FLORENCE AWARD – GREG WHITE

By Andrea Busche

Florence Nightingale was a true trailblazer in the field of nursing. Her strong influence on proper medical care policies in the 19th and 20th centuries have earned her the moniker “the founder of modern nursing.”

Of the Duluth News Tribune’s five special awards honoring nurses, the namesake award, aptly coined the “Florence Award,” is given to an individual who has represented and displayed strength in empathy, innovation and mission. This individual is a true leader in the field of nursing.

The winner of this year’s Florence Award is 34-year-old Cloquet resident Greg White. White is not only a nurse practitioner at CMH Raiter Family Clinic in Cloquet, but is also an assistant professor of nursing at The College of St. Scholastica (CSS).

As if that weren’t enough, White also serves his country through the Air National Guard, where he was recently promoted to captain, and was also named “company grade nurse of the year.” Additionally, he is pursuing his doctorate in nursing.

Greg White is a multitalented nurse who truly embodies every trait of this special award.

Military

White is originally from Duluth. His sister, wellloved singer-songwriter Gaelynn Lea, had some health challenges, and White shared, “I’ve been around medicine my whole life.” But his choice to pursue nursing as a career came a bit later.

White initially decided to pursue psychology, but dropped out of that program since, he said, “It just didn’t feel right.” He decided to pursue a career as a firefighter, and eventually became an EMT.

“It was like a light bulb turned on for me,” he said of his work as a first responder.

After conversing with a flight nurse in the military, White decided to enlist in the Air National Guard at age 21.

“It was an opportunity to do a good thing,” he said.

While in the military, White has worked as a fixed wing flight medic, where he helped transport patients from Iraq and Afghanistan to Germany on cargo planes that had been transformed into “flying hospitals.” White has also been deployed twice.

The military allowed White to continue his education through the GI Bill.

“The military opened every door for me,” he said.

White has an associate’s degree in liberal arts, an associate’s degree in nursing, and a bachelor’s degree in nursing. He is currently pursuing his doctorate in nursing from CSS.

Today, White enjoys the combination of working as a nurse at the CMH Raiter Family Clinic, along with teaching nursing students at CSS.

“I don’t ever want to stop practicing, but I also have a passion for teaching. Doing both keeps me current and engaged.”

White also coaches the men’s and women’s rugby teams at CSS. He, his wife Tiff, and their two young sons, Gabe and Micah, live in Cloquet.

Nomination

White was nominated for the Florence Award by his father, Timothy White, who said, “Greg has designed training programs for EMTs in the National Guard that were so good that other bases started sending their people to Minneapolis to learn using Greg’s program, rather than create one of their own. He has since been promoted to captain and has been chosen for Airman of the Year.

“Greg’s name has come up many times by people I know who were struggling with having their loved ones in critical condition when he was a nurse at Essentia. The common theme is, ‘I don’t know what I would have done if it hadn’t been for that nurse.’

“He just knows how to be supportive and honest. He is a calming force in traumatic situations. People find him very trustworthy.”

Kudos

Two of White’s supervisors also provided supportive comments, rallying behind the decision to select him as the Florence Award winner.

Greg White

From Page 6

Ron Alston serves in the role of practice administrator at CMH Raiter Family Clinic in Cloquet.

“I have been in my role for about two months now,” said Alston. “In the time that I have known Greg, if I had to think of a phrase to describe him, it would be ‘focused and determined to provide the best care for the patients he serves.’

“He has truly dedicated himself to meeting the needs of our patients, the community, and the team he works with,” Alston continued. “These are qualities that exemplify why Greg is worthy of this prestigious award. I am honored to have