DAISY Awards and Annual Recognition Honors Outstanding Nurses Across Phoebe for National Nurses Week
Albany, GA | May 8, 2026 – In honor of National Nurses Week, Phoebe Putney Health System is proud to celebrate the extraordinary nurses across its network who embody the very best of compassionate and patient-centered care. This year, both Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital (PPMH) and Phoebe Sumter Medical Center (PSMC) honored nurses through the prestigious DAISY Award program and annual nursing excellence awards, recognizing individuals whose dedication, skill, and humanity leave lasting impacts on patients, families, and colleagues.
The DAISY Award is an international recognition program that honors the extraordinary clinical skill and compassionate care given by nurses every day. Nominations are submitted by coworkers, patients, and patient family members who have witnessed or experienced life-changing care.
This year’s Nurses Week DAISY Awards Ceremony at PPMH recognized nurses across multiple award categories, celebrating clinical excellence, dedicated leadership, and a lifetime of service to the nursing profession.
The Nurse Educator DAISY Award was presented to Renee Broadway, BSN, Oncology Nurse Educator for both Inpatient and Outpatient services. Broadway received four nominations from leadership and clinical staff, each reflecting her deep commitment to education, patient safety, and empowering the nursing team. Nominations highlighted her willingness to arrive early or stay late to ensure all shift staff received timely education, her approachable presence on the unit floor, and her genuine humility as a lifelong learner. One nominator noted that she was once spotted heading not to her office for a break, but to make a patient a fresh glass of sweet tea, a small act that captured her patient-centered character.
The Nurse Leader DAISY Award was awarded to Jennifer Martin, MSN, Director of Inpatient Services. Martin received two nominations that consistently described a leader of rare compassion, reliability, and integrity. With more than 20 years of service to Phoebe Putney Health System, Martin has mentored graduate students, new nurses, seasoned clinicians, and aspiring leaders alike. Nominators described her as someone who is unafraid of tough conversations, never hesitates to celebrate her team, and approaches each day with grace, advocacy, and a commitment to patient and staff safety.
The most prestigious honor, the Lifetime Achievement DAISY Award was presented to Dena Pollard, ASN. She works in Phoebe’s Virtual Nurse program, and her impact on patients, caregivers, and colleagues has been described as nothing short of transformational. Pollard makes approximately 80 patient phone calls per day as part of post-discharge follow-up and through the Heart Link program she founded for patients diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure. Nominated by a colleague of nine years, she was described as someone who prays with patients, laughs and cries alongside them, and connects them with resources before they even know to ask.
“She makes people feel seen. You won’t find her idle – ever. She is always seeking ways to be useful and checking to be sure she’s doing what’s best. She is truly an example of what a nurse should be,” said the nominator.
When one of her Heart Link patients arrived at a clinic for a medication appointment, Pollard left her desk, retrieved a wheelchair, and personally escorted the patient upstairs without hesitation.
“National Nurses Week is one of my favorite times of the year, because it gives us the opportunity to stop and truly honor the people who are the heart of this organization. Our nurses show up every single day with skill, compassion, and dedication that goes far beyond what any job description could capture. These special DAISY Award recipients and nominees represent the very best of what nursing looks like, and I could not be prouder to serve alongside them. Congratulations to each and every honoree,” said Maureen Jackson, BSN, PPMH Chief Nursing Officer.
At Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, Nurses Week celebrations ended with the annual Nurses Week Luncheon honoring nursing achievement, mentorship, and emerging talent. Kayla Isreal, RN in the Emergency Center, was named Phoebe Sumter Nurse of the Year. In one of the hospital’s most fast-paced environments, Kayla brings calm to chaos, serving as a steady and reassuring presence during critical moments. Her leadership is not loud, but it is deeply respected and built on competence, consistency, and compassion. She has a unique ability to anticipate patient and team needs before they are voiced, earning the trust of both her patients and her colleagues in even the most uncertain situations.
Shatoria ‘Tori” Williams, RN in Labor & Delivery was named Preceptor of the Year. Tori was recognized for her dedication to developing the next generation of nurses, creating a supportive and encouraging learning environment where new team members can grow with confidence. Known for her patience, strong clinical skills, and positive attitude, she leads by example each day. Her willingness to teach, mentor, and uplift others has made a lasting impact not only on her unit, but on the many nurses she has guided along the way.
The Rookie of the Year award resulted in a tie, with Zoee Jones, RN and Johnny Walker, RN, both of Acute Care, sharing the honor. Johnny was honored for his compassionate approach to patient care and his commitment to teamwork. Even in his first year of nursing, Johnny earned frequent praise from patients for his kindness, attentiveness, and advocacy. His readiness to step in and support his colleagues without hesitation makes him a vital member of the team. Zoee, known for her strong work ethic and calming presence has quickly gained the respect and trust of her peers. Patients are drawn to her warmth, patience, and genuine compassion, while her ability to remain steady and focused contributes to a positive and supportive care environment.
This year, Phoebe Sumter introduced a new award, the Nursing Excellence Award to the Clinical Educator, Caitlin Bruer. The Legacy Award was awarded to Dot McCray of Labor & Delivery for more than 55 years of dedicated service to Phoebe Sumter.
“The nurses at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center are an extraordinary group of professionals who bring their whole hearts to work every single day. National Nurses Week gives us the chance to recognize publicly and with great pride, the individuals who have gone above and beyond for their patients, their teams, and this community. Congratulations to all of our nominees and award winners. You make Phoebe Sumter a better place for everyone who walks through our doors,” said Kelsey Reed, DNP, PSMC Chief Nursing Officer.
As Phoebe President and CEO Scott Steiner reflects on another year of extraordinary nursing care and leadership, he echoed the sentiments felt in every unit, every hallway, and every patient room that emphasizes the irreplaceable role nurses play in fulfilling the health system’s mission of making every life it touches better.
“Nurses are the backbone of everything we do at Phoebe. They are often the first face a patient sees, the steady hand in a moment of fear, and the compassionate voice that brings comfort when it is needed most. This Nurses Week, I want every nurse across our system to know that your work is seen, your dedication is deeply valued, and your impact extends far beyond what any award could measure. To our DAISY honorees and all of our Nurses Week award recipients, thank you for reminding all of us why we are here. You are the reason Phoebe exists,” said Steiner.
Nurses are the ones who hold a patient’s hand in the middle of the night, who notice the subtle change that others might miss, who advocate fiercely when a patient cannot speak for themselves, and who carry the weight of their work with a quiet strength that rarely makes headlines but never goes unnoticed. Their presence transforms a hospital from a building into a place of healing, and their compassion turns what could be the hardest moments of a person’s life into experiences marked by dignity, comfort, and genuine human connection. At Phoebe, nursing is not just a profession; it is the living, breathing embodiment of our promise to make every life we touch better.