Ms. Namrta Chahal deserves this DAISY Nurse Leader Award in recognition of her exceptional leadership and commitment to fostering a positive and supportive work environment. While I have, over the years of my career, written many recommendation letters and award nominations for people in my field of Medical Physics, this is the first time I am writing one for a person outside my field. Namrta is such an amazing leader that I could not be more passionate about nominating her for such a deserving award. I have had the opportunity to work with many talented and dedicated nurse leaders in the field of Radiation Oncology, and growing up I also witnessed my grandma who was a head nurse in a big hospital. But when I saw the flyer calling for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award nomination, I could not think of another more fitting leader, both in and out of the nursing field.

As a fellow member and leader in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Rochester, I have witnessed Namrta’s exceptional qualities as a leader, mentor, and advocate for her team and the patients we serve. The remarkable combination of Namrta's professional expertise and personal qualities makes her an exceptional nurse leader. She brings an abundance of knowledge and experience to her position, as evidenced by her MS, BSN, BSc, RN, CT(ASCP), and OCN credentials. Nevertheless, what truly distinguishes her is her true dedication to nurturing an environment in which trust, compassion, mutual respect, and ethical behavior are not only encouraged but also consistently modeled and supported. In times of difficulty and adversity, Namrta consistently demonstrates her exceptional leadership abilities by remaining optimistic, even in the most difficult circumstances. Her ability to instill her team with optimism and resolve is genuinely inspiring. She not only leads by example but also promotes critical thinking among her team members, enabling them to develop problem-solving skills and become valuable departmental contributors.

What makes Namrta genuinely exceptional is her complete commitment to the health and happiness of our patients and staff. She goes above and beyond to ensure that every person receives the necessary care, support, and direction. Her team-oriented accessibility, availability, and responsiveness are unparalleled. She consistently demonstrates her genuine concern for the personal and professional development of her team members by providing guidance, lending a helping hand, or simply lending an ear. In addition, Namrta is a strong advocate for her team, ensuring that their needs and concerns are effectively communicated to organizational leadership.

She bridges the distance between her team and the larger organization by ensuring that organizational priorities and directions are effectively communicated to her team. Her commitment to open and transparent communication contributes to the department's sense of unity and shared purpose. In addition to her exceptional leadership abilities, Namrta exemplifies compassionate leadership qualities. Even in the most difficult situations, her friendly and upbeat disposition fosters a positive and elevating atmosphere. She is always promoting and elevating others in her contagious positive emails. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that everyone feels valued, respected, and cared for, demonstrating her complete commitment to the well-being of our patients and staff members of the whole department.

In our large department, Namrta is widely recognized as a true leader not only by the nursing team that she leads but also by her fellow clinical team members and leaders in our department.

In conclusion, I enthusiastically recommend Ms. Namrta Chahal for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. Her exceptional leadership qualities, dedication to fostering a supportive workplace, and passionate dedication to the well-being of both her team and the patients we serve make her a genuine role model within our organization. She has consistently demonstrated that she is a compassionate and dependable leader who exemplifies the characteristics enumerated for this prestigious award. I am persuaded that Namrta merits this honor, and I enthusiastically recommend her for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award.