Elizabethtown, NY – In the busy, often unpredictable Emergency Department at University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital, one thing has become remarkably consistent: when a crisis hits, Judd Collier, RN, is already on the move.

Whether he’s stepping in to place a difficult IV, answering rapid‑fire clinical questions from colleagues, or rushing to support a rapid response, Collier brings the same calm, steady presence every single time. Colleagues say he shows up with quiet confidence and a genuine smile. That reliability has made him a nurse his teammates deeply trust.

It was during one of those urgent moments that Collier’s co-worker, Jessica Litts, RN, saw something she wouldn’t forget.

“A rapid response was called, and Judd was there right away,” Litts recalls. “He didn’t hesitate. He gloved in immediately, helped set up the high‑flow machine, and answered every question we threw at him. He stayed past the end of his shift, not because anyone asked him to, but because the patient wasn’t stable yet. That’s just who he is.”

Litts says Collier brings a mix of high‑level skill and genuine kindness that makes a difference in every corner of the ED. She adds that he teaches without judgement and treats every patient as if they’re the only one in the room.

“You can tell he loves this job,” Litts says. “And you can tell he’s passionate about helping people. This hospital is lucky to have him.”

Collier’s care is the kind that leaves a mark on both patients and families – something Julie Tromblee, RN, MSN, MBA, Chief Nursing Officer at the hospital, experienced firsthand.

“I’ve watched Judd care for patients many times, but seeing him care for someone in my own family changed everything for me,” Tromblee explains. “He didn’t just focus on the medical needs – though he handled those with skill and urgency. What stood out was how he cared for all of us. He made sure we understood what was happening, he asked what we needed and he never once made us feel alone in the moment.”

Litts nominated Collier for the hospital’s DAISY Award, and he was recognized yesterday during a surprise ceremony with his Emergency Department colleagues.

Elizabethtown Community Hospital launched the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in 2022 to recognize and reward licensed nurses for making a meaningful difference in the lives of their patients. A nomination form can be filled out online at UVMHealth.org. Nurses may be nominated by patients, families and colleagues.  A committee reviews nominations and awards a deserving nurse each quarter. 

The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day. The DAISY Foundation is a national not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System). The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. More information is available at DAISYfoundation.org.       

University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital
75 Park Street
Elizabethtown, NY 12932

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About Elizabethtown Community Hospital

University of Vermont Health – Elizabethtown Community Hospital is a not-for-profit critical access hospital with locations in Elizabethtown and Ticonderoga and six community-based primary care centers serving Essex County and the Adirondack Park region. As part of a rural academic health system serving Vermont and northern New York, we provide essential emergency, inpatient, rehabilitation and specialty care close to home. Together, we deliver access to leading-edge technology, advanced treatment options and the highest level of compassionate care while addressing the critical needs and unique challenges facing our patients, their families and our employees.

About University of Vermont Health Network

University of Vermont Health Network is a rural academic health system with more than 100 years of service to small towns and cities across Vermont and northern New York. We are deeply committed to reimagining rural health in ways that will benefit our communities for generations to come and keep exceptional care close to home. Our system includes an academic medical center, two community hospitals, three critical access hospitals, a children’s hospital, a cancer center, a multispecialty medical group, 154 outpatient sites and care beyond the hospital through home health, hospice care, four skilled nursing facilities and other support services. Our care is informed by an essential partnership with University of Vermont’s The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine and College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Together, as a health system serving a rural area, we are tackling health care’s biggest challenges — supporting the communities we serve and investing in our employees by addressing housing affordability, quality childcare and professional development needs. To learn more, visit us at www.uvmhealth.org.