The Academy of Forensic Nursing (AFN) and The DAISY Foundation™ have announced the recipients of the second annual DAISY Nurse Leader Award in Forensic Nursing.

This annual award recognizes the value and importance of nurse leaders within the forensic nursing community. Nominees embodied the mission of AFN, which is to link research to practice through the dissemination of scholarship, education, and service to those affected by and responding to trauma, with an ultimate vision of responding to trauma with care. A national panel of forensic nursing experts selected representatives of two nomination categories: Clinical Forensic Nursing Pathfinder and Forensic Nursing Scholar.

The recipient for Clinical Forensic Nursing Pathfinder is:

·      Tamara Jackson, MSN, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P, System SANE Program Manager for Sinai Chicago Health System for being a pathfinder in developing and carrying out operations, education, and recruitment for her organization’s workforce of 23 SANE nurses, as well as aligning the program with state regulatory requirements and evidence-based practice. She is recognized by her peers for her “unwavering dedication, clinical expertise, and visionary leadership in advancing forensic nursing practice.” She has also worked to provide education to all emergency department nurses, inpatient nurses, rehabilitation nurses, house administrators, and advocates for trauma-informed care practices. Read Tamara’s full nomination submission here.

The recipient for Forensic Nursing Scholar is:

·      Carolyn Porta, PhD, MPH, RN, SANE-A, FAAN, FNAP, University of Minnesota and Regions Hospital for her mentorship, commitment to both practice and education, and her efforts to increase forensic nursing’s visibility in the community. Her mentorship and residency initiatives are trauma-informed and culturally responsive, supporting forensic nurses in rural and Indigenous communities. For 17 years, she has maintained an active clinical practice while also holding a full-time academic role. Her nominee observed, “With joy, creativity, and relentless dedication, Dr. Porta propels forensic nursing forward, ensuring its growth and relevance.”   Read Carolyn’s full nomination submission here.

"At The DAISY Foundation, we are honored to partner with the Academy of Forensic Nursing to celebrate nurse leaders whose work at the intersection of healthcare and justice brings hope and healing to those affected by trauma," said Dr. Deb Zimmerman, CEO of The DAISY Foundation. "This year’s Honorees exemplify the courage, expertise, and deep compassion that define extraordinary nursing leadership. Their impact reaches far beyond clinical care, they are shaping systems and elevating forensic nursing as an essential specialty in service to humanity."

“This is AFN’s second year partnering with the DAISY Foundation to honor leaders in forensic nursing,” added Dr. Cathy Carter-Snell, President of AFN. “The work these two professionals carry out every day—mentoring, innovating, and elevating forensic nursing practice—truly deserves this recognition. We are grateful to help the DAISY Foundation shine a spotlight on their efforts.”

The Honorees will be presented with their awards at the AFN Regional Conference: Northwest, September 9–10, 2025 in Tacoma, Washington.

About The DAISY Foundation

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family.  Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.)  The care Patrick and his family received from Nurses while he was ill inspired the creation of The DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses, an evidenced-based means of providing Nurse recognition and thanking Nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

In addition to the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, the Foundation expresses gratitude to the nursing profession internationally in over 7,400 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing with recognition programs that honor and celebrate Nurses, Nurse-led Teams and Nurse Leaders, in whatever role they serve, throughout their careers from Nursing Student through Lifetime Achievement and through the J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects and Medical Mission Grants. More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org. 

About AFN

The Academy of Forensic Nursing was founded in 2018 by visionary forensic nurses who wanted to expand and inform forensic nursing practice, link new and existing research to clinical care, promote education, and advocate for policy at the federal and local levels. Core to our mission and our values is integrating equity and trauma-informed approaches into all our work in an inclusive manner. 

The Academy, a 501c3, seeks to collaborate and build partnerships while transforming and informing how we respond to those impacted by all forms of trauma—individual, interpersonal, collective or structural. We believe that "we are stronger together" and that our collective and unique lenses are what will advance the field in meaningful and impactful ways. We believe not only in centering the services we provide, but also centering the individuals who provide those services. More information is available at https://www.goafn.org/