Four times each year, VUMC Voice spotlights recipients of The DAISY Award, a recognition for extraordinary nurses who exemplify compassion toward patients and families.
VUMC distributes the award in partnership with The DAISY Foundation, which was formed in 1999 to honor the memory of J. Patrick Barnes, a 33-year-old man who died of complications of the autoimmune disease Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). Barnes’ family was moved by the care they received from his nurses and wanted to recognize them as a way to preserve his memory. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.
VUMC nurse committees determine the individual recipients. Previous recipients of the DAISY Award are here. The award is open to all licensed nurses and anyone can nominate — including co-workers, patients and their families. Nominations may be made here.
Here are some of the latest recipients of the DAISY Award:
Debbie Dawes, RN. Unit: 1 West Medicine/COVID, Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital
![](https://news.vumc.org/wp-content/uploads/Debbie-Dawes-scaled-e1643402081170.jpg)
Sarah Kelly, BSN, RN. Unit: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
![](https://news.vumc.org/wp-content/uploads/Sarah-Kelly-scaled-e1643402416192.jpg)
Ashley McNeil, RN, Unit: Plastics & Cosmetic Surgery, Vanderbilt Adult Ambulatory Clinics
![](https://news.vumc.org/wp-content/uploads/Ashley-McNeil-scaled-e1643402744576.jpg)
Peyton Meeker, LPN. Unit: Medical Telemetry Unit, Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital
![](https://news.vumc.org/wp-content/uploads/VTHH-Elaine-Niblett-Peyton-Meeker-Marilyn-Smith-11102021-e1643402973601.jpg)
Rheda Robeson, RN. Unit: Labor & Delivery, Vanderbilt University Hospital
![](https://news.vumc.org/wp-content/uploads/Jody-Rochon-scaled-e1643403804594.jpg)
Jodie Wickenheiser, BSN, RN. Unit: Reproductive Endocrinology & Fertility (REI) Clinic, Vanderbilt Adult Ambulatory Clinics
![](https://news.vumc.org/wp-content/uploads/Jodie-Wickenheiser-scaled-e1643404055227.jpg)