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Nurturing the Next Generation of Midwives

Shannon Pirrie Honored with a DAISY Award

by Molly Smerika | January 23, 2025
shannon pirrie with daisy award

In the middle of teaching her midwifery students at the University of Colorado College of Nursing at Anschutz Medical Campus, Dr. Shannon Pirrie received an unexpected but meaningful interruption. The DAISY Award – a prestigious honor celebrating nursing excellence – was about to be presented to her by the CU Nursing Alumni Association.

For Dr. Pirrie, who serves as both assistant professor and specialty director of the Nurse-Midwife program, this moment represented something deeper than personal achievement.

“Throughout my career, I watched others receive DAISY Awards with such admiration, she reflects. “These moments of recognition always inspired me as a nurse, though I never imagined I would one day be standing on the receiving end.”

Building Tomorrow’s Healthcare Leaders

What makes Dr. Pirrie’s approach special?

Her students, Taryn Olivera and Raquel Rhea, who nominated her for the award, paint a picture of a mentor who goes beyond traditional teaching. They describe someone who doesn’t just teach midwifery – she nurtures future healthcare leaders with confidence, compassion, and purpose.

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Shannon Pirrie with midwifery students (in-person and on Zoom).

“She helps me feel calm and proficient and excited to be a midwife,” shares Olivera.

“She exemplifies what it means to be a midwife in every aspect of her professional life and radiates her love for this specialty to her students,” Rhea wrote. These sentiments echo through the halls of CU Nursing, where Dr. Pirrie’s influence extends far beyond classroom walls.

A Vision for Inclusive Healthcare

Pirrie brings a unique perspective to her role, having walked the same paths as her students – she’s a proud graduate of both CU Nursing’s midwifery and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs. This experience shapes her innovative approach to education.

“It gives me a lot of pride to have received two degrees from CU Nursing, to work here, and to be acknowledged,” she says. “We create people who come back to the college and stay, and it shows they can do extraordinary things. It’s such an honor to do that here.”

At the beginning of each program, she poses a powerful question to her students: “What type of midwife do you want to become?”

This simple yet profound question sets the tone for a journey that’s both personal and professional.

“I’m like a mama duckling, I get them (the students) all in a row and they can follow however they need,” she says. “Sometimes people need different kinds of clinical placements or need different support or accommodations, so I try to make sure those are being met so they can receive an education they’re happy with, that prepares them for real-world challenges, with an emphasis on equity in what we do.”

Creating Change Through Education

Her commitment to equity in healthcare education stands out.

“Shannon challenges students to consider the whole patient – from transportation obstacles to financial barriers. She also encourages the use of inclusive language for all populations, helping create culturally aware and thoughtful providers in the future,” Rhea notes.

Looking Forward

Pirrie acknowledges the Fall 2024 semester was a hard one and says the DAISY Award helped reaffirm her commitment to her students and patients.

“This recognition brought me back to what I do – and that’s caring for patients,” she says. “That’s the reason why I’m a midwife, and I get the honor of teaching students so they can also have an impact on their patients.”

Her connection to CU Nursing runs deep: “It gives me a lot of pride to have received two degrees from CU Nursing, to work here, and to be acknowledged,” she says. “We create people who come back to the college and stay, and it shows they can do extraordinary things. It’s such an honor to do that here.”

Through Pirrie’s story, we see how dedication to nursing education creates ripples of positive change, touching not just students, but the countless patients they will serve throughout their careers. Her work exemplifies the power of combining clinical excellence with compassionate mentorship, creating a future where healthcare is both skilled and deeply human.

Topics: Faculty, Alumni