Left to right: Dina Leduc, RN, '98, assistant director of Health Services; Barbara Seymour, Heath Services administrative assistant; Doreen Bischof, FNP, '17, director of the Mount's Health Services; Kelly DaSilva, RN, Health Services; Susan LaRocco, dean of the Mount's School of Nursing; and Kathleen Pecoraro, instructor of Nursing. Photo by Lee Ferris.
Mount Saint Mary College's School of Nursing recently presented a DAISY Dedication banner to the college's Health Services office, in recognition of the outstanding work Health Services has been doing to prevent, detect, and stop the spread of COVID-19 on campus.
The banner reads, "United in caring, courage, and compassion. The School of Nursing thanks the Health Services team for going above and beyond for our students amid the COVID-19 pandemic."
The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Foundation was formed in 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes after they witnessed the utmost care and compassion Barnes received at the hands of his nurses before passing from an auto-immune disease called Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. The foundation expresses gratitude to nurses with programs that recognize them for the skillful, compassionate care they provide patients and families.
Susan LaRocco, dean of the School of Nursing, said the Mount's Health Services office deserves to be recognized for their ongoing efforts to keep the college community safe and well.
"Our Health Services team has done an excellent job monitoring our community's health, administering COVID-19 tests, and continuously reminding our students, faculty, and staff how to remain healthy during this pandemic," explained LaRocco. "I'm so happy we could honor them in this way."
The recognition was a surprise to the Health Services team, who were very appreciative for the School of Nursing's support.
"The entire Health Services team has put in an extraordinary number of hours this year to keep our campus as safe and healthy as possible during the pandemic," said Doreen Bischof, FNP-BC, '17, director of the Mount's Health Services. "When Susan LaRocco and Kathleen Pecoraro [instructor of Nursing], on behalf of the School of Nursing, surprised us at our office and presented us with our DAISY banner, it brought me to tears. It's difficult to put into words how much this meant to our team, and how proud we are to display the banner outside our office. A huge thank you to the School of Nursing for taking the time to recognize the work we do -- it means so much coming from our Nursing colleagues!"