Transport nurse Jody Sotiropoulos is accustomed to being high above the city in a helicopter saving babies and children, but a patient’s mom thinks Sotiropoulos is always above and beyond—without the helicopter.
Sotiropoulos was the May winner of the Daisy Award, a monthly honor given to Cardinal Glennon nurses who exceed expectations for exceptional care. Nurses can be nominated from coworkers, patients or patients’ families.
A patient’s mom nominated Sotiropoulos after she transported her daughter to Cardinal Glennon for emergency medical help. The care Sotiropoulos gave that night will never be forgotten, the patient’s mom wrote in a glowing nomination.
“She was the most compassionate, informative, detailed and organized person I had ever dealt with,” the mom wrote. “She took the time to thoroughly explain everything and was incredibly caring. I knew from the very second she spoke that my daughter would be just fine.”
After safely transporting the patient to Cardinal Glennon, Sotiropoulos went to the emergency department to check on her and even followed up with the patient and her family the next night in her hospital room.
“Jody demonstrated the most caring, compassionate professionalism that I have ever witnessed,” the mom wrote. “Jody will never be forgotten, and I thank God every day that she was by my daughter’s side and saved her life. Cardinal Glennon should be very proud to have such an amazing individual on staff. She is the perfect example of what a nurse should be, and all nurses should follow her example.”
For her part, Sotiropoulos was humbled to receive the award. In fact, she chatted with the nurses and leadership who gathered in the Transport office for several minutes without realizing that the gathering was in her honor.
When given the award, Sotiropoulos simply said: “I was just doing my job.”

David Horst
Lisa Ruzicka
Stephanie Nieman