The DAISY Award
What is The DAISY Award?
The DAISY Foundation was formed in November 1999, by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at age 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem. Patrick's family was profoundly touched by the kind and compassionate care provided by the nursing staff during his hospitalization. In Patrick's memory, the family wanted to express their gratitude for the gift nurses share with patients and families every day, just as they had experienced.
Who is Eligible for The DAISY Award?

DAISY Individual or Team Award
DAISY Award honorees personify UCLA Health’s remarkable patient experience.

DAISY Nurse Leader Award
Recognize a nurse leader who has had an extraordinary impact on compassionate patient care.

DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award
Express your gratitude and recognize the legacies that have sustained and shaped the heritage of nursing.
Daisy Individual or Team Award
All Nominations Welcome!
The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses was created to ensure that nurses know how deserving they are of our society's profound respect for the education, training, brainpower, and skill they put into their work, and especially for the care that they share with patients and families
DAISY Award honorees personify UCLA Health's remarkable patient experience. These nurses consistently demonstrate excellence through their clinical expertise and extraordinary compassionate care, and they are recognized as outstanding role models in our nursing community.
DAISY Award recipients are registered nurses who exemplify the nursing values: Extraordinary Compassion, Respect, Excellence, Discovery, Integrity, and Teamwork in the work they do daily.
Daisy Nurse Leader Award
Staff Nominated
The DAISY Nurse Leader Award recognizes nurses who are extraordinary in the impact they have on compassionate patient care. Honorees can be any UCLA nurse leader who impacts patient care directly including supervisors, managers, educators or nurses who specialize in case management, informatics or patient flow.
This Nurse Leader impacts staff and/or the patient care they manage by:
- Role modeling extraordinary behavior
- Creating an environment where attributes of trust, compassion, mutual respect, continued professional development and ethical behavior are modeled and supported
- Motivating staff with a shared vision and enthusiasm to achieve better outcomes for themselves and for their patients
- Promoting and enhancing the professional practice of nursing within UCLA, the community and the profession
DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award
Staff Nominated
Nominees must have at least 25 years of experience with UCLA Health and/or have received a Daisy Award prior to this nomination (search for past Daisy Award winners - be sure to complete "name" and "facility" when searching). Nominations must include evidence of at least three of the following five criteria:
- Distinguished career as a nurse in clinical practice, administration, education, and/or research that promote a positive image of professional nursing
- Demonstrates and actively engages in the professional development of self and others in the nursing profession
- Serves as a role model and advocate for nursing practice and the advancement of nursing as a professional
- Advocates for the improvement of patient care and serves as an exemplar for enhancing the patient experience
- Recognized by the broader nursing community as a transformational nursing leader
Learn how UCLA Health Daisy Award nominees have made a difference in patient care!
2022 DAISY Award
- Abigail Puczkowski (coming soon)
- Arzeena Shariff (coming soon)
- Cody Kaufman (coming soon)
- Ephrem Solomon
- Gloria Young (coming soon)
- Jacqueline Wangerin
- Jenni Shpiro
- Johnjay Crawford (coming soon)
- Joowon Bang (coming soon)
- Josephine Sunga
- Lolita Kazaryants (coming soon)
- Lourdes Fukushima
- Maria Marquez
- Marilou Bharwani (coming soon)
- Mary Anne Francisco
- Meghan Hebert
- Michelle Sanchez
- Monica Mikhael (coming soon)
- Stella Nazarpoor
- Tala Noori-Jah (coming soon)
- Tammi Burns
2022 DAISY Leadership Award
- Cindy Bae (coming soon)
- Coleen Wilson
- Ema Wang (coming soon)
- Francis Saint Clair
- Heather Slattery
- K. David Bailey
- Lauren Yamamoto
- Lee Galuska
- Linsey Weigt
- Paulette Madley (coming soon)
2022 DAISY Lifetime Achievement
- Jocelyn Miel (coming soon)
- Julie Creaser
- Rose Healy
- Shiow Hwang (coming soon)
- Valerie Yeo
2022 DAISY Team Award
Ambulatory
Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
- Discharge Lounge Team (coming soon)
- The Nurses of 8ICU
UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center
- 2020 Oncology Infusion Center (coming soon)
- 4NW Nursing and The Arizona Surgery Team
- Main Operating Room Unit Practice Council (coming soon)
UCLA Health
- Homeless Healthcare Collaborative (coming soon)
Learn how UCLA Health Daisy Award nominees have made a difference in patient care!
2021 Award
- Allyza Afable
- Devon Ballentine
- Julie Hittleman
- Dahlia Maldonado
- David Organista
- Vanessa Patino
- Desiree Quebral
- MeiLani Renger
2021 DAISY Leadership Award
2021 DAISY Lifetime Achievement
- Pattie Jakel (coming soon)
- Laurie Reyen
- (Posthumous): Nishi Jumna
2021 DAISY Team Award
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
Learn how UCLA Health Daisy Award nominees have made a difference in patient care!
2020 DAISY Award
- Scott Abcarian
- Izabela Araujo
- Erica Ascencio
- Allegra Bell
- Shelley Klein
- Paul Ksendz
- Jade Macaraig
- Diane Santos
- Robert Yeranosyan
2020 DAISY Leadership Award
2020 DAISY Lifetime Achievement
- Barbara Anderson (coming soon)
- Sandra Dewar (coming soon)
- Sheri Monsein (coming soon)
- Annette Reed (coming soon)
2020 DAISY Team Award
UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center
Read how UCLA Health Daisy Award nominees have made a difference in patient care!
2019 DAISY Award
- Rene Abarca
- Andrew Baird
- Caitin Borja
- Danielle Everson
- Catherine Glass
- Lindsey Haleck
- Mithun Mahinda
- Jacob Merkel
- Pamela Miner
- Diana Ramos
- Samantha Thomas
Other Recent Awardees
- Adrienne Creamer
- Era Hawk
- Chessa Kabiling
- Leora Shachat
- Katrina Tavakkoli
- Melinda Vorpahl
- Jan Salveron
- Ma Celeste Teddy
- Randal "Randy" Lawrence
- Darlene Addison
- Terrin Clark
- Joanne Howe
- Yesenia Valle
- Sima Amajadian
- Mae Redila D'Amore
- Ileana Fonta
- Janine Le Roy
- Eunha Choi
- Elizabeth Montegrande
- Tina Rajabi
- Patricia Kirby
- Sharona Attar
- Team Snow Day
For a Complete list of UCLA Health Daisy Award Winners, Visit the Daisy Foundation Website (search "UCLA")
For comments or questions, contact:
Karyn Greenstone
Operations Manager
CENTER for Nursing Excellence
DAISY Award Program Coordinator
310-267-3313
Cultivating Excellence in Nursing Through Education and Research