For the 16th year, St. Louis Magazine has honored the extraordinary contributions of nurses across the region who go above and beyond in patient care through its annual Excellence in Nursing Awards, presented by BJC HealthCare and Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing. Among this year’s honorees is Melissa Prewitt, AGACNP-BC, who was selected as the 2025 recipient in the Intensive Care category.
Prewitt, a nurse practitioner in the Department of Anesthesiology at WashU Medicine, was celebrated alongside her peers during a special awards reception at the Missouri Botanical Garden on June 4. Winners were chosen by a selection committee for their exceptional clinical skills, leadership, and commitment to patient care.
Prewitt began her nursing career after earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith, in 2011. She worked as a bedside nurse in the surgical ICU at Northwest Medical Center and later in the cardiovascular ICU at Washington Regional Medical Center, where she also served as a nurse residency facilitator and critical care coordinator. She completed her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Southern Indiana in 2020 and joined the WashU Medicine Advanced Practice Provider Group that same year, where she is now a lead at Progress West Hospital.
Reflecting on her role and the significance of the award, Prewitt shared, “It’s all about the relationships. As an ICU provider, we often meet people during the hardest days of their lives. Being able to step into that space and offer support can be incredibly challenging—but also deeply rewarding. If I can make even one patient or family smile during their stay, then everything is worth it.”
Colleagues praise Prewitt for her preparedness, drive, and compassionate care. “Melissa brings so much good to our team, our patients, and the broader community. She’s incredibly thoughtful in her practice—always striving to do what’s right, even when it’s hard. Her clinical knowledge, empathy, and collaborative spirit make her an outstanding provider and a true asset to our group,” said Beth Beyatte, DNP, RN, ACNP-BC, director of the advanced practice provider group for the department’s Critical Care Medicine Division.
In addition to Prewitt, St. Louis Magazine recognized two other members of WashU Medicine Anesthesiology: Andrea Liefer, CRNA, was named a finalist in the Advanced Practice category, and Julia Downey, CRNA, was named a finalist in the Educator category.
Join us in celebrating these exceptional clinicians whose dedication continues to elevate patient care across our department and beyond.
To learn more about this year’s Excellence in Nursing recipients and finalists, visit St. Louis Magazine’s website. All honorees will also be featured in the June/July 2025 issue of the magazine.