August 2026 Honoree
Aminata Diaby, RN
I am a fourth-year general surgery resident at Premier Health. I work long hours and only have four days off a month. Through the last four years, I have interacted with countless patients and nurses. Unfortunately, I have had multiple patients over the years voice frustrations about their nursing care. If only they had experienced Aminata as their nurse, their outlook would be markedly different.
She and I crossed paths as we were both taking care of an extremely medically and surgically complex patient on the inpatient trauma unit. I had the privilege of working with Aminata while caring for an exceptionally complex trauma patient. The patient was young, critically ill, experiencing constant pain, and facing a terminal condition. Due to high patient volume, she remained on the inpatient trauma unit despite requiring a level of care that would have been more appropriately supported in an intensive care setting.
Aminata cared for this patient for five consecutive nights under these demanding circumstances. Each night, she stepped up to the plate and tended to the patient's every need and made the patient feel respected, taken care of, and safe.
When I walked into the patient's room on the morning after night five, she began to cry. She cried out of gratitude for Aminata being in her life the last five nights. The patient looked me in the eye and told me that if not for Aminata's love for her patients, she did not think that she would have continued to fight her disease process. Furthermore, she stated that she would have given up and chosen to die. Aminata saved this patient's life.
As a physician, I cannot describe the anger and disappointment I have when patients do not feel respected, safe, or loved. I wish every single one of my patients had Aminata as their nurse because she clearly answered the call to become a nurse for all the right reasons.
Aminata’s commitment to her patients deserves recognition and celebration. She is an exceptional nurse, an outstanding colleague, and an extraordinary human being. I strongly encourage you to recognize her contributions and the positive impact she has on the patients and staff fortunate enough to work with her.
She and I crossed paths as we were both taking care of an extremely medically and surgically complex patient on the inpatient trauma unit. I had the privilege of working with Aminata while caring for an exceptionally complex trauma patient. The patient was young, critically ill, experiencing constant pain, and facing a terminal condition. Due to high patient volume, she remained on the inpatient trauma unit despite requiring a level of care that would have been more appropriately supported in an intensive care setting.
Aminata cared for this patient for five consecutive nights under these demanding circumstances. Each night, she stepped up to the plate and tended to the patient's every need and made the patient feel respected, taken care of, and safe.
When I walked into the patient's room on the morning after night five, she began to cry. She cried out of gratitude for Aminata being in her life the last five nights. The patient looked me in the eye and told me that if not for Aminata's love for her patients, she did not think that she would have continued to fight her disease process. Furthermore, she stated that she would have given up and chosen to die. Aminata saved this patient's life.
As a physician, I cannot describe the anger and disappointment I have when patients do not feel respected, safe, or loved. I wish every single one of my patients had Aminata as their nurse because she clearly answered the call to become a nurse for all the right reasons.
Aminata’s commitment to her patients deserves recognition and celebration. She is an exceptional nurse, an outstanding colleague, and an extraordinary human being. I strongly encourage you to recognize her contributions and the positive impact she has on the patients and staff fortunate enough to work with her.
Thank you, Aminata, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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