Nebraska Nurses Association recognizes Marie Kozel with Distinguished Service Award

Congratulations to Marie Kozel, BSN, MBA, RN-BC, IBCLC, LCCE-R, for being honored with the 2024 Distinguished Service Award at the Nebraska Nurses Association’s annual convention on Oct. 3. 

Kozel, chief nursing informatics officer for Methodist Health System, began her nursing career with Methodist Hospital in 1975. Throughout her 40-plus year career, she has served as a clinical nurse, nurse leader and nurse educator in her specialties of high-risk/obstetrical nursing and clinical informatics. 

In 2002, Kozel became director of clinical informatics for Methodist, with responsibility for leading the interprofessional team to provide clinical informatics systems design, integration, testing, training, implementation and support. In 2021, she was promoted to the chief nursing informatics officer (CNIO), and she has been a pivotal force in advancing Methodist’s nursing informatics strategy, driving transformative change and enhancing patient care outcomes.

As CNIO, Kozel has demonstrated an outstanding ability to bridge the gap between clinical practice and information technology. Her leadership has been instrumental in the successful implementation and enhancement of our electronic health record (EHR) system, which has significantly improved workflow efficiencies and data accuracy. Through her strategic vision and hands-on approach, she empowers clinical nurse end users by seeking their input through shared governance councils. She is known for her exceptional communication skills, which have enabled her to translate complex technical concepts into actionable insights for nontechnical stakeholders.

Kozel has coauthored multiple publications related to the design and implementation of the EHR and its implications for nursing practice. She has presented numerous poster and oral presentations at the local and national levels. She serves as an American Nurses Credentialing Center content expert panel member for the informatics certification exam as well as faculty for the Nebraska Methodist College informatics MSN degree program. She has also served as a member of the national Cerner Regulatory Council since 2013 as well as the Cerner Patient Care Executive Council Steering Committee since 2011. 

Please congratulate her for her dedication to the nursing profession as well as her dedication to Methodist Health System!