As a state-wide alliance of health and human service professionals concerned with perinatal health issues from preconception through early childhood and the only multi-disciplinary perinatal health organization in New York, NYSPA advocates for optimal perinatal care and parenting and promotes education and research, striving to influence state priorities and encourage a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary approach to maternal and child health with the goal of reducing maternal and infant mortality and morbidity.
Consistent with NYSPA’s founding purpose, our goal is to recognize individuals who demonstrate a high level of dedication to perinatal health issues. Following the passing of Joy Henderson, PhD, RN in 2025, the Joy Henderson Memorial Award was established in her honor. Joy dedicated much time to NYSPA as a Board member for more than 10 years— a member of many annual conference planning committees, and from 2017-2019, she provided leadership for NYSPA as President of the Board of Directors. In her employed position as the Regional Nurse Manager, Joy was the steady heart behind the NY Presbyterian’s Regional Perinatal Center. She elevated every team and every partnership she worked with. She saw nurses as the backbone of perinatal care, and she fought for their training, their support, and their voice in decision-making. Her leadership impacted many people, and her legacy will continue in the generations born under the systems she helped build.
The Joy Henderson Memorial Award is being sponsored by the Association of Regional Perinatal Programs & Networks (ARPP), one of NYSPA’s Perinatal Partner organizations. ARPP serves as the unified voice for the regional perinatal centers in NYS and has been the clearinghouse to the Department of Health and Governor’s Office, providing expertise, data, and advocacy regarding perinatal healthcare.
With this legacy in mind, we invite nominations of deserving nurses who emulate Joy’s commitment to perinatal care and demonstrate the following characteristics:
- Unwavering bravery and courage for the field- to fiercely advocate for patients’ rights and their right to be heard, not judged and receive equal care.
- Dedication and commitment to the profession of nursing and consistently striving to – and improving their knowledge and expertise.
- Demonstrates passion for their work, the level of care provided to patients and the systems that provide that care.
- Diversity – Everyone deserves care. No matter their circumstances; committed to ending maternal and infant mortality particularly among Black and brown women.
- Humility – not afraid to seek help when needed.
- Advocacy –
- Mentor – patient with others, sharing knowledge and motivating others to strive to be their personal best.
- Lead with love and compassion- always.
- A nurse that knows how to smile and find “Joy” in everything they do. So many nurses have lost their spark and their smile.