Outstanding alumnae honored with College's Medallion

Stephanie Butler Buxhoeveden '09 BSN * Medallion for Clinical Excellence in Nursing

When faced with the challenge of a diagnosis of mulitple sclerosis, Stephanie created opportunity. Determined to make a difference in the lives of patients living with MS, Stephanie became a Multiple Sclerosis Certified Nurse, just six months post-diagnosis. She went on to graduate Cum Laude from Rutgers, where she earned her Family Health Nurse Practitioner degree, specializing in the care of MS patients. Today, Stephanie works as a senior clinical science liaison at Biogen, a neuroscience biotech company, while pursuing her PhD in Nursing at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Stephanie’s passion for supporting the MS community extends past her work and into her daily life. She gives voice to those with MS, bringing her unique perspective on Multiple Sclerosis as both a nurse and healthcare professional and as a person living with the disease. Stephanie works to empower the MS community – she has built educational programs and helped to develop the first workshop for young professionals with MS. She consults on behalf of Can Do MS, developing programs and participating in webinars for people living with MS and their support partners. She facilitates and writes for WebMD’s online MS community and shares her perspective on her personal blog, Keep on S’Meylin, which has more than 10,000 followers in over 100 countries. In 2015, she even delivered a TedX talk “Thriving in the Face of Adversity”.

Stephanie is an advocate on Capitol Hill having served as a District Activist Leader and chair of the National MS Society’s Government Relations and Advocacy Committee. She has also lobbied legislators for increased MS research funding and legislation under which the purchases of motorized wheelchairs for seniors with MS would be reimbursable by Medicare insurance.

Carol Filicetti Chwal '91 BSN * Medallion for Distinguished Leadership in Nursing Practice

Dr. Carol Chwal is a creative and collaborative nurse leader, inspiring those who surround her to excel in their nursing practice. She is the Nurse Director and Administrative Director of the Women and Children’s Service Line for Abington – Jefferson Health at Abington Hospital. A champion of patient safety and quality care, Carol provides a high level of energy, knowledge and enthusiasm as she leads the second largest obstetrical department in the state of Pennsylvania.

A Certified Nurse Executive, Carol’s success as a leader stems from her ability to engage her team to achieve optimal outcomes. Carol successfully led a multidisciplinary team to transform patient care and work flow at Abington Hospital, achieving the Baby Friendly designation in 2018. In her role, she is responsible for more than 180 nurses, oversees Labor and Delivery Services, as well as the care of nearly 5,000 births annually and the management of a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Her expertise in business and financial acumen has also led to tremendous improvements through the capture of revenue. Her systems innovation thinking led the redesign the hospital’s process for scheduling Caesarean sections, resulting in improved efficiencies, as well as increased patient and provider satisfaction.
Described by peers and colleagues as a “nurse executive who has not forsaken her clinical skills for the boardroom”, Carol has grown from her roots as a competent, compassionate and ethically motivated nurse who has gone on to influence the care of women and children on a large scale. She is a founding member of the Philadelphia Area Magnet Consortium. She is committed to growing the wellbeing of women and children throughout her community as an active board member of the Women’s Center of Montgomery County, providing support and services to victims of domestic abuse.