Connect

"I have never met someone as sweet, kind, and compassionate as Taliyah Ferreira!"

Every month, the Nursing Professional Governance Organization (NPGO) honors up to two UVA Health University Medical Center team members with a BEE (Being Excellent Everyday) Award.

Associate Chief Nursing Officer Veronica Brill, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, and Jenny Ernest, Nursing Governance Coordinator, Nursing Professional Governance Organization (NPGO), surprised Taliyah Ferreira, CNA, with a BEE Award.

A patient nominated the Certified Nursing Assistant on 6 West:

"I would like to nominate Taliyah in recognition of her exceptional kindness, care, and dedication during my stay at UVA Health. From the moment I arrived, she demonstrated a level of attentiveness and compassion that went far beyond expectations. She was not just my CNA — she became a source of hope and comfort.

"On my first day, I had requested to use my video game player, but none of the team members were able to figure out how to operate it. Taliyah, without hesitation, took the initiative to find the solution, until she successfully managed to get it plugged in and working. That small act brought me so much joy and helped me feel a sense of normalcy during a difficult time.

"But her care didn’t stop there! Taliyah went above and beyond to make sure I wasn’t confined to my bed. She was the first person to get me up and out, helping me into a wheelchair, even though it required a lot of assistance and time. I hadn’t been outside in a month and asked her if she would take me outside, she informed me it was too cold and instead she took me with her downstairs to the cafeteria on her lunch break, to get me a cherry soda, chips, and pizza — simple things but they meant the world to me!

"From then on, she continued to assist me in getting out of bed. She exceeded my expectations! She made sure I didn’t feel alone and was constantly checking on me. I have never met someone as sweet, kind, and compassionate as Taliyah Ferreira!

"She genuinely made a difference in my recovery and gave me the hope I needed to keep going. Her unwavering dedication to her patients is a rare and beautiful quality, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have had her care for me. I wholeheartedly believe Taliyah embodies the spirit of the BEE Award, and I am grateful for everything she did for me during my stay!"

Know a Deserving Team Member?

The BEE Award recognizes UVA Health University Medical Center team members who work alongside our nurses to impact patients' experiences — just as bees and flowers depend on one another. Submit a nomination.