It is with great pleasure that I nominate CAPT Cynthia Judy for the prestigious DAISY Nurse Leader Award. CAPT Judy excels in crisis. She flawlessly led the execution of Fort Belvoir Community Hospital and Pentagon COVID-19 pandemic response. CAPT Judy's efforts significantly eased the burden on the Fort Belvoir beneficiary population, the staff, and the entire healthcare environment.
During a tumultuous period of uncertainty and rapid change, CAPT Judy meticulously focused on every detail affecting patient care while ensuring staff safety. She led the expansion of inpatient bed capacity by 45%, established a COVID-19 clinic with curbside clinical testing capabilities, supported clinical and tiered testing with over 13,000 patients screened and tested since March 2020, implemented a drive-thru pharmacy, expanded telemedicine capabilities, and led a wide range of public health initiatives within the Fort Belvoir installation and among local health departments. Her leadership was critical to the successful implementation of a COVID-19 quarantine/isolation facility which provided safe care to patients diagnosed with the coronavirus and to persons under investigation (PUI) unable to safely isolate or quarantine at home. Under her leadership, FBCH participated in the Operation Warp Speed Vaccine trial, with the goal of enrolling 1,000 patients in the National Capital Region. CAPT Judy is recognized as a vital leader and subject matter expert on the National Capitol Contingency and Response team due to her vast and notable Public Health background and experience. She co-authored the article "Clinical Outcomes of Coronavirus Disease 2019 with Evidenced-Based Supportive Care" and partnered with the Fort Belvoir Garrison Commander to conduct 14 Virtual Town Hall meetings to educate the community on the coronavirus, and to provide transparent real-time information and feedback. Her daily engagement and strong leadership ensured optimal communications during a challenging period. Additionally, during this unprecedented outbreak, and under CAPT Judy's guidance, the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital continued working towards Level III Trauma certification through the American College of Surgeons.
CAPT Judy is a compassionate, open-minded, and team-focused leader who is extremely loyal to her 3,450 staff members and highly revered within the Fort Belvoir Community and the National Capitol Region. Her selfless dedication to the beneficiaries and staff of the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital is second to none! She is a true DAISY Nurse Leader.