Mickie Haas, RN, named recipient of The DAISY Award
June 12, 2026
Starr Regional Medical Center announced today that Michelina “Mickie” Haas, RN, has been named the first-quarter 2026 recipient of The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The DAISY Award is an international recognition program that honors the exceptional care and compassion nurses provide to patients and families every day. Nominations may be submitted by anyone who experiences or observes extraordinary nursing care.
“It is always a privilege to present the DAISY Award to one of our outstanding nurses,” said Deborah Vaughn, RN, MSN, chief nursing officer at Starr Regional Medical Center. “I’m honored to recognize Mickie for her clinical excellence and the genuine compassion she shows to every patient and family she serves.”
Haas cares for patients on the Medical-Surgical Unit, where her dedication and kindness have made a lasting impact on patients, their families and colleagues alike.
“Mickie exemplifies what it means to be an extraordinary nurse,” Vaughn added. “She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure her patients feel supported, respected, and cared for, and she is a valued member of our team.”
The DAISY Award nomination submitted by a coworker on Haas’s behalf stated:
“Recently, a patient went on hospice, and he and his family knew his time was short. One Friday, Mickie helped the patient answer the phone so he could speak with his daughter, who lived out of state. The patient passed away the following Monday. Because of Mickie, his daughter was able to say a proper goodbye. In nursing, it’s often the little things that show how deeply you care. Mickie sets the standard for what a nurse should be—kind, compassionate, trustworthy, hardworking, an advocate, and so much more. During my career, I have worked alongside many nurses, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award.”
DAISY Award honorees are selected by a committee of nurses at Starr Regional Medical Center who carefully review each nomination. The award presentation is conducted as a surprise in front of the honoree’s colleagues, patients, and visitors. Each recipient receives a certificate recognizing them as an “Extraordinary Nurse,” which reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” Honorees also receive “A Healer’s Touch,” a hand-carved sculpture created by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.
The DAISY Foundation, a not-for-profit organization based in Glen Ellen, California, was established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at age 33 in late 1999 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), an autoimmune disease. The compassionate care Barnes and his family received inspired the creation of the DAISY Award as a way to recognize nurses who make a profound difference in the lives of their patients and families. Learn more at DAISYFoundation.org.
To nominate a nurse for The DAISY Award, forms are available in common areas and nursing units on Starr Regional Medical Center’s Athens and Etowah campuses, as well as online at StarrRegional.com/daisy-award. The program is open to nurses, including LPNs, RNs, and nurse practitioners. Non-nursing team members who are nominated are recognized separately.