Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center is pleased to announce its DAISY and BEE Award recipients for February 2022. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses® recognizes exemplary nursing staff at the hospital and all outpatient clinics, and the BEE Award honors other outstanding staff members who support patient care.
Shawna Gilbert, a Licensed Practical Nurse at Samaritan’s Outpatient Behavioral Health Center, received the DAISY Award. Nana Antwi-Boakye, Programmer Analyst with Samaritan’s Information Services, received the BEE Award. Gilbert was nominated by Christina O’Neil, Director of Mental Health, and Antwi-Boakye by Joel Benware, Vice President of Information Services. A committee then selected them.
Gilbert was nominated for her constant drive to go out of her way to make patients feel special. The Outpatient Behavioral Health Center manager described Gilbert saying:
“Shawna makes patients feel like they are the only person in the room, and she makes their time at the clinic special, something they can look back positively on… Typically patients specifically ask for Shawna when they come in.”
In addition to her willingness to help at the clinic, Shawna has also gone above and beyond by offering moral support to a patient in need after hours, further reflecting her level of care, compassion, and concern for those she helps.
For receiving the DAISY Award – which is an international award backed by The DAISY Foundation – Gilbert was presented a certificate commending her as an extraordinary nurse, a DAISY Award pin, and a symbolic sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” which is hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. A larger version of this
sculpture has also been installed in the Healing Gardens at Samaritan in honor of all DAISY and BEE Award winners to come. It was purchased using funds donated by the Samaritan Auxiliary.
Antwi-Boakye was nominated for the BEE Award by Joel Benware, Vice President of Information Services, for multiple compliments received from colleagues.
“I receive compliments of Nana’s work on a weekly basis from several very talented team members that rely on Nana’s expertise on a daily basis. He is a consultant on so many issues that the majority of Samaritan’s staff would have no idea Nana was behind the scenes in solving their issue. Quite simply, Nana is a Silent Giant.”
Antwi-Boakye was presented with a certificate, a BEE Award pin, and a gift bag with other tokens of gratitude.
Both awards will continue to be presented throughout the year, and nominations can be submitted by patients, families, or colleagues at any time. To make a nomination or to learn more about the DAISY and BEE Awards, visit www.samaritanhealth.com/daisy-bee.
