The Tommy and Shirley Strickland Cancer Center Director of Cancer Care Services Samantha Walker, RN BSN OCN, receives the September Daisy Award Thursday, Sept. 24. Photo left to right: Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer Jeffrey Harden; Director of Cancer Care Services Samantha Walker, RN BSN OCN.

VIDALIA – Samantha Walker, RN BSN OCN, The Tommy and Shirley Strickland Cancer Center Director of Cancer Care Services, received the September DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses Thursday, Sept. 24.

The Daisy Award was established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The family noticed that during the course of Patrick’s illness the extraordinary care he received from nurses made a difference not only in his health but his personal well-being. The family wanted to recognize the extraordinary work nurses do daily while performing other duties involved in caring for their patients. The Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses is a nationally recognized award that is celebrated across the country. Recipients from Meadows become part of an elite group of professionals across the nation. 

“Samantha is an extraordinary asset as a nurse to patients seeking care at the Tommy and Shirley Strickland Cancer Center and a devoted leader at Meadows Health,” said Meadows Chief Nursing Officer Jeffrey Harden. “She is extremely deserving of this award.”

Walker has been employed with Meadows Regional Medical Center since June 2013 and currently resides in Collins.