BATAVIA, NY — Rochester Regional Health’s United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) in Batavia, has been awarded the prestigious Lantern Award by the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). UMMC is one of just 96 emergency departments in the country to receive this honor in 2025, recognizing excellence in leadership, practice, education, advocacy, and research.
“This incredible honor reflects the strength, skill, and spirit of our emergency department team,” said Jill Graziano, RN, BSN, MBA President of UMMC. “Earning the Lantern Award puts UMMC on a national stage—and it’s a direct result of the dedication our nurses and staff show every day. Their commitment to excellence, even in the most challenging circumstances, is a source of pride not only for our hospital, but for the entire Batavia community.”
The ENA Lantern Award sets a national benchmark for exceptional emergency care. Recipients are selected for a three-year cycle after a rigorous application process, during which emergency departments demonstrate how they go beyond the expected to deliver innovative, collaborative and patient-centered care.
“This recognition is a testament to the exceptional commitment of our emergency department nurses and staff,” said Sheri Faggiano BSN, RN, MSN, Chief Nursing Officer of UMMC. “In a rural hospital like ours, the emergency department is often the front door to care—it’s where neighbors turn in their most urgent and vulnerable moments. Earning the Lantern Award shows that our team delivers not only high-quality clinical care, but also compassion, leadership, and innovation that meet the unique needs of our community.”
The Lantern Award also highlights a department’s focus on creating a supportive and healthy work environment. It underscores how emergency teams care not only for patients in critical moments, but also for each other through teamwork, resilience, and professional development.
Now in its 14th year, the Lantern Award has become one of the most respected indicators of excellence in emergency nursing. The 2025 list includes a record number of recipients from across the United States as well as the first recognized departments in Saudi Arabia and Montana.
More information on the Lantern Award and the full list of 2025 recipients can be found at the ENA website.
Please use find interviews and b-roll below:
Provider Interviews:
Dr. Danielle Notebaert, UMMC Chair of Emergency Medicine
Wendy Spence, UMMC Emergency Department Nurse Manager
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About United Memorial Medical Center
United Memorial Medical Center is a trusted community hospital serving Genesee County and the surrounding region. As part of Rochester Regional Health, UMMC provides a comprehensive range of medical services with a strong focus on clinical excellence, innovation, and compassionate care.
About Rochester Regional Health
Rochester Regional Health is an integrated health services organization serving the people of Western New York, the Finger Lakes, St. Lawrence County, and beyond. The system includes nine hospitals; primary and specialty practices, rehabilitation centers, ambulatory campuses and urgent care facilities; innovative senior services, facilities and independent housing; a wide range of behavioral health services; and Rochester Regional Health Laboratories and ACM Global Laboratories, a global leader in patient and clinical trials. Rochester Regional Health is the region's second-largest employer and was named among Newsweek’s Greatest
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