Physicians Honor Nurses, Fellow Physicians with Awards for Care, Compassion

NORMAN – Norman Regional Health System physicians honored their physician peers and nurses for their commitment to patients and the community in 2025.

Norman Regional physicians honored three nurses for their outstanding expertise and compassionate care.

Every year, physicians and advanced practice professionals nominate and fund the Norman Regional Nurse of the Year awards. This program began in 2010 to honor nurses for their dedication to their work.

The 2025 Nurses of the Year are:

• Licensed Practical Nurse: Hannah Crawford, LPN. Crawford works at the Primary Care Moore clinic. Crawford’s nominators said she “is an essential part of the care team—someone whose versatility and reliability make a meaningful difference every single day.”
  
• Nurse Practitioner: Diane Butler, APRN. Butler works at the Primary Care Blanchard clinic. Her nominators said she has served the community for two decades and is a trusted mentor and leader.
  
• Registered Nurse: Iris Benton, RN. Benton works in the Emergency Department. Her nominators noted her energy lifts up those around her; she is deeply thoughtful and always willing to help.
  

The other finalists for these awards are Tracy Biggs, Janaya Blair, Misty English, Lainee Grider, Julie Jennings, Greta Morgan, Denise Stabel and Shannon Umber.

Physicians were also honored for their achievements.

Norman Regional employees choose the Outstanding Physician of the Year. All employees vote for one physician they thought best personified three traits: compassionate care of patients, building of collegial relationships and the pursuit of professional excellence.

This year’s Outstanding Physician of the Year was Jeremiah Maupin, MD, orthopedic surgery.

Dr. Maupin, who practices at Ortho Central, chose to pursue orthopedic surgery because of the opportunity to improve the lives of his patients. He said one of his favorite parts of being an orthopedic surgeon is when patients tell him that they are able to pursue what they value important in life again during their postoperative visits.

Norman Regional physicians vote to name the recipient of the Kyle Toal, MD, Physician Peer Award.

Archana Gautam, MD, interventional cardiologist, was awarded the Kyle Toal, MD, Physician Peer Award.

Dr. Gautam is board certified in Cardiovascular Disease, Internal Medicine, Echocardiography, and Nuclear Cardiology. She completed her residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and her fellowship at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

Each year, one physician is given the Hal Belknap, MD, Heart of Gold award, which honors a physician for his or her service to the community. Dr. Hal Belknap was on the Medical Staff at Norman Regional from 1967 until he passed away in 2008. He made remarkable contributions both locally and globally, ranging from supporting a Boy Scout troop at Norman Regional to founding a health clinic in Africa.

The 2025 Hal Belknap MD Heart of Gold Award was given to Buck Hill, DO, anesthesia.

Dr. Hill completed his residency at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Department of Anesthesia and medical school at the Oklahoma State University of Osteopathic Medicine. Before becoming a physician, Dr. Hill was a police officer in Norman’s Emergency Medical Services unit.

Brent Lamb, APRN, was named the Advanced Practice Professional of the Year.

Lamb works in Norman Regional’s Emergency Departments. Lamb began his career as a paramedic before earning his Masters of Science as a Family Nurse Practitioner.