RiverWoods Exeter Nursing Supervisor Donna Talham Recognized at LeadingAge ME/NH Conference

During the 2026 LeadingAge ME/NH Conference, RiverWoods Exeter Nursing Supervisor Donna Talham, RN, was recognized with a Standing Ovation Award for her dedication to residents and commitment to personal growth. The conference, which takes place in Portland, Maine, brings together aging services providers from across New England for two days of education and connection. The annual Standing Ovation Awards honor exceptional individuals at member organizations who go above and beyond in their daily work.

For those who work alongside Donna every day, the recognition came as no surprise.

After moving to the United States from China in her twenties with the simple goal of helping others, Donna began her journey at RiverWoods in 2009 when she joined the organization as an entry-level Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA). Through years of determination, education, and an unwavering commitment to caring for others, she advanced into her current role as a Registered Nurse and Nursing Supervisor, where she now oversees six nursing units. Donna’s professional journey reflects resilience, sacrifice, and a drive to continually improve for the benefit of those she serves. Donna continues to demonstrate a commitment of lifelong learning in her pursuit of additional education, certifications, and training opportunities to expand both her clinical expertise and leadership abilities.

One thing that makes Donna’s leadership especially impactful is that she has worked in every position she now supervises. She understands the realities of the work because she has lived them herself. That experience shapes the kind of leader Donna has become: calm under pressure, dependable, and deeply committed to providing the highest quality care possible. As one colleague puts it, “Her team trusts her because she does not ask of others what she would not do herself. In fact, she is always the first to volunteer when there is a need, often adjusting her own schedule to ensure coverage and stability across six nursing units during evenings and weekends, the times when leadership presence matters deeply but often goes unseen.” Donna is someone who follows through completely, anticipates challenges before they arise, and ensures residents are treated with dignity, compassion, and respect in every interaction.

Beyond her leadership within healthcare center operations, Donna also extends her care throughout the broader RiverWoods community by hosting a foot clinic for independent living residents, providing medical pedicures that support resident wellness and comfort.

While much of Donna’s impact happens quietly behind the scenes, it is deeply felt throughout the organization. She provides stability during off-hours, mentors staff, solves problems in real time, and helps maintain the high standards of care that residents and families rely on.

For her leadership, her compassion, her integrity, and her extraordinary contributions to RiverWoods’ mission and community, Donna Talham deserves to be recognized and celebrated.

You can hear Donna share her RiverWoods journey in her own words here: Watch Donna’s Story