Oct 2011 Hero of the Month

HeartFirst congratulates Bonnie Owens for being selected as the Hero of the Month for October 2011.  Bonnie has been with HeartFirst for 9 years and has worked directly with Dr. Rellas for 21 years.  She was one of the first Nurse Practitioners (NP) to graduate from the University of Pittsburgh and is considered as a pioneer for NP’s in the field of cardiology.  Bonnie runs our Coumadin Clinic which caters to AF patients and she always stays on top of the latest developments in the field of anticoagulation and treatment recommendations for AF.  “New and exciting changes appear often and we embrace them all!  No practice is better than ours in having and using the newest evaluation techniques and treatment modalities,” says Bonnie.  “As you can see, they don’t call me Sunshine for no apparent reason.  I love what I do and always have!”

Bonnie’s co-workers  mirror her excitement and enthusiasm.  “Where to begin… Bonnie is excellent,” said one of her peers.  “She is always patient and courteous to patients and peers and is always willing to take the next step needed to get done whatever needs may exist.”  “Bonnie is always eager and willing to educate and answer clinical questions.”  She consistently wears a cheerful smile as embodied by a great attitude.”  “Bonnie makes HeartFirst a fun and positive place to work!”

Bonnie has twins who are also in the field of medicine.  Her son finishes his residency at UTSW in July 2012 and then starts a Fellowship in Nephrology at Harvard that same month.  Her daughter is a 3^rd year medical student at the University of North Dakota where her son-in-law is finishing a Surgical Residency.  “I have always loved and enjoyed my job and I think just hearing the positive stories throughout their lives helped in pointing them to the medical field,” says Bonnie.  She also has a dog named Daisy who is the “cutest and most loving dog alive”.  Bonnie looks forward to her annual family ski trip and also enjoys reading and playing The Word Game.  “I have a wonderful life and husband.  I do enjoy every minute of it, “ Bonnie says, enthusiastically.

Congratulations Bonnie for being selected as the HeartFirst Hero of the Month!  Your light shines on all of us.  “Thank you Bon-Bon for always Rockin’!!”