Susan O Morris
December 2025
Susan O
Morris
,
BSN, RN
Administration
Planned Parenthood of Delaware / Delaware Nurses Association
Wilmington
,
DE
United States
In Susan's hands, nursing practice becomes a powerful tool for dismantling structural barriers and building a more just and inclusive healthcare system.
I am honored to nominate Susan Morris, RN, BSN, for the DAISY Health Equity Award. Throughout her many years with Planned Parenthood of Delaware (PPDE), Susan has remained a dedicated and unwavering advocate for the most underserved members of our community, creating lasting change for years to come. Her ability to recognize the challenges that exist beyond the clinic walls and to act meaningfully to address them has made her an invaluable force for equity and justice in Delaware healthcare.
One story, among hundreds for Susan, that illustrates her deep understanding of how the social determinants of health affect her patients, and how she uses her nursing skills to close those gaps: A woman came to one of our health centers seeking abortion care. During the intake process, Susan quickly picked up on subtle signs that something was not quite right: the patient was hesitant, anxious, and lacked necessary funds. Through gentle and compassionate conversation, Susan learned that the patient was currently unhoused.
Rather than focusing only on the procedure at hand, Susan looked at the broader picture. She knew immediately that this patient's challenges extended far beyond her immediate medical need. With her holistic approach, Susan addressed nearly every aspect of the patients' well-being, connecting the patient to wraparound services and treating them not just as a patient, but as a whole person.
Susan contacted a local shelter network on the patient's behalf and secured a safe place for her to stay. She also coordinated with a community housing outreach organization to help her apply for long-term resources. Without a safe shelter, a patient's ability to follow through with post-procedure care (or simply rest and heal) is compromised. Susan made sure the patient had a safe place to go.
Understanding that food insecurity often accompanies unstable housing, Susan provided the patient with a list of nearby food resources and a same-day referral to a food distribution center. She also assisted in connecting her to the local government programs to apply for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
The patient was also uninsured, so Susan explained our sliding scale fee structure and helped her complete the necessary paperwork. She also connected her to a social worker at a local nonprofit who could assist with broader public assistance applications.
Susan also recognized that transportation would be a challenge for follow-up care. For future appointments, she scheduled follow-up visits at times the patient could realistically attend, and took public transportation schedules into account.
Knowing how isolating and overwhelming the patient's situation was, Susan took the extra time to talk with the patient, not just clinically, but human-to-human. Susan explained her medical options thoroughly, answered every question, and provided emotional support without judgment.
In short, Susan provided nursing care that extended far beyond clinical excellence; she served as a navigator, advocate, social worker, and ally. She saw someone in crisis and did what nurses do best: met her where she was, assessed her needs in full context, and provided the care and support she needed to not only survive, but begin to stabilize her life.
At Planned Parenthood of Delaware, Susan serves a diverse and often under-resourced population. From April 2024 to March 2025, we recorded 10,901 visits from 7,385 unique patients. 25% are Medicaid recipients, 38% identify as Black or African American, and 16% identify as Hispanic or Latino. Many of our patients face economic hardship, language barriers, housing insecurity, and limited access to comprehensive health services. Susan not only understands these realities, but she works every day to break down those barriers.
Susan Morris's work at Planned Parenthood of Delaware (PPDE) exemplifies what it means to create meaningful, lasting change in health equity; not just for individual patients, but for entire communities. Systematic change is created by everyday people. Susan shows up every day and treats every patient she interacts with as a whole person, leading to a healthier Delaware, one patient, one mother, one family at a time.
Her leadership has had a ripple effect, transforming the way PPDE delivers care to those most often overlooked by the healthcare system. Under her guidance, PPDE has deepened its approach to addressing the social determinants of health, integrating trauma-informed care, expanding culturally responsive services, and strengthening relationships with marginalized communities across the state. These arent abstract initiatives; theyre life-changing efforts that have increased access, built trust, and saved lives.
Despite holding a leadership position as Nursing Manager, Susan consistently steps in on the clinical floor, doing up to three jobs at once. Recently, she covered four full abortion care days while still fulfilling all her administrative responsibilities. This is not unusual for Susan; it is simply who she is. Whenever PPDE has needed her, whenever her community needs her, she has shown up. Her presence is a steadying force, and her care is deeply felt by patients and staff alike.
Susan's approach is rooted in a health equity that values the power of everyday work done by everyday people. She believes that lasting change doesn't only come from sweeping policies or grand gestures, it comes from the persistence and purpose of dedicated individuals who show up each day for their communities. Her work reminds us that nurses are not just care providers; they are advocates, educators, and change-makers. In Susan's hands, nursing practice becomes a powerful tool for dismantling structural barriers and building a more just and inclusive healthcare system.
Importantly, Susan's vision extends beyond her own impact. She is laying the foundation for future generations of nurses to continue this vital work. Recognizing that the health equity challenges we face are systemic and ongoing, Susan recently spearheaded the development of a comprehensive, in-depth nurse training program at PPDE. This initiative is designed not only to equip nurses with the clinical and cultural competencies needed to serve underserved communities but also to cultivate a sustained commitment to equity, compassion, and excellence in care. Her goal is simple but profound: to ensure that the nurses of tomorrow are even better prepared than those of today.
Through Susan's leadership, PPDE has become more than a healthcare provider; it is a model for how mission-driven nursing can advance health equity at scale. Her contributions go far beyond a single story or patient interaction. She has changed how care is delivered, how teams are trained, and how equity is embedded into the very structure of the organization.
Susan Morris is not just a nurse. She is a champion for equitable healthcare, an advocate for the voiceless, and a model of what compassionate, person-centered nursing should look like. The story discussed is one of many. She embodies the very spirit of the DAISY Health Equity Award.
One story, among hundreds for Susan, that illustrates her deep understanding of how the social determinants of health affect her patients, and how she uses her nursing skills to close those gaps: A woman came to one of our health centers seeking abortion care. During the intake process, Susan quickly picked up on subtle signs that something was not quite right: the patient was hesitant, anxious, and lacked necessary funds. Through gentle and compassionate conversation, Susan learned that the patient was currently unhoused.
Rather than focusing only on the procedure at hand, Susan looked at the broader picture. She knew immediately that this patient's challenges extended far beyond her immediate medical need. With her holistic approach, Susan addressed nearly every aspect of the patients' well-being, connecting the patient to wraparound services and treating them not just as a patient, but as a whole person.
Susan contacted a local shelter network on the patient's behalf and secured a safe place for her to stay. She also coordinated with a community housing outreach organization to help her apply for long-term resources. Without a safe shelter, a patient's ability to follow through with post-procedure care (or simply rest and heal) is compromised. Susan made sure the patient had a safe place to go.
Understanding that food insecurity often accompanies unstable housing, Susan provided the patient with a list of nearby food resources and a same-day referral to a food distribution center. She also assisted in connecting her to the local government programs to apply for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
The patient was also uninsured, so Susan explained our sliding scale fee structure and helped her complete the necessary paperwork. She also connected her to a social worker at a local nonprofit who could assist with broader public assistance applications.
Susan also recognized that transportation would be a challenge for follow-up care. For future appointments, she scheduled follow-up visits at times the patient could realistically attend, and took public transportation schedules into account.
Knowing how isolating and overwhelming the patient's situation was, Susan took the extra time to talk with the patient, not just clinically, but human-to-human. Susan explained her medical options thoroughly, answered every question, and provided emotional support without judgment.
In short, Susan provided nursing care that extended far beyond clinical excellence; she served as a navigator, advocate, social worker, and ally. She saw someone in crisis and did what nurses do best: met her where she was, assessed her needs in full context, and provided the care and support she needed to not only survive, but begin to stabilize her life.
At Planned Parenthood of Delaware, Susan serves a diverse and often under-resourced population. From April 2024 to March 2025, we recorded 10,901 visits from 7,385 unique patients. 25% are Medicaid recipients, 38% identify as Black or African American, and 16% identify as Hispanic or Latino. Many of our patients face economic hardship, language barriers, housing insecurity, and limited access to comprehensive health services. Susan not only understands these realities, but she works every day to break down those barriers.
Susan Morris's work at Planned Parenthood of Delaware (PPDE) exemplifies what it means to create meaningful, lasting change in health equity; not just for individual patients, but for entire communities. Systematic change is created by everyday people. Susan shows up every day and treats every patient she interacts with as a whole person, leading to a healthier Delaware, one patient, one mother, one family at a time.
Her leadership has had a ripple effect, transforming the way PPDE delivers care to those most often overlooked by the healthcare system. Under her guidance, PPDE has deepened its approach to addressing the social determinants of health, integrating trauma-informed care, expanding culturally responsive services, and strengthening relationships with marginalized communities across the state. These arent abstract initiatives; theyre life-changing efforts that have increased access, built trust, and saved lives.
Despite holding a leadership position as Nursing Manager, Susan consistently steps in on the clinical floor, doing up to three jobs at once. Recently, she covered four full abortion care days while still fulfilling all her administrative responsibilities. This is not unusual for Susan; it is simply who she is. Whenever PPDE has needed her, whenever her community needs her, she has shown up. Her presence is a steadying force, and her care is deeply felt by patients and staff alike.
Susan's approach is rooted in a health equity that values the power of everyday work done by everyday people. She believes that lasting change doesn't only come from sweeping policies or grand gestures, it comes from the persistence and purpose of dedicated individuals who show up each day for their communities. Her work reminds us that nurses are not just care providers; they are advocates, educators, and change-makers. In Susan's hands, nursing practice becomes a powerful tool for dismantling structural barriers and building a more just and inclusive healthcare system.
Importantly, Susan's vision extends beyond her own impact. She is laying the foundation for future generations of nurses to continue this vital work. Recognizing that the health equity challenges we face are systemic and ongoing, Susan recently spearheaded the development of a comprehensive, in-depth nurse training program at PPDE. This initiative is designed not only to equip nurses with the clinical and cultural competencies needed to serve underserved communities but also to cultivate a sustained commitment to equity, compassion, and excellence in care. Her goal is simple but profound: to ensure that the nurses of tomorrow are even better prepared than those of today.
Through Susan's leadership, PPDE has become more than a healthcare provider; it is a model for how mission-driven nursing can advance health equity at scale. Her contributions go far beyond a single story or patient interaction. She has changed how care is delivered, how teams are trained, and how equity is embedded into the very structure of the organization.
Susan Morris is not just a nurse. She is a champion for equitable healthcare, an advocate for the voiceless, and a model of what compassionate, person-centered nursing should look like. The story discussed is one of many. She embodies the very spirit of the DAISY Health Equity Award.