March 2026 Honoree
Ayesha Brown, BSN, RN, RNC-OB, C-EFM
I am honored to recognize Ayesha Brown, RN, for the DAISY Award. My perspective on Ayesha’s excellence is unique: I first knew her professionally while I was an anesthesia resident on the high-volume Labor & Delivery unit at NYU. On a unit that is often defined by intense pressure and rapid-fire cases, Ayesha is a true "stabilizing force."
I will never forget those grueling nights when I was the only anesthesia resident managing all L&D patients—placing epidurals and assisting with multiple C-sections back-to-back. In the middle of a miserable, exhausting call, Ayesha would pause to offer a simple, kind, "How are you holding up, sweetie?" To a young resident in the thick of it, her calm demeanor and genuine empathy made a world of difference. She has a way of cutting through the chaos with a smile that is rare to find.
Fast forward two years to the birth of my first child. Now in my final year of anesthesia training, I looked up and saw that Ayesha was my assigned labor nurse. I immediately lit up with relief; knowing her clinical skill and veteran experience, I knew I was in the safest possible hands. It was incredibly special that she remembered me.
Throughout my labor, Ayesha provided exemplary care, but it was her spirit that truly defined the experience. She made the room feel so comfortable and welcoming that my husband and I joked that we were all just having one big "slumber party." Her calming aura completely removed the anxiety I might have otherwise felt.
Even though my daughter was born the following day while Ayesha was off-shift, she kept her word and came back to the hospital specifically to visit our new family on the 13th floor. That level of dedication—visiting a patient on her own time—is the mark of a nurse who views her work as a calling.
NYU is incredibly fortunate to have a veteran nurse of Ayesha’s caliber. She is a mentor to the staff, a protector of her patients, and a credit to the nursing profession.
Thank you, Ayesha, for everything.
I will never forget those grueling nights when I was the only anesthesia resident managing all L&D patients—placing epidurals and assisting with multiple C-sections back-to-back. In the middle of a miserable, exhausting call, Ayesha would pause to offer a simple, kind, "How are you holding up, sweetie?" To a young resident in the thick of it, her calm demeanor and genuine empathy made a world of difference. She has a way of cutting through the chaos with a smile that is rare to find.
Fast forward two years to the birth of my first child. Now in my final year of anesthesia training, I looked up and saw that Ayesha was my assigned labor nurse. I immediately lit up with relief; knowing her clinical skill and veteran experience, I knew I was in the safest possible hands. It was incredibly special that she remembered me.
Throughout my labor, Ayesha provided exemplary care, but it was her spirit that truly defined the experience. She made the room feel so comfortable and welcoming that my husband and I joked that we were all just having one big "slumber party." Her calming aura completely removed the anxiety I might have otherwise felt.
Even though my daughter was born the following day while Ayesha was off-shift, she kept her word and came back to the hospital specifically to visit our new family on the 13th floor. That level of dedication—visiting a patient on her own time—is the mark of a nurse who views her work as a calling.
NYU is incredibly fortunate to have a veteran nurse of Ayesha’s caliber. She is a mentor to the staff, a protector of her patients, and a credit to the nursing profession.
Thank you, Ayesha, for everything.
Thank you, Ayesha, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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