For the 11th consecutive year, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and AJCjobs is honoring and celebrating nurses throughout metro Atlanta and Georgia.

From hundreds of nominations, an independent panel of judges has chosen 10 extraordinary nursing professionals to represent thousands of their colleagues at the annual Nursing Excellence Awards.

Carol Poole from Piedmont Newnan Hospital was among the honorees who went above and beyond the call of duty to make a significant impact on their patients. Poole was nominated by her co-worker, Joan Aina, who in part, wrote: "Carol generally goes beyond giving basic care. She supports patients psychologically, and makes them smile with her gentle humor. I am a nurse practitioner co-worker to Carole and I do notice this things. She is very sincere in her approach to care. If anyone has nominated her before, I am nominating her too."

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Lee Sung-hwan, director-general for strategy and policy planning at the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was among a caravan of Korean officials who visited Atlanta on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, to tout strengthening U.S.-Korean relations. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

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Credit: Family photo