We’re proud to share that Alliance for Smiles volunteer Darrell Daugherty has been honored with the prestigious Nurses Making a Difference Award from Enloe Health in Chico, California.
This lifetime achievement award recognizes Darrell’s outstanding service to patients and communities around the world. Enloe Health is an independent nonprofit medical service center.
Darrell’s journey in nursing began early. In high school, he enrolled in a “Nurses Aide” course through a Regional Occupational Program, later earning his Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) certification from Lassen College. He went on to serve as a Registered Nurse in Chico, joining the operating room in December 2000. Over the years, he has also worked in the ER, pediatrics, and floor nursing.
As a dedicated Alliance for Smiles volunteer, Darrell has participated in an incredible 24 international missions, serving as both a lead nurse and OR nurse, as well as bringing warmth and humor to many teams. His work has taken him across the globe – from Bangladesh and China to Ecuador and Ghana – and most recently to Lagos, Nigeria.
Beyond providing care, Darrell has generously shared his expertise with local medical teams, helping build skills and capacity in the communities we serve. He also co-leads the AfS Nursing Committee. In recognition of his extraordinary selflessness and commitment, Alliance for Smiles named Darrell our 2025 Volunteer of the Year.
Congratulations on your continued and well-deserved recognition, Darrell and thank you for the incredible impact you continue to make on the lives, health, and futures of the children we serve, the families who love them, and the local medical providers who care for them all.