Amanda Frare Earns DAISY Award for Bringing Comfort to Cancer Patients in Albany June 2, 2026 Samaritan Albany General Hospital has partnered with The DAISY Foundation to recognize extraordinary nurses for the compassionate care they provide to patients and families every day. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. With a calm demeanor and natural sense of humor, Amanda Frare, RN, helps create a supportive experience for patients undergoing treatment in the Ambulatory Infusion department at Samaritan Albany General Hospital. She joined the team in 2023, bringing with her 15 years of oncology experience from Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, where she worked as RN and charge nurse. A Calm & Reassuring Presence During Treatment A patient nominated Frare after her compassion and support made a meaningful difference during their cancer treatment. The nominator stated: “Amanda is the absolute best infusion nurse. I look forward to every time I get her for chemotherapy or immunotherapy infusions. She has such a calming energy that helps tremendously when coming in for treatments. I appreciate that she talks to you like you’ve been friends forever while doing the slow push injections to take your mind off the burning sensation. “Out of all the nurses I’ve interacted with during my breast cancer journey the last eight months, she’s made me so grateful for nurses like her. Her compassion and humor are such a welcome asset at Samaritan Health Services. She reminds me every time I see her that I’m a breast cancer baddie and stronger than I think. “I see her jumping in and helping her co-workers continuously, whether I’m there for an hour or eight hours. I’d clone her if I could and have her be my permanent nurse for the rest of my Samaritan care. Thank you so much for hiring her.” Creating a Supportive Environment for Patients Frare’s manager, Trisha Estes, said her commitment to patient care and thoughtful approach shows in every interaction. “Amanda consistently goes above and beyond to ensure patients receive the highest quality care,” Estes said. “She takes the time to provide clear, thorough information so patients feel informed, supported and comfortable with their plan of care. She also helps create a warm, supportive environment in the infusion center, making it a more positive and reassuring place for patients throughout their treatment journey.” Amanda Frare smiles in surprise after being named the DAISY Award recipient. A ceremony was held to honor Frare and the PRIDE — passion, respect, integrity, dedication and excellence — she demonstrates in her work. At the ceremony, Frare was celebrated by colleagues, with her team arranging for her family to be there for the special moment. She was presented with a certificate, DAISY pin and a beautiful Healer’s Touch statue created by an artist in Zimbabwe, which symbolizes the relationship between nurses, patients and families. Along with the public recognition, DAISY award winners receive financial discounts for nursing certification training, reduced tuition for continued education, conference scholarship opportunities and are eligible for the national DAISY Award. About The Daisy Foundation The DAISY Award was established by the family of J. Patrick Barnes to “honor the super-human work nurses do for patients and families every day wherever they practice, in whatever role they serve and throughout their careers, from student through a lifetime of achievement.” To learn more, visit DAISYfoundation.org. To nominate an extraordinary Samaritan nurse, go to samhealth.org/DAISY.
