Daisy Award
UNC Hospitals DAISY Award
At UNC Hospitals, nurses consistently go above and beyond to provide extraordinary care. Whether offering heartfelt compassion to a patient’s family or delivering exceptional treatment to someone in need, nurses exceed expectations every day.
The DAISY Award recognizes these outstanding contributions. Patients, families, and colleagues can nominate any UNC Hospitals nurse, nursing student, or nursing faculty member for this prestigious honor. Established by the family of Patrick Barnes-who received exceptional nursing care before passing away due to an autoimmune disease-the award’s name reflects the acronym “Diseases Attacking the Immune System.”
Award recipients are selected by a committee of UNC Hospitals nurses, and the honors are presented during a ceremony held in front of peers and patients. The DAISY Award is a nationwide program celebrating nurses’ exceptional service and dedication.
To learn more or nominate a nurse, visit UNC Hospitals DAISY Award.
Pauline W. Brown Award
Named in tribute to an inspiring figure in nursing, the Pauline Brown Award honors individuals who go above and beyond to advance the field of nursing and promote a culture of care, resilience, and professionalism in the spheres of health equity, interrelatedness, and relational health.
Each year, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing confers this prestigious recognition upon one student whose coursework examines its subject through the lenses of humility, human flourishing, and population health. Eligible work may analyze topics across any discipline or explore health and well-being or health equity across diverse groups. Additionally, eligible work may analyze topics that explore the contributions of people from all backgrounds to society, history, culture, or thought in any area of study. Interdisciplinary approaches (those that draw on resources and perspectives from multiple disciplines) are strongly encouraged, as is work grounded in the principles of interrelatedness and relational health. For guidance on interrelatedness, nominees should refer to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)’s position that no single factor—whether a patient’s health needs, a nurse’s competencies, or professional, social, and spiritual influences—exists or functions in isolation. This framework around nurse care posits that there exists a dynamic, inseparable connection between different elements, systems, or concepts within nursing education and practice.
Candidates can either self-nominate or be nominated by faculty or peers. Multiple submissions are acceptable.
2026 Award Winners
Princess Temisan Edema-Sillo
Partnering with Communities to Address Health Disparities in Marginalized Populations through Community-based Participatory Research
The purpose of my project was to reduce barriers to health information and preventive services while developing cultural competence in community-engaged health equity work through applying principles of community-based participatory research. The grounds of this project centered on how health disparities disproportionately affect Black and underserved communities, attributed to structural racism, social determinants of health, and historical medical discrimination that creates justifiable mistrust of healthcare systems.
Read Abstract
Jailene Lemus-Hurtado
The Silent Epidemic: Sugary Beverages and the Rise of Chronic Disease in Hispanic Populations
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among Hispanics in the United States. Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB’s) increase risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Limited data exist on consumption patterns and health perceptions among Hispanic women. This study aims to explore SSB consumption patterns and how these women perceive related health risks.
Read AbstractHOPE Award
The “HOPE” (Helping Other People Excel) Award recognizes a member of the School of Nursing Faculty or Staff for fostering an environment that supports diversity in the School of Nursing. Such recipients may promote inclusiveness through their interactions with students and with co-workers.
The award is open for nomination by anyone in the School of Nursing (SON) community. The recipient will be selected by a specially appointed committee comprised of faculty and staff. Recognition for the HOPE Award will be a certificate given to the recipient. This award is given in the “odd” years.