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Learn how his work has touched thousands.

The DAISY Foundation created the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award to recognize nurses who’ve devoted their life's work to the compassionate care of others. Recipients are nominated for their dedication to nursing through mentoring, role modeling, patient advocacy, and promotion of nursing’s positive image — while serving as a “beacon of inspiration” to nurses at all stages of their careers.

Richard Westphal, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, PMHNP-BC, FAAN, surpasses these ideals and many more.  

And aptly, on July 31 — the date of the inaugural UVA Health Team Wellbeing Day and Westphal’s last day at UVA Health and UVA School of Nursing before retirement — he was presented with the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dr. Westphal was indeed surprised. "My professional ethos as a nurse always has been to care for and attend to others: patients, colleagues, and organizations. This work is often unnoticed and underappreciated, so I was not expecting formal recognition — let alone the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award," he says.

'Enduring Legacy'

At the ceremony, UVA Health University Medical Center Chief Nursing Officer Kathy Baker, PhD, RN, NE-BC, FAAN, and UVA School of Nursing’s The Pew Charitable Trusts Dean and Professor Marianne Baernholdt, PhD, MPH, RN, lauded his achievements:

"It has been an absolute honor to know and work with Richard Westphal,” says Baker. “His dedication to the wisdom and wellbeing of all healthcare team members is inspirational. And he has created an enduring legacy of care for the caregiver at UVA Health. I am so thankful for all the lives he has touched — and even more thankful for the many clinicians who will continue to benefit from the amazing work he set in motion!” 

“Richard’s contribution to healthcare and especially to the nursing profession is invaluable," says Baernholdt. "During his 50-year career, he always has focused on the wellbeing of the people who are on the frontline, whether in the military or in healthcare settings. Through a federal grant to Wisdom and Wellbeing in 2022, he developed a national model now recommended by the CDC [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] to ‘grow the green’ — a term indicating increasing team strengths. His work has touched thousands!” 

Distinction in Education

Westphal joined UVA School of Nursing in 2013, bringing more than 30 years of experience as an advanced practice psychiatric nurse with a focus on mitigating occupational stress for individuals and organizations. During his tenure, Westphal served as department Chair from 2015 to 2021, Woodard Clinical Scholar from 2015 to 2025, and upon retirement — Professor Emeritus. 

'Best Place to Work and Receive Care'

In 2016, the Wisdom and Wellbeing Program initially was launched as the Be Wise peer support program by Westphal and Peggy Plews-Ogan, MD. In 2020, the program's name changed to the Wisdom and Wellbeing Program to better reflect the two major elements of wisdom practices and stress first aid that form the foundation of the Wisdom and Wellbeing approach. Westphal and Dr. Plews-Ogan served as co-directors until 2025. The program remains an integral part of the newly established Office of Team Wellbeing, co-led by Joel R. Anderson, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CNL, and Ann Kellams, MD. 

“We are excited to build on the work that Dr. Westphal started to assess individual and team wellbeing and foster a culture of support, prevention, cohesion, and collaboration on our journey to make UVA Health the best place to work and receive care,” says Dr. Kellams.

Anderson says Westphal’s extensive experience, research, and vision have been instrumental in co-creating the foundation for a wellbeing program at UVA Health: "His dedication to supporting our caregivers and their wellbeing has left an indelible impact that will be felt for years to come."

Since 2010, Westphal also has worked as an independent consultant — supporting military, healthcare, and emergency services personnel to meet the psychological demands of occupational stress injuries related to trauma, loss, moral injury, and burnout.  

Synonymous With Service

Previously, Westphal, a distinguished military nurse, served in the U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and oversaw the U.S. Navy’s $117 million psychological health and traumatic brain injury (TBI) programs from 2007 to 2010. 

He also led the development and implementation of the Caregiver Occupational Stress Control program; Stress Continuum Model for Combat Stress; and Stress First Aid intervention — adapted to train first responders including law enforcement agencies; National Forest Service wildland firefighters; New Jersey Nursing Initiative; and multiple healthcare systems. 

Congratulations to Richard Westphal on a lifetime of achievement and service — cultivating healthy communities and belonging for all. 

See the 2025 DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award presentation photo gallery:

Know a Fabulous Nurse?
"DAISY" stands for "Diseases Attacking the Immune System." The DAISY Award was established by The DAISY Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at the age of only 33 of an autoimmune disease. The Barnes Family was awestruck by the clinical skills, caring, and compassion of his nurses, so they created this national award to thank nurses everywhere.

The Nursing Professional Governance Organization (NPGO) honors up to two UVA Health University Medical Center nurses each month with a DAISY Award. Patients or their families, visitors, and team members may submit a DAISY Award nomination.