Betsy Garwood-Wilhelm, FNP-C, is the seventh DAISY Award winner at the Salem Regional Medical Center. (Submitted photo)

SALEM – Salem Regional Medical Center (SRMC) recognized Betsy Garwood-Wilhelm, FNP-C, as its seventh DAISY Award winner, since starting the program in mid-2024. This national award was created by family members of patient J. Patrick Barnes, to recognize outstanding nurses across the country who go above and beyond in providing compassionate care along the patient care journey.

Garwood-Wilhelm, a nurse practitionerat Salem Regional Medical Center’s Oncology unit and provider for the Firestone Infusion Center in Columbiana, was nominated by the sister of a cancer patient, who recently passed away.

Her nominator wrote, “Betsy is the best. She took the time to sit and explain everything in terms that were understandable and always asked what else she could do for us or what we needed. Betsy asked my sister what she could do for her… she wanted a McDonald’s shamrock shake (they are only around in March). Betsy went back to Oncology and between her, Lisa, and Kathy; they called all restaurants and fast food in Salem to duplicate the shamrock shake. Totally 80’s Ice Cream did. Betsy, Lisa and Kathy brought it to my sister’s room. This was one of the last things that my sister had to eat or drink before she passed away.”

“Betsy is a dedicated professional who demonstrates compassion for others, which inspires confidence and trust in her patients and co-workers,” said Leigh Knife, MSN, RN, SRMC Director of Nursing. “She always maintains a high level of clinical expertise, and her efforts are a wonderful example of what the DAISY Award stands for. She is very deserving of this award.”

As a DAISY Award winner, Garwood-Wilhelm received a special certificate and a $100 award given on behalf of the George Kimble Scholarship established in 2012 in memory of past SRMC patient George H. Kimble.

“We launched the DAISY Award program to honor and recognize the excellent care that our nurses are practicing, and to highlight those who demonstrate our organization’s ICARE values of Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence,” Knife continued.

To nominate an SRMC nurse for a DAISY Award, visit www.salemregional.com/patient-visitor-info/patient-information.