When a sexual assault survivor arrives at the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay to receive a forensic medical exam, the evidence of their abuse may not be immediately visible.  They may not have bruises, a bloody nose, or a black eye; but this doesn't diminish the severity of the trauma or the long-term impact the assault can have on the survivor.
                     
The victim needs to know they're safe and in control of what happens to them. It's important that the nurse who performs the exam is calm, compassionate, and sensitive to their patient's emotional condition. At the same time, they need to be meticulous and precise so all potential evidence is collected and properly stored.

Mollie-Rae Jerman has worked as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner at the Crisis Center for 16 years. During her tenure, she has performed over 3,000 forensic exams. She treats each survivor with care and dignity; patiently communicating the next step of the exam process so they understand what will be taking place.

A sexual assault can happen any time of day. This means a Nurse Examiner is always on-call; ready to be at the Crisis Center in a moment's notice.  Mollie-Rae has often found herself heading out in the middle of the night to meet a survivor, law enforcement, and a Victim Advocate at the Crisis Center.

Mollie-Rae's dedication to helping survivors of sexual assault has not gone unnoticed. On June 17th, Mollie-Rae attended a ceremony at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's office where she received a Citizen's Awards recognizing her years of service helping both sexual assault survivors and local law enforcement.

True to character, Mollie-Rae was humbled to receive the award. She's told many people in recent weeks that "all of the Nurse Examiners and Victim Advocates at the Crisis Center deserve an award".