This summer, Kat stepped into an interim manager role and has done so with remarkable grace and resilience. In addition to managing her own teams, she embraced the challenge of overseeing several additional colleagues during a time of significant transition, which has been no easy feat. Despite the complexity and uncertainty, Kat has been a steady, inspiring presence, demonstrating exceptional leadership every step of the way.

As a new colleague in this area, I've personally experienced Kat's warmth, support, and unwavering commitment. Even in a space that's relatively new to her, she's been attentive, transparent, and courageous in asking the tough questions. She leads with empathy and integrity, always assuming the best in others. Kat is hands-on, highly visible, and fully engaged; when staff raise concerns, she listens deeply and responds thoughtfully. Her ability to view challenges from multiple perspectives has led to improved workflows, stronger interdepartmental collaboration, and enhanced patient care. She's even initiated several workgroups to foster open communication and problem-solving across specialties.

I often hear staff say, "Kat is amazing- can she stay?" which speaks volumes about the impact she's made in such a short time.

Without prompting or sharing my own thoughts, I reached out to colleagues for input on nominating Kat for a DAISY Award. The responses were strikingly similar and overwhelmingly positive:

"Kat stepped into her interim role and faced a department in transition. Instead of maintaining the status quo, she brought stability, inspiration, and renewed a sense of purpose! She earned trust and respect from 140 colleagues with her direct, clear communication and follow-through. Even in her interim capacity, she embodied what true leadership means and was able to balance between all her units."

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"Kat has taken on three units on an interim basis, onboarded a new manager on one, is currently onboarding a new manager to the other two, and in the meantime has had the first few months of productive nursing hours in years on those units....all while running her own unit. She is always collaborative, exceedingly positive, and excels at elevating the practice of those colleagues around her. There are never any excuses, just constant drive forward for creative solutions to opportunities that she seeks out."

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"As a new leader in the organization, I cannot overstate how grateful I am for Kat’s warm welcome and exceptional leadership during her time as interim over a large unit. In just my three weeks here, it's been abundantly clear that she has excelled in her role. She leads with compassion, clarity, and a steadfast commitment to excellence-qualities that have fostered a sense of stability and trust among teams navigating significant transitions. Beyond her dedication to the units, Kat has embraced a mentorship role with me, offering unwavering support and guidance that has made a meaningful impact on my onboarding experience. Even in our short time working together, it's evident that Kat truly embodies Trinity's core values of justice, integrity, and safety."

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These are just a few voices among many. If I asked for more feedback, I'm confident I could fill an entire book. Simply put, Kat is an extraordinary leader- one who is deeply deserving of recognition for the exemplary leadership she brings to our teams every single day.