The Southeast Councils of AORN (GA/FL/NC/SC/TN) presented a DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award and a DAISY PeriOperative Nurse Leader Award at the 2025 conference.
Dr. David A. Reinhart, DNP, MBA, RN, CNOR, FAAN, was presented a DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a distinguished leader in perioperative nursing education and practice. He currently serves as the director of nursing education for the perioperative services enterprise at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, Georgia. Leadership at Emory Healthcare, with over 37 years of experience in perioperative nursing, Dr. Reinhart has held various roles, including nurse’s aide, surgical technologist, staff nurse, supervisor, manager and director. In his current position, he oversees education and training across multiple procedural areas, such as operating rooms, pre- and post-anesthesia care units, endoscopy, catheterization labs and interventional radiology.
Amanda Heitman, BSN, RN, CNOR, was honored to receive is a a DAISY PeriOperative Nurse Leader Award. She is seasoned perioperative nurse with over 20 years of experience. “She serves as a Perioperative Educational Consultant for Periop Anew and as Surgical Services Supervisor at WakeMed Cary Hospital in North Carolina. Her career is marked by a strong commitment to patient safety, nursing education and professional advocacy,” her nomination read in part.
The DAISY Award is an international recognition program started in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Pat’s family experienced first-hand the difference his nurses made in his care through clinical excellence and outstanding compassionate care. The family created The DAISY Award to express gratitude to nurses and to enable other patients, families and staff to thank and honor their special nurses.
