AZ Blue Nurses Who Inspire Contest Winners!

AZ Blue is excited to announce the three outstanding winners of our Nurses Who Inspire contest!

We created this contest to recognize Arizona nurses who go above and beyond—bringing care and compassion to every patient they serve. From tireless shifts to unwavering advocacy, these nurses inspire health every day.

Meet our 2025 Winners!

Tajma Palma

• Tajma is a dual-certified Family and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• She believes true healing comes not only from medicine, but from compassion, presence, and hope.
• Her nursing practice is deeply rooted in faith, guided by a strong calling to serve others with compassion and purpose. 

“I am grateful beyond words for the opportunity to serve, to uplift, and to be part of a profession that truly changes lives.”

Jean Gribbon

• Jean is the Founder and Chief Mission Officer of Beads of Courage, a global non-profit delivering arts-in-medicine programs to children facing cancer and other serious illnesses.
• She teaches nurses and doctors how to use the program, which is now in over 400 hospitals in 9 countries.
• She is a proud University of Arizona College of Nursing graduate specializing in pediatric hematology-oncology.

“Nurses transform the healing of people throughout the world!  It is the most important discipline in the world!” 

Gillian Aitken

• Gillian works as a nurse practitioner specializing in complex genetic, endocrine, and HIV care.
• She provides compassionate care to underserved communities with a focus on equity and access.
• She has volunteered for over 10 years as a disaster relief nurse, responding to emergencies across the U.S. and around the world.

“My love for nursing comes from decades of being on the patient and family side of healthcare. For many years, I spent significant time in hospitals, and the nurses who cared for me were a constant source of compassion, advocacy, and comfort."

Thank you to all who took the time to nominate your favorite nurse and a HUGE congratulations to the winners.

Thank you for all that you do!

Prize package for each winner:

• $3,000
• Diamondbacks Suite tickets for the September 21 game
• Throw the first pitch at the Diamondback game