DAISY and BEE Awards

"DAISY" is an acronym for "Diseases Attacking the Immune System". The DAISY Award was established by The DAISY Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at 33 of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), an auto-immune disease. The Barnes Family was awestruck by the clinical skills, caring and compassion of the nurses who cared for Patrick, so they created this national award to say thank you to nurses everywhere.

For more information on The DAISY Award, visit the DAISY Foundation website here. 

"BEE" is an acronym for "Being Excellent Everyday" and this award program was adopted by UVA Health University Medical Center in May 2022 to symbolize the relationship between nursing and other members of the care team - the same way bees and flowers depend on one another. This special program recognizes excellence among the team members who work alongside our nursing teams delivering expert, compassionate care.

• The DAISY Award Committee is proud to honor two nurses from UVA Health each month with a DAISY Award.
• The BEE Award Committee proudly celebrates two care team members each month by presenting them with a BEE Award.
• Nominations may be submitted anytime by patients, patients' families, visitors, and fellow UVA team members.
• Award recipients will receive a framed certificate, an Honoree pin, and a unique sculpture, along with a copy of their nomination(s).
• Nominees who meet eligibility criteria but are not chosen for the award will still receive unit-level recognition, as well as a nominee packet that includes a copy of their nomination(s), a nominee pin, and signed letter from a Chief level executive leader.

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DAISY Award Committee Leadership:
2026 Committee Chair: Caitlin Lowman, BSN, RN, CCRN, BLS
2026 Committee Vice Chair: Amelia McNabb, BSN, RN, CRRN

BEE Award Committee Leadership:
2026 Committee Chair: Samantha Shifflett
2026 Committee Vice Chair: Allisha Shifflett, AEMT

If you have any questions about the DAISY or BEE Awards, please email NPGO@uvahealth.org

Printable forms for handwritten nominations are available in English and Spanish.

Handwritten nominations can be mailed to the address below.

*Previous DAISY recipients from 2015-2025 can be found here.

2025 DAISY Nurse Leader:

• Christina VanDerveer, Ambulatory Clinic Nurse Manager, Heart Center

2025 DAISY Team Award:

• Surgical Trauma ICU Team

December 2025:

• Jamie Dubbs, RN Clinician 2, Nerancy Neuro ICU
• Wendy Cialkowski, Charge Nurse, 6 Central

January 2026:

• Anna Failes, RN Clinician 2, Newborn ICU
• Marie Carr, RN Clinician 1, 5 North 

February 2026:

• Emily McKee, RN Clinician 2, 3 Central
• Brittany Scott, RN Clinician 2, Augusta Oncology Clinic

*Previous BEE recipients from 2022-2025 can be found here.

December 2025:

• Shannon James, Supv Revenue Cycle, Transplant Sched POD
• Sadae Bey, Surgical Technologist I, Operating Rooms

January 2026:

• Erica Watts, Patient Care Technician, Coronary Care Unit
• Kylee Lambert, Medical Assistant, Pantops Breast Clinic

February 2026:

• Julia Dawson, Child Life Specialist, Children's Hospital Ops
• Mary Henderson, Admin Assist, 6 Central