An area nurse received recognition recently for her work with Mayo Clinic Health Systems.

Kellie (Thompson) Peterson was a recipient of the Mae Berry Service Excellence Award at a banquet and ceremony in Rochester held June 9. Two recipients from Mayo Clinic Health System were chosen.

Peterson is a registered nurse who has worked at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea for 20 years. She began her career as a hospital nurse and later worked in home care/hospice before transitioning to her current role in the Cancer Center as an oncology nurse supervisor.

Her colleague, Cheryl Reynolds, nominated Peterson because she “is an exempt employee…[who] demonstrates competence, compassion and caring,” citing several examples in the nomination form of Peterson’s dedication to meeting patient needs first. She was also commended for her demeanor of calm and for making staff feel the same way through her leadership style.

“I enjoy the opportunity to care for patients and their families and live my passion of always wanting to be a nurse,” Peterson said in a press release. “I am inspired by always knowing that roles may be reversed and I want to provide the type of care and concern that I would want to receive.”