We’re pleased to present the December 2025 winner of the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award, Kathy Speeter, DNP, RN, AGPCNP-BC, MM!
This award honors longstanding nurses who have devoted their careers to providing outstanding care. Kathy, a nurse with our Adult Partial Hospitalization Program, embodies this dedication in its truest form, with a passion for nursing that is both inspiring and deeply appreciated.
“She does not just meet expectations,” says fellow care team member, Alissa—one of many who nominated Kathy for the award—”She elevates the standard of care for her entire team and makes a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and colleagues alike. She is dependable, compassionate and consistently willing to go the extra mile.”
Kathy’s supervisor Scott Wagner MSW MBA, recalls how she helped expand access to mental health care years before telepsychiatry became common practice—managing relationships with psychiatrists across the country, leading multidisciplinary teams, and teaching nurses new skills to improve patient outcomes—all while traveling wherever her expertise was needed (Northern Michigan snowstorms non-withstanding!).
“Her poise, deep personal, strong moral character and putting patients first is imbedded in who she is,” says Wagner.
Fellow nurse Matt Ippel recalls Kathy’s contributions as Pine Rest’s Chief Nurse Executive in the late 2000’s:
“I felt empowered by Kathy and remember her to be a positive and future-directed voice for nursing, says Ippel. “I remember her to be warmly supportive of me, a new nurse … I am thankful for her leadership during my early years.”
Recipients of the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award are nominated for their dedication to nursing through active mentoring, role modeling, advocating for their patients and promoting the positive image of nursing. The award itself highlights:
- 25+ years of a distinguished career as a nurse in clinical practice who promotes a positive image of professional nursing.
- Active engagement in the professional development of self and others in the nursing profession.
- Nursing professionals who serve as a role model and advocate for nursing practice and the advancement of nursing.
- Advocates for the improvement of patient care and enhancement of the patient experience.
The DAISY award is presented in collaboration with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). To learn more and/or nominate an extraordinary Pine Rest nurse, visit our DAISY Nomination page.
