Local SANE & Registered Nurse Wins International Award

DULUTH, Minn. — A well-deserved individual received an award for her 17 years of dedication towards helping others.

Being named the heart and soul of PAVSA’s SANE, or Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program, Alisha Blazevic has left quite the impact over the years. Blazevic is involved with numerous organizations including the Sexual Assault Response Team. Since 2007, she has completed hundreds of medical forensic tests. All of this was recognized Tuesday when she was awarded the International Distinguished Fellow Award. What started off as a normal meeting, turned into something impactful.

“I didn’t know this was coming. Come outside to the plaza, and I started to look into the people sitting in the plaza. Then I noticed my wife, I noticed my children, I noticed family friends, I noticed another forensic nursing colleague from Minneapolis.” said Blazevic.

She said, the job isn’t easy. And it isn’t for everyone. That being said, the little things make it all worth it.

“I love the work I do. I love getting to be part of the community that is helping people after they were sexually assaulted. And I’m not doing this for awards. I’m doing it because maybe for thirty minutes, out of six hours on the hospital, someone is smiling. And we can distract them from what just happened to them.” explained Blazevic.

Blazevic was just one of six individuals in the world to receive this award.