The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus Honors Patty Handley with DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award
The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus has awarded Patty Handley, BSN, RN, the prestigious DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing more than 40 years of compassionate care, transformational leadership and unwavering dedication to the nursing profession.
The DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award honors nurses who have devoted their careers to elevating patient care and mentoring future generations of nurses. Recipients are nominated for their commitment to advocacy, role modeling, professional development and the advancement of nursing as a profession.
Handley’s career at St. Francis Campus began in 1985, shortly after graduating from Washburn University with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Over the next four decades, she built a distinguished and varied career, serving in critical care, home health, oncology, labor and delivery and more. She helped launch the hospital’s medical oncology program, managed clinical trials and later transitioned into leadership roles. Beginning in 2016 as director of the maternal child service line, her responsibilities eventually expanded to post-surgical services, inpatient rehabilitation, telemetry and nursing education. She was named director of inpatient nursing in 2021 and served nine months as interim chief nursing officer in 2023.
Her influence strengthened partnerships with regional nursing programs, including those at Washburn University and Rasmussen University, expanding pathways for clinical rotations and residency opportunities.
“Patty has been a beacon of inspiration for nurses at every stage of their careers,” said leaders at the health system’s St. Francis Campus. “Her impact will continue to be felt across our hospital for years to come.”
Handley retired on Dec. 12, marking the conclusion of a 40-year career defined by service, integrity and compassion. As she steps into retirement, she leaves behind a legacy of transformational leadership and a generation of nurses shaped by her example.
