On June 18, Deborah (Dede) Zeoli, RN, Labor and Birth, thought she was joining department leaders for a strategy planning meeting. Instead, she was led into a decorated conference room full of family, colleagues, fellow nurses and friends applauding and congratulating her as she entered.
To her complete surprise, Zeoli was named Yale New Haven Hospital’s 2026 Magnet Nurse of the Year for her work in the Magnet domain of Exemplary Professional Practice. She is now YNHH’s nominee for national Magnet Nurse of the Year.
Throughout the past 11 years in Labor and Birth, Zeoli has consistently embodied both the art and science of nursing, according to the award nomination. She led a team to create standardized, evidence-based clinical pathways that promote physiological birth (without medical interventions such as epidurals or inductions) and ensure equitable, patient-centered care. Those pathways have been implemented at hospitals throughout the region as best practices.
“Dede is a fierce advocate for patients and colleagues alike,” her nomination stated. “Her sustained contributions have advanced patient care, improved interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthened professional practice and elevated the voices and experiences of nurses across the organization and beyond.”
Beyond Labor and Birth, Zeoli advocates for other YNHH colleagues, particularly those working the night shift. As chair of the Nursing Professional Governance Night Shift Council, she has led efforts to implement improvements for staff well-being, including the opening of the Micro Market, which provides food for off-shift staff, and expansion of Occupational Health access for night shift employees.
“The changes that Dede has been able to single-handedly advocate for will really leave a legacy here,” said Courtney Vose, RN, DNP, chief nursing officer, YNHH, and chief nurse executive, Yale New Haven Health. “Night shift is a different situation than day shift, and she has made that abundantly clear. She has wrapped her arms around that team in ways that I have not seen done in my 37 years of doing this. For taking care of all our people – patients, family, staff – we’re incredibly grateful to her.”
