DAISY AT UM Shore Regional Health
Any UM Shore Regional Health or UM Shore Medical Group nurse who has made a special connection with a patient or family can be nominated for the DAISY Award.
UM Shore DAISY Committee members meet monthly to choose an honoree, who will receive a special treat and prizes.
About the DAISY Award
The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses honors the memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at age 33 of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), an auto-immune disease. His family, profoundly impressed by the clinical skills and compassion of the nurses who cared for Patrick, created this international award to show gratitude for nurses everywhere.
Anyone can nominate a UM Shore Regional Health nurse for the DAISY Award, including patients, families, and fellow nurses and health care providers. Complete the nomination form online at or pick up a paper copy of the form at the nurses’ stations.
Monthly UM Shore DAISY Winner
Margaret "Margi" Downey, RN (March 2024 DAISY Honoree)
Congratulations to Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) nurse Margaret “Margi” Downey, RN, on her selection as UM Shore Regional Health’s DAISY Award Winner for March 2024.
Submitted by her colleague, Brandi Covey, RN, Downey’s nomination reads as follows:
“Margi embodies daily what the DAISY award represents. Clinically, she has been instrumental in the further development of our pain management service line, going above and beyond to help our patients receive the care they need and deserve. Due in part to her efforts, we were able to streamline a very valuable service to our community and grow it into something our ASC is extremely proud of.
But Margi is so much more than that. Her extraordinary compassion is evident in all of her interactions at the ASC with both patients and teammates. Many of our patients have developed a relationship with Margi; even asking for her by name when they come to our facility. She is also the first person to reach out to a member of our team to offer support. Her incredible thoughtfulness and genuine heart are so appreciated by our ASC family. Her priority is always to make others happy. I honestly feel blessed to have Margi in my life, both as a teammate and a friend. She embraces life, encourages goodness and can put a smile on your face with her Southern charm. Margi is such a special person and deserves this recognition for her beautiful human spirit.”
As part of winning the DAISY award, Downey will be recognized on the DAISY Award international website. She also received a certificate, a DAISY pin and a “Healer’s Touch” Statue. As tradition holds, Downey and her teammates were also treated to cinnamon rolls.
Past DAISY Winners
2024 DAISY Nurses
- January – Michael Parker, BSN, RN (staff nurse, UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, Intensive Care Unit)
- February – Rachel Stewart, RN (staff nurse, UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, Shore Behavioral Health’s inpatient unit)
- March – Margaret “Margi” Downey, RN (staff nurse, Ambulatory Surgery Center at Easton)
2023 DAISY Nurses
- January – Shannon Temple, BSN, RN, FNE A/P (Forensic Nurse Coordinator, UM Shore Regional Health)
- February – Leigh Mingos, RN (staff nurse, Cancer Center at UM Shore Regional Health)
- March – Debra Van Dyke, MSN, RN (Behavioral Health, UM Shore Regional Health)
- April – Ashley Diem, RN (staff nurse, UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, Telemetry)
- May – Stephanie Saffran, RN (staff nurse, UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, 2 East)
- June – Kara Stuart, RN (staff nurse, UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, Birthing Center)
- July – Lisa Asplen, RN (staff nurse, Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC), UM Shore Regional Health)
- August – Alexa Blazejak, RN (staff nurse, UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, 2 East)
- September – Alejandro Martinez, RN (staff nurse, UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, 3 East)
- October – Leslie Collier, RN (staff nurse, UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, Emergency Department)
- November – Shannon Phoenix, BSN, RN (staff nurse, UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, 2 East)
- December – Morgan Maynard, BSN, RN, FLOAT/JET Nurse
2022 DAISY Nurses
- April – Nicole Coleman, RN/BSN (staff nurse, UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, Intensive Care Unit)
- May – Tom Bush, RN (staff nurse, UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, Perioperative Services)
- June – Jennifer Owens, RN (staff nurse, UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, Birthing Center)
- July – Shannon Benson, RN (staff nurse, UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, Birthing Center)
- August – Kristi Tucker, RN (staff nurse, UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, Birthing Center)
- September – Haley Setter, RN (staff nurse, UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, Birthing Center)
- October – Steve Pringle, RN (staff nurse, UM Shore Emergency Center at Queenstown)
- November – Kristen Wilczenski, RN (staff nurse, UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, 2 East/Medical Surgical Unit)
- December – Jacqueline Groz, RN (staff nurse, UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, Birthing Center)
