Recipients of the Case Manager of the Year Award

Recent Award Recipient

The Case management Society of America is proud to announce the 2021 Case Manager of the Year - Patricia Noonan, RN, MBA, CCM 

View Award Presentation 

As a strong advocate for CMSNE, CMSA, CMSA Foundation, and the Case Management profession, Patricia, or Pat by all that know her, has been described as a passionate collaborator, an inspirational leader, hardworking, and committed to excellence.  Pat recently retired as the Director of Care Management, North Unit, at Beth Israel Lahey Health Performance Network. In the position, she was responsible for leadership support to the Accountable Care Units to ensure quality, efficient transitional and ambulatory care services for the ACO Medicare, Medicaid, and Commercial high-risk population. As director, her responsibilities included care management program development and strategic planning while working closely with care management leadership within a large integrated healthcare system. Pat has enjoyed her nursing career which spans across clinical settings including medical-surgical and emergency unit settings. She has over twenty years  of case management experience in a Management Service Organization.   Her former colleagues were eager to applaud her upon hearing the news of her win. 

Joanne Piper shared that “Pat was the person on the leadership team who could remind the stakeholders that patients are more than just metrics and outcomes and that care managers are the subject matter experts when it comes to leveraging resources and coordinating care. She saw the value that care managers bring to patients and providers to demystify complex care plans.”

Pat was honored to be able to embed evidence-based practices in population health into case management programs to improve the quality of life and care for the dementia population, ACO complex-high risk population, and the employee population. To be able to share the professional case manager's role and value in population health and contribute toward the Triple Aim has been a highlight of her career.

Another colleague Donna White expressed, “As my boss and mentor, Pat led by example and made sure our department followed the case management philosophy and guiding principles. Pat is one of the kindest, hardest working and most sincere people that you will ever meet. She has a strong passion for the work of Case Management and has dedicated her life to making our profession one of integrity and value. She encouraged me to join CMSA to help expand my professional horizons and opportunities. Pat taught me what it truly meant to be a Professional Case Manager.”

When Pat was asked what case management meant to her, she shared: “Being part of the professional case management community has truly meant the world to me. Joining CMSA and getting actively involved in my local chapter, the Case Management Society of New England (CMSNE) many years ago, opened up so many wonderful opportunities for me to learn from so many talented colleagues, to  grow, innovate, collaborate, share best practices, and establish longterm professional friendships.   Being able to participate on various CMSA and CMSNE committees has enriched my career and brought me joy in knowing I can contribute in some way to help shape the future of case management. “

Doug Cushman, the Case Management Society of New England Chapter president who was instrumental in nominating Pat, said this about her, “She has been a great support to our organization, having served in many roles. Pat leads with kindness, grace and a truly generous spirit. Pat embodies what we should all strive for in our personal and professional lives.” Pat serves as Treasurer for both the CMSA National Board and the CMSA Foundation.   Another Highlight of her career was meeting with officials at the White House; Health and Human Services (HHS); and Legislators on Capitol Hill to share stories that illustrate the value of the professional case manager's role in the U.S. health care system.

Pat‘s wonderful family includes her husband, Kenneth of 42 years, her two amazing children Matthew and Kelly, and her beautiful grand-daughter McKinney with another grandchild due in the fall. She feels blessed to have such a wonderful family.

As Deborah Gutteridge, a longtime friend and CMSA Foundation President stated, “Each of us becomes a better person for knowing Pat!  She exemplifies the true meaning of CMOY!”    Please join us in congratulating the 2021 Case Manager of the Year, Patricia Noonan!

Previous Recipients

2001 – Kathleen Moreo

2001 – Michael Demoratz

2000 – Margaret Chu

2000 – Jackie Birmingham

1999 – Deborah Smith

1999 – Catherine Mullahy

1998 – Gerri Lamb

1998 – Mary Gambosh

1997 – Carrie Marion

1997 – Renee Krul

1997 – Judy Harris

1996 – Karen Gagnon

1996 – Sherry Aliotta

1995 – Sandra Lowery

1995 – Karen Chambers

1994 – Glenda Evans-Shaw

1994 – Sharon Dickerson

1993 – Marlys Severson

1993 – Jeanne Boling