I would like to nominate our Maternal Child Health Assistant Nurse Manager (ANM) team for the DAISY Team Award in recognition of the extraordinary leadership, compassion, and commitment they demonstrate every day in support of our patients, families, and staff.

Our ANMs consistently uphold the highest standards of nursing practice, serving as clinical leaders and compassionate advocates for the patients and families we care for. In a fast-paced environment, with four different specialties, they maintain a calm and thoughtful presence, ensuring patient care remains safe, evidence-based, and centered on dignity and respect.

Over the past two years, this team has continuously elevated its leadership skills, demonstrating strong patterns of accountability, ownership, and thoughtful decision-making. Just as importantly, their deep care for one another, for the Maternal Child Health service line, and for the families and community we serve is truly remarkable. That heart shows up every day in how they lead, how they support their teams, how they support their leaders, and how they show up for each other.

What makes this team especially deserving of recognition is the empathy and genuine compassion they bring to every interaction. Whether supporting a family during a stressful hospitalization, assisting staff through complex clinical situations, or helping parents navigate the uncertainty that can come with a newborn’s medical needs, our ANMs approach every encounter with kindness, patience, and understanding. They build meaningful connections with patients and families by taking the time to listen, ensuring concerns are addressed, and including families in the planning of their child’s care.

Through open communication and partnership, they help families feel informed, empowered, and supported throughout their experience. Their compassionate leadership also extends to the nurses and care teams they support each day. They foster a culture where staff feel valued, heard, and encouraged to provide exceptional care. By mentoring nurses, promoting teamwork, and modeling professionalism and empathy, they strengthen the environment in which compassionate care can thrive. They collaborate seamlessly with physicians, respiratory therapists, social workers, lactation consultants, and other interdisciplinary partners to ensure the medical, emotional, and developmental needs of each patient and family are met.

Their commitment, compassion, and shared sense of responsibility have sustained our leadership team through an extraordinary amount of change and growth. The trust, partnership, and steadiness they bring make even the most challenging seasons feel possible. The culture they protect, the consistency they model, and the leadership they bring with both skill and heart make this team profoundly deserving of the DAISY Team Award.