LOWELL, MA – Alexandra Gray, RN, a Pediatric Nurse at Lowell Community Health Center, has been honored by her colleagues with The DAISY Award® For Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s programs nationwide to recognize the extraordinary care nurses provide every day. The award was presented during National Nurses Week.

Alex is Lowell Community Health Center’s second annual Daisy Award recipient. Lowell Community Health Center was the first community health center in the nation to begin present the Daisy Award annually.

“Alex truly exemplifies the vision and mission of the Daisy Awards,” said Dr. Elizabeth Hale, RN, DNP, Lowell Community Health Center’s Chief Operating Officer. “She is a shining example of nursing at its best, providing extraordinary compassionate and skillful care for our community’s pediatric patients as she supports, mentors, and uplifts her colleagues.”  

Alex, who joined Lowell Community Health Center in 2021 said, “I am incredibly honored and shocked by this meaningful recognition from my colleagues. It is such a privilege and honorable responsibility to care for the children of our community, and I am so grateful to be working with colleagues and a health center so dedicated to providing caring, quality, and culturally rooted health services to the people we serve. I strive to show up every day with a smile and I hope to continue to encourage my fellow colleagues to provide optimal care to the community.”

The colleagues who nominated Alex spoke highly of her skill and compassion:

• “Alex truly embodies an enduring commitment to promoting health equity for all of the patients she has met or worked with in the health center.”
• “Alex creates a positive experience for patient coming into the health center, even for the pediatric patients who may be absolutely terrified to be there.”
• “Alex goes above and beyond to help her patients receive the care they need.”
• “Alex rises to each challenge with an open mind, a smile, and so much positivity.”
• “Alex is a true mentor to all of her colleagues, and her supportive nature makes her an excellent teacher.”

An acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem, The DAISY Foundation was formed in November 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). The nursing care Patrick and his family received while he was ill inspired his family to create this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of patients and their families. 

Said Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, Doctor of Humane Letters and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation, “We wanted to give patients, families, and co-workers an easy way to express their gratitude for nurses who provide extraordinary, compassionate care. The work the nurses at Lowell Community Health Center are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of the DAISY Award.”

In addition to the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, the Foundation expresses gratitude to

the nursing profession internationally in over 5,000 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing with recognition of Nurse-led Teams, Nurse Leaders, Nurses Advancing Health Equity,

Nursing Faculty, Nursing Students, Lifetime Achievement in Nursing and through the J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects, Medical Mission Grants, and their new Health Equity Grant programs. More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.       

About Lowell Community Health Center:

Founded in 1970, Lowell Community Health Center serves as the “family doctor” for nearly half of Lowell’s population, by providing “caring, quality, and culturally appropriate health services to the people of Greater Lowell, regardless of their financial status.” For information, visit www.lchealth.org or call 978.937.9700.

The Women’s Edge and Globe Magazine Name Lowell Community Health Center to Top 100 Women-Led Businesses
Annual award highlights women business leaders who are making a significant impact on the state’s economy

Boston (October 28, 2022) –  The Women’s Edge and the Globe Magazine announced that Lowell Community Health Center has once again ranked among the Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts. These 100 organizations generated nearly $75.9 billion in total revenue in 2021, reflecting the role of women as key drivers of the state’s economy.

“Our staff at Lowell Community Health Center care deeply about this community and our patients. They work tirelessly to help create a more just and healthy community—and this recognition is all about them,” said Susan West Levine, CEO of Lowell Community Health Center. “We are honored to once again be named as one of the Commonwealth’s top Women-Led Businesses. It is wonderful to have such great company in this recognition with two other outstanding Lowell organizations, D’Youville Life and Wellness Community and University of Massachusetts Lowell also being recognized.” 

This is the 22^nd year that The Women’s Edge (formerly the Commonwealth Institute)  – a Boston-based nonprofit organization devoted to advancing women in leadership positions —created the list through a nomination process and reviewed both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, and the 10^th year that the list was created in collaboration with the Globe Magazine. In addition to revenue or operating budget, factors considered in the evaluation included workplace and management diversity, board makeup, and innovative projects.

The honorees were recognized during an event on October 28, and the full list was published in conjunction with that event on the Globe Magazine’s website. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/10/28/magazine/top-100-women-led-businesses-massachusetts-2022/?event=event12