Kenna is a tremendous advocate for patients from diverse backgrounds. While present, when an EEG technician was attempting to place electrodes on the head of an African American patient, Kenna provided education and corrected the EEG technician. The technician was expressing frustration with the patient's hairstyle which she found difficult to for placing the electrodes. She incorrectly described the patient's hairstyle as dreads and insensitively stated that the patient's dreads might just have to come off. Kenna explained to the EEG technician that the woman's hairstyle was actually braids and that perhaps one reason she was experiencing difficulty was because most medical devices were created by white men without consideration for the diversity of patients. So perhaps it is the design of the device that is the problem, and not the hairstyle. Later, the patient expressed an appreciation for Kenna's comments and for correcting the technician. 

Kenna also had an opportunity to provide comfort to a patient in preop who was quite scared before her gender affirmation surgery. The patient had previously experienced significant medical discrimination and bias in healthcare in general. Kenna made a point to let the patient know they were safe, that she was not alone, and that the surgeon and his team were extremely supportive and kind. Her patient was especially grateful. She held her hand and stayed with her until it was time for her to go to surgery. Kenna has an incredible ability to empathize with others, which allows her to effectively support her patients. Kenna is truly exceptional. As her clinical instructor, every nurse mentor of hers and numerous patients have gone out of their way to tell me how outstanding she is. Her peers have commented that they hope to be more like Kenna with her positivity and how she just brightens up the room with kindness. She has also overcome some incredible life challenges that make her accomplishments even more remarkable. She has been an inspiration to me as her instructor and truly exemplifies the values implicit in a DAISY Award.