One of the most humbling honors in nursing, The DAISY Award, celebrates extraordinary compassion and excellence in care. For the past five years, the USF Health College of Nursing has proudly partnered with to recognize the exceptional contributions of faculty who go above and beyond in their commitment to education and the nursing profession.
This year, Associate Professor , received The DAISY Award for Outstanding Nurse Educator.
The College of Nursing received 46 nominations for the award鈥攖he most in its history. Associate Professor Karen Aul, Ph.D., RN, CNE, CHSE, served as a first-time co-chair of the awards committee (and was also a nominee), alongside Associate Director of Nursing Admissions Ashely Ros.
With so many qualified candidates, it was a hard decision to make based on the following criteria:
- Serves as a role model and mentor for professional nursing.
- Demonstrates enthusiasm for teaching, learning, and nursing that inspires and motivates students.
- Demonstrates interest in and respect for learners.
- Uses personal attributes (e.g. caring, confidence, patience, integrity and flexibility) that facilitate professional growth.
- Is fair and unbiased in his/her treatment of individual students.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Develops collaborative working relationships with students and colleagues.
鈥淭his sounds like a lot of nurse educators we have at the College of Nursing,鈥� Aul said.
Over 500 nursing colleges across the U.S. have adopted The DAISY Award program. Established by the DAISY Foundation in 1999, and named by the family of J. Patrick Barnes. Barnes died from complications with Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP), an autoimmune disease. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. The award was recently changed from Extraordinary Nursing Faculty to Extraordinary Nurse Educator to encompass more people who contribute to education in nursing.
鈥淒r. Remo goes above and beyond to encourage and participate in her student鈥檚 success,鈥� Aul said. 鈥淪he has a kind and professional demeanor and is always willing to stop what she is doing to help out a student. She is extremely knowledgeable and experienced in nursing and is a fantastic professor.鈥�
Remo is one of many faculty members at the College of Nursing who dedicate their careers to the education of nurses and the betterment of the profession. We are incredibly grateful to have her as part of the college and proud of her exemplary practice in furthering the mission of bolstering the Florida healthcare system with the best nurses we can provide.
鈥淚 am humbled to have received this honor and knowing how much impact I鈥檝e made to my students! It is a collaborative achievement, and I appreciate the mentorship that I've received thus far to be who I am today as a nurse educator and clinician. I am grateful for the opportunity to teach, mentor, guide, and support all my students as they take the steps in becoming Advanced Practice Registered Nurses and Doctors of Nursing Practice. It is my goal to mentor junior faculty and continue to share my knowledge and skills to provide all that I can to best serve my community.鈥�
Elizabeth Remo, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
2025 USF College of Nursing DAISY Award Nominees
| Karen Aul | Brittany Hay | Subrena Powell |
| Theresa Beckie | Megan Heskett | Darcy Ravndal |
| Catherine Belden | Tiffany James | Eleanor Rawson |
| Shonna Bates | Amanda Kuhns | Elizabeth Remo |
| Christina Cardy | Rebecca Koerner | Kailey Rinaldi |
| Barbara Cirrito | Angelica Lalican | Carmen Rodriguez |
| Debra Coleman | Jenna Laws | Janet Roman |
| Amy Curley | Annmarie Lyles | Erin Ruyle |
| Valery Davis | Jackie Maldonado | Sean Sharp |
| Mayte Diaz | Farah Manigat | Janel Swinehart |
| Dorothy Durosier Mertilus | Stephanie Mathews-Brashear | Herica Torres |
| Allyson Duffy | John Maye | Shijimol Vargis |
| Andrea Efre | Anthony McGuire | Sarah Zhang |
| Rosa Germain | Jennifer Miller | |
| Susan Gibbs | Cynthia Neavins | |
| Natasha Gilkey | Duellyn Pandis |