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The Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Recognition Committee has selected Brenda Deller, MSN, CCRN, CNS, to be featured across UVA Health in recognition of her outstanding leadership, innovation, and commitment to patient safety and nursing excellence.

Deller is a clinical nurse specialist who cares for patients with kidney disease. Her clinical interests include: acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), and apheresis.

Throughout FY24-25, as a clinical nurse specialist within renal services, Deller has played a pivotal role in advancing dialysis patient safety initiatives. Most notably, she led a multidisciplinary effort focused on reducing dialysis catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), contributing to a remarkable 33% reduction in dialysis catheter infections through the implementation of evidence-based quality improvement strategies.

Deller was instrumental in developing the Dual Disinfection Bundle, an initiative designed to strengthen infection prevention practices through enhanced environmental disinfection and standardized hub scrub protocols. She also developed detailed tracking and accountability measures to improve CLABSI monitoring and support ongoing quality improvement efforts.

In addition to her quality and safety work, Deller is widely recognized for her dedication to education and professional development. She provides hospital-wide education for therapies including Peritoneal Dialysis (PD), Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT), and Aquadex, while also developing hands-on competency training programs that support nurses in delivering safe, confident, and high-quality patient care.

Her leadership, collaboration, and passion for excellence continue to positively impact patients, families, and staff throughout UVA Health. Deller’s CLABSI reduction initiative has also gained national recognition and was selected for presentation at the Annual Dialysis Conference in 2026.

Through her innovation, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to patient care, Deller exemplifies UVA Health’s mission to continuously improve care and outcomes for patients across the organization.