Jerry Mansfield, PhD, RN, FNAP, vice president and chief nursing executive at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB Health), has been named a recipient of the DAISY Nurse Leader Award for Experience Champions, a national honor recognizing nurse leaders who advance compassionate, patient-centered care.
The award was announced at The Beryl Institute’s Elevate PX Conference, a global gathering of health care leaders focused on improving the human experience across the continuum of care.
The Beryl Institute DAISY Nurse Leader Award for Experience Champions recognizes the nurses and nurse leaders who influence organizational culture, elevate patient and team experiences, and model empathy, collaboration, and excellence in care delivery.
“As a chief nurse executive, I have had the honor and privilege of attending countless DAISY Award presentations throughout my career,” Mansfield said. “We are fortunate at UTMB to also recognize our front-line registered nurses with the DAISY Award for outstanding and compassionate impact on patients, families, and team members’ lives. To personally receive this recognition from The Beryl Institute is a humbling honor. I want to thank everyone who works tirelessly to improve the human experience in health care. Improving the human experience is a compelling imperative across the globe.”
The award is offered in partnership with The DAISY Foundation, an international organization dedicated to honoring nurses for the compassionate, skillful care they provide every day. Together, The Beryl Institute and The DAISY Foundation recognize nurse leaders whose influence extends beyond clinical excellence to meaningful, human-centered transformation.
“Jerry’s leadership exemplifies the spirit of this award,” said Wayne Keathley, MPH, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the UTMB Health System. “His commitment to improving experiences for patients, families, and care teams demonstrates the powerful role nurse leaders play at the executive level in shaping culture and driving positive change.”
As a member of the UTMB Health executive leadership team, Mansfield has championed initiatives that strengthen patient experience and support nursing excellence. He has led efforts to improve staff engagement, quality and safety outcomes, and harm reduction. His leadership reflects a commitment to creating environments where nurses are supported, empowered, and positioned to deliver safe, high-quality care.
Mansfield began his practice after receiving a diploma in nursing from St. Vincent Hospital School of Nursing in Toledo, Ohio. He then earned his Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at Xavier University in Cincinnati and a Master of Science in nursing and a doctorate in public health from The Ohio State University.
His passion for nursing began much earlier, though, after a nurse took time to reassure him and help him understand his health status when he was hospitalized as a high school freshman.
“I thought, ‘I want to do what she just did for me,’” Mansfield said. “I called my parents the next morning and I told them I was going to be a registered nurse.”