Megan Turner, RN

It is my privilege to nominate Megan Turner for the DAISY Award in recognition of her extraordinary compassion, clinical excellence, and unwavering commitment to patient advocacy. I have worked with Megan closely for the past few years, during which I have had the opportunity to witness firsthand the profound difference she makes in the lives of our patients — often in ways that never appear in a chart but are felt deeply by everyone she touches.

She coordinates care seamlessly between the Pittsburgh physicians who see patients via telehealth in Altoona, ensuring that no detail — critical labs, consent form, or a follow-up call — falls through the cracks. She manages the logistics that keep our clinic running smoothly. She also serves as our liaison to local community clinicians, ensuring that information is transmitted clearly and continuity of care is never compromised. She is also involved in strategic planning with regard to our telehealth workflow, coordinating with labs regarding specialized testing, and care coordination with other subspecialties at the Altoona VA.

Nowhere is her commitment more evident than in her care of a recent patient newly diagnosed with cancer. He came to us overwhelmed — not only by his diagnosis, but by fear over how he would afford treatment and even get to his appointments. Megan recognized that his anxiety was as much a barrier to care as any clinical factor. She personally connected him with social work and walked him through the Means test for financial assistance, physically escorting him to ensure he did not have to navigate the process alone. Her advocacy did not end there. She followed up with him by phone, spoke directly with his daughter to make sure the family had the support and information they needed, confirmed that palliative care was actively involved, and rescheduled a follow-up visit to address his lingering questions. She provided thorough chemotherapy education and offered the reassurance he needed to move forward. Because of her sustained personal investment in his care, this patient — who had arrived frightened and hesitant — has now agreed to proceed with treatment.

This is not an isolated case. Patients repeatedly mention Megan by name, describing how she eased their anxiety and made them feel truly cared for during some of the most frightening moments of their lives. That kind of trust is not accidental; it is earned through consistent compassion, clinical knowledge, and genuine advocacy.
Megan embodies everything the DAISY Award was created to honor. She treats every patient as if they were her own family member; she anticipates needs before they become crises, and she brings both heart and skill to a role that demands both. Our clinic — and more importantly, our patients — are profoundly fortunate to have her.
I give my highest and most enthusiastic recommendation for Megan to receive the DAISY Award.