To nominate a Nurse for the DAISY Award Click here. 

   5-West nurse recognized with Daisy Award for nursing excellence
Nurse Sylvia Pineda is the most recent DAISY Award winner. Pineda works on 5-West at USC University Hospital and was described as a dedicated nurse who puts her patients first: "(Pineda is) absolutely stellar–a nurse who performs her tasks in an exceptionally thoughtful and competent way. Her demeanor was that of a highly helpful and pleasant individual who was most concerned with the patient’s sense of well being.”

  9th-floor nurse recognized with Daisy Award for nursing excellence
Nurse Breidi Calloway is the most recent DAISY Award winner. Calloway works on the 9th floor of USC University Hospital and was described as a dedicated nurse who takes the time to make her patients feel comfortable: "(Calloway shares) her knowledge in ways the patient and their families can understand. She is very passionate about her job and it shows in everything she does.”

  7-West nurse recognized for nursing excellence with DAISY Award
Nurse Bill Lupton is the most recent DAISY Award winner. Lupton works on 7-West at USC University Hospital and was recognized in his nomination form for having a strong impact on the lives of his patients and their families: "His genuine ways have made a change in our lives. He is our hero."

  Ninth floor nurse recognized for nursing excellence with DAISY Award
Nurse Dan Gepilano is the latest DAISY Award winner. Gepilano works on the ninth floor of USC University Hospital and was described in his nomination form as a conscientious employee who takes the time to explain important issues and details to patients and staff: "He is a wonderful advocate. He is knowledgeable and pays attention to every detail." 

  Nurse Jonathan Lee is October's DAISY Award winner. Lee works on 8-West in USC University Hospital and was described in his nomination form as a caring, conscientious, and thoughtful employee: "Every day that he is at work he gives 110% … He is an incredible team player and an amazing teacher to his students."

 Nurse Raffi Boghossian is September's DAISY Award winner. Boghossian is a nurse on 7-East in USC University Hospital and was described in his nomination form as a nurturing caregiver who is not only supportive of his patients, but his colleagues as well: "Raffi helps to reassure very anxious patients prior to procedures … Raffi’s co-workers say no matter how hectic the day is, he always takes the time to ask how your day is." 

  Nurse Terri Rojas is August's DAISY Award winner and the first nurse manager to win this award. Rojas is a nurse manager for 5-South stepdown and abdominal transplant ICU in USC University Hospital. In her nomination form, Rojas was described as passionate leader who demonstrates "a high degree of critical thinking in the effort to meet the best needs of the patient. Terri demonstrates compassion, advocacy and professionalism to a patient during an uncomfortable procedure."

   Nurse Tveen Iskenerian is July's DAISY Award winner for her commitment to excellent patient care. Iskenerian is a nurse on 7-South at USC University Hospital and graduated from the Versant RN Residency program three years ago. She serves as a relief charge nurse on her floor and is a lead Versant preceptor. In her nomination form, Iskenerian was described as a brave nurse who displays "a strong sense of courage and professionalism in the face of extreme challenge during the call of duty to save her patient’s life. She never backs down from a challenge. She has earned the respect of our physicians, her colleagues, charge nurses and manager.” 

  Nurse Marlene Morales is June's DAISY Award winner for her commitment to excellent patient care! Morales is a nurse on the 9th floor at USC University Hospital and is the first Versant RN Residency program graduate to be recognized. In her nomination form, Morales was described as a dedicated nurse who does all she can to support her patients and coworkers – "On the worst nursing day I ever had, Marlene put her arm around me and said, 'We’ll make it.' Her smile and caring attitude gave me the strength to get through the day.

  Nurse Eamonn Boylan is May's DAISY Award winner for his commitment to excellent patient care! Boylan is a nurse in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit at USC University Hospital. In his nomination form, Boylan was described as a dedicated nurse who "shows exceptional care and compassion to his patients and their families as well as demonstrating outstanding professionalism. Patients and families praise him because he takes extra time to be there to listen and empathize with them in times of great stress.”

  USC University Hospital nurse Alma Hernandez, of 5-North, was presented with the April DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses on May 27. Hernandez, who was nominated for the award by a fellow nurse, was recognized because she “consistently provides exceptional care and the extra attention to detail which improves our outcomes.” Hernandez was presented with a certificate, DAISY Award pin and commemorative sculpture. A nation-wide program of the DAISY Foundation, the DAISY Award was established to “recognize the super-human work nurses do every day all over the country.”

  Nurse Daynabelle Santos is March's DAISY Award winner for her commitment to excellent patient care! Santos formerly worked at the USC Norris Cancer Hospital and now works on the ninth floor of USC University Hospital. In her nomination form, Santos was described as professional versatile, flexible and a great leader who portrayed clam and efficiency during the transition of Norris inpatients to USC University Hospital. "She has a great attitude and shows respect to her colleagues and patients."

  Nurse Monica Chiu is February's DAISY Award winner for her commitment to excellent patient care! Chiu works on 7-North at USC University Hospital. Chiu was honored on March 18, and was nominated for the award by a patient and that patient's relatives. Her nomination forms described her as caring, creative, attentive and dedicated to her work: "She is exceptionally committed to her patients and will go the extra mile for them, without even having to ask." Nomination forms are being accepted now through April 1 for a DAISY Award winner for the month of March.

  Nurse Wilma Samson is January's DAISY Award winner for her commitment to excellent patient care! Samson works on 5-North at USC University Hospital, and has been a nurse there since 2003. She was the first recipient of the DAISY Award at the USC hospitals. Samson's nomination form described her as a leader, professional, thoughtful and an advocate for her nursing staff and patients: "She makes everyday we work a great shift. She guides us to become better nurses."