Savanna Suydam

Savanna Suydam BSN, RN, CEN, SANE-A, PA-SANE is the humbled and honored recipient of the 2025 Joanne V. Pontier Scholarship. A committed graduate student nurse at Loyola University Chicago, Savanna is working toward a Doctor of Nursing Practice with an emergency specialty. With several years of experience in forensic nursing, emergency nursing, trauma nursing, and leadership, her current priority is the development of trauma-informed care in emergency departments and increasing the availability of specialized forensic nursing for survivors of violence.

Savanna received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, graduating with distinction and as a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.  Her exposure to healthcare at a young age through her mother’s career shaped her desire to work with patients in crisis.  Just as impactful was the support of her father, who consistently pushed her to chase ambitious goals and never settle for less than what she’s capable of achieving. This early influence led Savanna to pursue a career assisting people in times of crisis, leading her naturally to become a forensic and emergency nurse.

Savanna is now the Trauma and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Coordinator at Loyola Medicine MacNeal Hospital, a Level II trauma center just outside of Chicago. She created and continues to oversee a large SANE on-call program that covers all hospitals in the Loyola Medicine system. She has trained over 15 sexual assault certified nurses, is currently mentoring a number of others, and co-established a regional Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) for Western Cook County. Loyola Medicine MacNeal Hospital attained level II trauma re-designation through her efforts, with more stringent processes to care for the patients affected by violence via a quality improvement initiative and multidisciplinary teams.

As an Emergency Nurses Association Trauma Nurse Core Course certified instructor, Savanna helps to provide nurses with a foundation in trauma nursing and the ability to perform expert care for trauma patients. She also works with the Illinois Attorney General's Office on educating and mentoring future forensic nurses across the state.  Savanna specializes in developing sustainable and survivor-focused programs that reach vulnerable, underserved populations regardless of income, background, and geography.

Looking ahead, Savanna envisions creating a regional forensic nursing program with outreach services to support survivors of intimate partner violence, child abuse, elder abuse, human trafficking, and other forms of violence. She will continue with research, providing specialized education for healthcare professionals, and creating evidence-based documentation tools and protocols to enhance clinical outcomes and availability of care. A doctorate degree in nursing practice with an emergency specialty not only prepares her to care for patients with an expansive knowledge base, but also gives her foundations in research, leadership, and administrative skills to make lasting systemic changes.

Receiving the NEF Joanne V. Pontier Scholarship means so much more than monetary help. This scholarship is an extraordinary endorsement of her work and aspirations. Savanna is inspired by this scholarship to keep stretching limits to advance forensic and emergency nursing, stand for survivor care, and assist in creating a more compassionate and equitable healthcare future.