UP Health System – Portage is proud to honor Michael Salmi, CRNA , and Janette Pietila, RN-BSN , with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses®. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care provided to patients and families every day. 

Janette has been with UP Health System – Portage since 2024, while Michael has been with us since 2004. Despite the varying career lengths, both share a high level of kindness and compassion towards patients. Michael and Janette both understand that whether you’re spending two minutes or two days with someone, every person should feel comfortable and cared for.

Here is the full nomination:

"I received care from them during the colonoscopy and upper GI endoscopy. Janette was absolutely wonderful and answered all the questions I had, silly or not, with a lot of detail that I could understand as a patient. She was so funny and made sure to make me laugh a ton before I went into anesthesia, to calm my nerves. She often checked on my best friend, who had been waiting, and made sure she felt comfortable. Mike from anesthesia was so caring as well. We talked about the dreams I’d have and what kind of music we would like to listen too. Me and my best friend were giggling in the room before he came in, and he immediately matched our energy and was so peppy, which removed the tense air. He was so respectful and also tried his best to make me laugh to ease my nerves. He explained everything so thoroughly and made sure I was 100% informed about the anesthesia and didn’t just run through the papers; he actually explained them in a way I could really understand so I was making informed decisions. He really spent the time to make sure me and both my friend were laughing and having a good time before taking me back and was super kind pushing me into the OR. This changed my experience so much. Overall, I had the best experience with staff members and nurses I’ve ever had here with these two today. They even talked to me about nursing school and their experiences, as I’m going into my second year. It gave me such a positive outlook into my future. I loved them!"

• Lynette Huller, CRNA-Team Health
• Eric Lasanen, Inpatient Unit
• Elaine Anderson, Inpatient Unit
• Gwen Kangas, Inpatient Unit
• Jordan Juntunen, Inpatient Unit
• Gavin Simonson, Inpatient Unit
• Stacey Johnston, LDRP
• Alicia Dessellier, Perioperative Services
• Kayla Williamson, ED
• Ashely Lehtola, ICU
• Jordan Juntunen, ICU
• Filip Haataja, ICU
• Stacey Lassila, ICU
• Grace Howard, ICU
• Shannon Koski, ICU
• Abbey Yeo, ICU
• Jari Juntti, ICU
• Mary Wilmer, ICU
• Kirsten Erkkila, LDRP
• Angela  Lizzadro-McPherson, Cancer Care
• Ruth Storm, Inpatient Unit
• Karla Bastian, Perioperative Services
• Janelle Johnson, Perioperative Services
  

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little-known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of patients and their families.

Patients, families and colleagues may nominate nurses. Nominations are reviewed by a committee at UP Health System – Portage, which then selects the winner. Awards are presented throughout the year at celebrations attended by the honoree’s colleagues, patients, friends and family.  Each honoree receives a certificate commending them that 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 DAISY Award pin and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.

Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, chief executive officer and co-founder of The DAISY Foundation said, “When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night. Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for their super-human, extraordinary, compassionate work. The kind of work the nurses at UP Health System – Portage are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of the DAISY Award.”

"One of our top priorities is making sure our nurses know how valued and appreciated they are for the incredible, lifesaving care they provide every day," stated Casey Baird, MBA, BSN, RN, CPPS, chief nursing officer, UP Health System – Portage. "The DAISY Award is one way we do that and we are proud to participate in the program, as we are proud of all our nursing staff."

In addition to the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, the Foundation expresses gratitude to the nursing profession internationally in over 3,900 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing with recognition of direct care nurses, nurse-led teams, nurse leaders, nursing faculty and nursing students, through the J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects and nurses participating in medical missions.

To nominate an extraordinary nurse for the DAISY Award, visit our website. For more information on the DAISY Award, please visit the DAISY Foundation website