Mercy Medical Center Nurses Recognized in Baltimore Magazine's 2025 "Excellence in Nursing" Edition

Mercy Medical Center nurses have been recognized as among “the best of the best” in the region by Baltimore magazine’s 11th annual Excellence in Nursing Awards survey for the May 2025 issue.

The survey attracted hundreds of nominations covering numerous different specialties over a nine-month period. Nominations were reviewed by a panel of several registered nurse advisors who helped determine the winners. From Mercy, the following nurses were recognized:

• Marshelle Morlock BSN, RN – Foot and Ankle Operating Room
• Jake Allam, BSN, RN – Crane Operating Room
• Sara-Ann Ballard BSN, RN, FNE-A, CAPA – Crane PACU

The magazine solicited nominations from peers, supervisors and patients of registered nurses, both in and out of hospitals, who represent the finest in their field.

“Mercy nurses have a strong reputation for their skill and expertise, leadership ability and delivering compassionate care. They continue to excel and are extremely deserving of this recognition,” said Dr. David Maine, president and CEO of Mercy Health Services. 

Mercy RNs are committed to staying at the forefront of nursing excellence to provide the best care possible for patients. Mercy nurses enhance their clinical practice skills via such programs as the Clinical Advancement Program and OR Nurse Residency Program. Mercy has nearly 250 nurses nationally certified in specialty care areas, such as critical care, oncology, orthopedics, OR and inpatient obstetrics.

Mercy’s achievement in nursing is further evidenced by earning the coveted Magnet recognition. Magnet designation is a national standard for nursing excellence awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and is one of the most prestigious nursing awards in the United States.

The American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) named Mercy a gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence recipient for its critical care unit. The Beacon Award for Excellence is a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and healthy work environments, recognizing unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN’s healthy work environment standards.