Nursing Student Wins PACME Award
Amy Heineman, a VCU Nursing RN-BS student, received the staff award at the recent Presidential Awards for Community Multicultural Enrichment (PACME) ceremony. The PACME ceremony was created to recognize members of the University and Health System communities who have contributed to diversity and cross-cultural relations.
The PACME awards honor individuals or organizations in the VCU community from four groups: students, faculty, staff and administrators. Each recipient is given the award — along with $500 — with one recipient receiving an additional capstone award, the Riese-Melton. The $250 award is given for contributions to cross-cultural relations. It is named in honor of the late Dr. Walter Riese, a professor of psychiatry, and his employee, the late Herman Melton.
Heineman is aregistered nurse at the Security Care Clinic, a part of the VCU Health System. As an advocate of equal care and treatment of all inmates, Heineman provides medical care to those in need. She has brought together an effective community of physicians, nurses and corrections officers to provide the best care possible for inmates.
“I believe as a society we are morally and ethically obligated to them for at least basic health care,” said Heineman. “I treat my patients with respect and dignity and I insist that everyone do the same.”
