There is no one who embodies the DAISY Award of Advancing Health Equity more in this institution than Juliette Ofamen. First and foremost, Juliette is kind, caring, and compassionate in all areas of her work- whether it be direct patient care or staff interactions. Her work as chairperson on the HEAL council reached to the far corners of the hospital. Juliette served as a chairperson of PACU’s IDEA committee, whose mission is to bring awareness to the experiences that Black, Indigenous, and people of color may have within PACU and throughout the hospital. Most recently, Juliette has taken a leave from nursing and is focusing on her research fellowship that will make the perioperative experience of those whose English is not their first language an easier process to navigate. Juliette’s work has and will continue to drastically impact the patients and families we serve at Seattle Children’s Hospital. This only briefly touches on the areas Juliette serves that I’m aware of, and I’m sure there is much more that I’m unaware of. Juliette’s passion for equity and equality in this institution is mirrored in all aspects of her work, and she is making changes that will impact every patient who will come through our doors in the years to come. I can think of no one as deserving of this award as she is.

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I would like to take the opportunity to recognize Juliette Ofamen for her dedication and passion towards advancing health equity. A few years back, I witnessed her bravely step forward to call for change and improvement in the organization's approach to race and equality. Her curiosity, bravery, and willingness to speak up created an opportunity for her to lead and help launch the HEAL council. The name has changed to the Health Equity and Anti-Racism (HEAR) council to better align with its mission to address systemic inequities experienced by our patients, families, and workforce. I have been so impressed with her vision and ability to educate and speak to the importance of systemic racism. I have learned from her and value her perspective and lived experiences. She has become a role model and leader in this important organizational work. We worked together in our shared governance roles as council chairs, and she always brought ideas and thoughts about how to expand inclusivity and equity into our projects. The impact that HEAR has had within the organization and on each of the departments has been profound. Examples resulting from the work of the HEAR council include the creation of the preferred language of care signs for our families and recruiting efforts to increase diversity within shared governance. Juliette always maintains professionalism, compassion, and warmth when engaging in these crucial conversations. I feel extremely fortunate to have worked alongside her as a charge nurse in PACU and am so proud of all that she has accomplished. I know she will continue to shine in her new role that allows her to completely focus on this important work. She is making a positive impact on both patient care and nursing staff satisfaction. Thank you for your hard work and dedication, Juliette. You are an inspiration and a valuable champion for the underrepresented within our society.