Kathy Zarling Award of Excellence

The Kathy Zarling Award of Excellence is a yearly award given in recognition of outstanding contributions by an individual currently working or who has worked in cardiac and/or pulmonary rehabilitation.

In 2023, we renamed the award of excellence to honor Kathy Zarling. Kathy was a chart member of MNACPVR starting back in 1990. She served as a Board member, President, Chair and on numerous committees. She has worked in nursing since 1970 and although she is retired, continues to work for Mayo as a Smoking Cessation Specialist and as a parish nurse.

2025 Award of Excellence Nominations

Criteria:

A nominee should have made significant and unique professional contribution(s), which have had an impact on cardiac and/or pulmonary rehabilitation.
A nominee could be recognized for expertise in the areas of clinical practice, research, leadership, professional education, or a combination of these.
A nominee should be a professional in the field of cardiac and/or pulmonary rehabilitation.
A nominee may or may not be a current member of AACVPR/MNACVPR.

Nomination Requirements:

A brief nomination letter explaining why the person is being nominated e-mailed to aacvpr@gmail.com by 2/28/25.

The winner will be announced and presented with their award at the Spring MNACVPR Conference.

2024 Kathy Zarling Recipient: Anita LaHaye

Anita was nominated for the Kathy Zarling Award of Excellence by fellow board member Whitney Quast.

Here is what Whitney had to say about Anita and why she nominated her for the award:

Anita and I joined the MNACVPR Board around the same time 12ish years ago. I always thought about how lucky her patients and coworkers must be to work with and be cared for by such a cool person. I’d have to settle for our quarterly board meetings together. The wit, charm, and humor Anita brings to conversations is a real gift. She is oh-so-talented. I suspect, due to stumbling across the fact that she tap dances, that she has many unique unbeknownst talents. Her willingness to think innovatively and try new things have led to MNACVPR Advocacy Committee, communication collaborations at conferences, and lots of great conference speakers and topics. A Google search led me to learn she was one of Mpls.St.Paul Magazine’s 2017 finalists for the Outstanding Nurses Award – didn’t know this, but not surprised.

Anita, thank you for all your ongoing contributions and roles within Cardiopulmonary Rehab and MNACVPR. You make a positive impact on us all. See you on the courts soon!

-Whitney