work.”
Margo has dedicated more than seven years to serving residents at Knollwood, working in the independent living neighborhood as the clinic nurse manager a direct health care resource for residents. The rise of the global pandemic in 2020 morphed her role into assuming more responsibilities as Knollwood played offense against COVID-19. Margo led the team responsible for administrating ongoing COVID-19 testing to residents and staff. She helped implement the entirely new universal testing program, making Knollwood among the first life plan communities to do it.
“Margo played a vital role in the many efforts taken in our fight to combat the COVID-19 virus,” said Paul Bricker, Knollwood’s chief operating officer. “Her expectational leadership and ability to mitigate and execute under pressure, allowed her to apply an effective, weekly COVID-19 testing strategy to ensure a higher degree of safety among residents and staff. Her knowledge, dedication and heart made an incredibly positive impact on all of us during the many challenging times of 2020. She truly deserves this Ceca Award.”
“Each year, Ceca Foundation seeks to recognize the ’best of the best’ with its highest award,” said Nate Hamme, President of Ceca Foundation. “Margo’s fearless approach to tackling the COVID-19 virus at Knollwood was heroic, and she is most deserving of our Annual Caregiver Award.”
Buda is one of three recipients of the 2020 Annual Ceca Caregiver Award. The other award winners are Melissa Amburn a Receptionist at Providence Place in Pottsville, PA and Paul Mickle, R.N. at Baptist Health Medical Center-Arkadelphia in AR. Each of the Honorees receives a monetary award of $2,500 and a commemorative trophy, and all are celebrated by their fellow staff members, residents and family members at their respective communities.