I would like to nominate Maressa Ruiz Vento for the DAISY Award for her extraordinary compassion and dedication in caring for a patient who was facing immense challenges. This patient, a benign breast care patient, was enduring the traumatic experiences of being a sex trafficking victim and coping with recent grief. The patient had been a victim of human trafficking for many years, both in and out of state. She also suffered the tragic loss of her brother a year prior without access to grief resources or counseling, and she had numerous needs surrounding finances, food, and shelter.

Maressa recognized that the patient’s social and mental health needs far surpassed the original purpose of her clinic visit. Maressa spent over two hours with the patient, offering not only medical care but also emotional support. She was fortunate enough to coordinate a Behavioral Health referral and arrange an urgent PMD appointment for the following day to ensure the establishment of care, allow for further referrals, and facilitate prescription refills. Maressa worked tirelessly to gain the patient's trust, helping her to believe in healthcare again. She didn’t stop there; she took additional steps behind the scenes to connect the patient with crucial resources, even making sure the patient had food to take home by purchasing her lunch.