San Juan Regional Medical Center has partnered with the DAISY Foundation, an international recognition program, to honor the skillful, compassionate care nurses provide every day.
The DAISY Foundation stands for Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem, and was formed as a not-for-profit organization by the family of J. Patrick Barnes who died at the age of 33 of complications of an autoimmune disease. The nursing care he received in the hospital profoundly impacted his family, and they created the foundation to honor Patrick’s memory and thank the incredible nurses who do so much for so many people.
Say thank you to a nurse today by nominating them for a DAISY Award.
2026 Recipients
Alicia McGee, RN
Alicia McGee is an ICU nurse who is a repeat Daisy award winner. She was nominated by the family of a patient who had suddenly fallen ill and passed away a few days later. During the patient’s time in the ICU, the family was grateful for the way Alicia treated their father with dignity and cared for him with the compassionate sensitivity he deserved. “He remained a person to her the entire time, never losing validity as an individual who meant something to somebody,” the family said in their nomination. “Thank You Alicia. Your compassion, effort, and integrity, mean everything.”
Jason Aikele, RN
Jason Aikele is a nurse in the Cardiac Cath Lab who is also a repeat Daisyaward winner. He was nominated by two of his nursing peers for the way he goes above and beyond not only for his patients, but also his coworkers. Jason was working with a nurse on the Medical Unit after her patient had a procedure in the Cath Lab. This patient was from another country, and didn’t have insurance coverage for the medication she needed to take during the rest of her stay in the U.S. Jason was able to help get a month-long sample of an approved medication for the patient. “He genuinely made my job easier that day and was able to seriously decrease future risk to the patient by getting her the appropriate blood thinner before discharge,” nurse Jessica Scott said in her nomination. “Jason is a pretty great teammate and definitely cares about patients, even the ones who aren’t his.” Another nurse called Jason “the definition of a team player” for the way he’s always willing to work anywhere he’s needed. “Nurses like Jason do not come around often. He's exceptional not only because of what he does, but because of who he is,” nurse Phuc Trinh Duong said in her nomination.
