Atlanta Dream Healthcare Appreciation Night 2025: Nurses Honored Pregame!


š About Atlanta Dream Healthcare Appreciation Night
- Date: September 8, 2025
- Game: Atlanta Dream vs. Connecticut Sunā 7:30 PM EDT
- Location: Gateway Center Arena, Atlanta, GA
The Atlanta Dream hosted a Healthcare Appreciation Theme Night during their game against the Connecticut Sun on September 8, 2025. The evening was a slam-dunk success as eight nurse winners were honored on the court, from close-ups on the big screen to being a part of the pregame fan tunnel! In addition to recognition, our honorees each also received two free game tickets and an exclusive prize package. Keep reading to learn more about our winners and this unforgettable Healthcare Appreciation Night.
Honoring Nurses on the Court
The Atlanta Dream was proud to celebrate the nurses who go above and beyond to care for our communities. As part ofĀ Nurse Appreciation Night, eight standout nurses were featuredĀ live during the high-energy player entranceāan unforgettable moment seen by thousands of fans!
>>Read about the finalists here!Ā
Learn more about our eight nurse honorees who received the most votes in our online competition:
Beatrix Curry
"I am honored to nominate Beatrix Curry for the Atlanta Dreamās Healthcare Appreciation Night. Iāve had the pleasure of knowing and working closely with her, and she is, without question, one of the most attentive and committed nurses Iāve ever met.
She consistently goes above and beyond what is required, not for recognition, but because she truly believes in advocating for her patients. Whether itās staying late to ensure someone receives personalized care or taking time to educate families about next steps, her attention to detail and compassion are unmatched.
What sets her apart is her unwavering integrity. She is deeply rooted in ethics and never allows pressure or politics to sway her values. Iāve seen her speak up when no one else would, often advocating fiercely for a patient whose concerns were being dismissed. She has even respectfully challenged physicians when she believed their approach was doing more harm than good, always keeping the patientās well-being at the center of her decisions.
Her ability to lead with courage, empathy, and clinical excellence makes her a standout in every room she walks into. She has been a powerful example to me of what it means to care, not just clinically, but holistically.
Healthcare needs more people like her, and I canāt think of anyone more deserving of this recognition. She embodies everything Atlanta Dreamās Healthcare Appreciation Night stands for, and I know many others in our community are better because of her."
Erica Burnham
"There are great nursesāand then there are nurses like her.
In the middle of chaos, she was calm. In the face of trauma, she was skilled, swift, and full of compassion. After a devastating car accident involving a young boy, she didnāt hesitate. With steady hands, quick thinking, and a heart full of purpose, she stepped in and did what she was called to doāsave a life.
Because of her actions that day, a little boy lived. Because of her, a family was spared unimaginable loss. Because of her, hope was restored in the most critical moment.
Itās no surprise that she was honored with the highest award a nurse can receiveāan award reserved only for the most outstanding, selfless, and extraordinary individuals in the field. And truly, no one deserves it more.
She is the kind of nurse who shows up with not just knowledge and training, but with compassion, courage, and grace under pressure. The kind of nurse who turns tragedy into triumph.
She is a true hero in scrubsāand we are forever grateful for her.
Rasheeta Chandler
"Dr. Chandler is a national expert in HIV prevention and digital health equity for women of color. She is developing innovative technology-based solutions to help women access essential health information and health services."
Joy King
"Joy King is the definition of a modern-day nurse leaderācompassionate, tenacious, and deeply committed to improving healthcare outcomes in Georgia and beyond. As a Family Nurse Practitioner, PhD student, and the current President-Elect of the Georgia Nurses Association (GNA), Joy wears many hatsāand wears them all with excellence. She advocates for health equity, mentors future nurses, and continues to serve patients directly through her work with Devoted Health.
Joy was recently recognized by Georgia Trend as one of their ā40 Under 40ā honorees for her significant contributions to healthcare leadership, and she has spoken on national stages, including Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, where she advocated for safe staffing ratios and reducing nurse faculty shortages. She helped launch a school-based clinic in rural Georgia to address healthcare disparities, co-authored a white paper on health equity, and is often invited to speak about wellness, policy, and the evolving role of nurses in healthcare.
Her passion for the profession is infectious. Whether sheās teaching DNP students about healthcare finance or leading a yoga-infused self-care workshop for frontline nurses, Joy finds creative ways to uplift and empower those around her.
Learn more about her work here.Ā
Joyās tireless dedication to her community and the profession of nursing makes her an ideal nominee for this recognition."
Destiny Thomas, BSN, RN
"Iām a proud ER registered nurse of 5 years and the founder of JoyfulKine ā a mobile wellness brand rooted in care, compassion, and clinical excellence. Throughout my career, Iāve seen firsthand how often women who do it all ā from caregivers and community leaders to corporate professionals and everyday superheroes ā give endlessly to others while silently running on empty.
I created JoyfulKine to change that. Through mobile IV hydration, vitamin therapy, and personalized wellness coaching, I bring the care to them ā helping women reset, recharge, and reclaim their glow without compromising their grind. Itās not just about hydration or vitamins; itās about restoration. Itās about honoring the health of the healers, the nurturers, and the do-it-all women who keep everything together.
This work allows me to blend my clinical expertise with a deep passion for preventative care, and to serve in a way that empowers women to prioritize their well-being ā guilt-free.
As a nurse & wellness advocate, I donāt just treat patients. I meet them where they are ā physically, mentally, and emotionally ā and walk alongside them on their journey back to themselves. Thatās the heartbeat of JoyfulKine. And thatās what makes this work so meaningful to me."
Erica Mills
"Erica is the current President of the Georgia Nurses Association. She works tirelessly in this volunteer role. She shows up at many events across the state. She shares so much of herself with her community. She deserves a night of fun and recognition for all that she gives to healthcare. Erica serves as a Sr Cardiovascular renal care specialist. She drives hundreds of miles daily, reaching cardiologists and nephrologists who take care of patients with heart disease. Her goal is to prevent someoneās loved one from having a stroke, heart attack, or needing dialysis."
Martika Lenoir
"I wanted to nominate myself due to my hard work and dedication. Nursing is definitely not an easy job to do, but I put my soul into my career. When I was 4 years old and we would play career, I always chose to be a nurse. I used to check everyoneās temperature and wear my little coat.
My biggest inspiration, though, was my Big Ma. Before she passed away from Alzheimerās disease, I watched how my aunt, who was not a nurse, cared for her. It was so many missed opportunities because my aunt would not let anyone take care of her. At this time, no one in our family was a nurse. I vowed from that day forward that this was something I seriously needed to do.
Iām a nurse currently at Kaiser Permanente and a nursing student at Albany State University. Being a nurse is more than just a job. When I talk to every patient, I strive to leave an impact. If you are taking medication, I make sure you know the most common side effects and how to take the medication to get the proper effects from it.Ā
This isnāt just a job, itās my whole world. I love what I do I love being able to help someone heal to help someone smile. Not only my patients but my coworkers and the doctors I work with know they can depend on me to help and do whatever needs to be done. This is truly why I am rallying for myself to win."
Maddy Brown
"Although it took me a while to convince myself to click the link- after some thought, Iād like to nominate myself! As uncomfortable as it is to write an āatta girlā for myself, it gives me an opportunity to brag on nurses as a whole! I was a Paramedic for 7 years before becoming an RN, Ā and it has been quite the adventure!
Several years ago, I made a promise to myself that I would be who I needed to be as a kid growing up. Iāve had the honor of coaching a variety of sports from Varsity level Soccer to biddy league basketball (basketball is my favorite!!)- and Iāve had a BLAST! As a nurse, I can attest that kids are tough. Early in my youth, I was met with some challenges I wouldnāt have been able to defeat if it werenāt for those coaches & leaders who stepped up for me. Balancing 12-hour shifts with 2-3 practices a week plus games was overwhelming at times to say the least, but with support from assistant coaches, team parents, and supportive coworkers, Iāve been able to share my love for the game with countless kids!Ā
In September of 2024, Hurricane Helene devastated the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina, my home! My home was not damaged; however, I could not say the same for so many others. Friends, neighbors, and coworkers had their homes, vehicles, farms, and even family members washed away in the floodwaters. My first responder/medical family was hurting. People in Appalachia take care of each other, and the days after Helene were no different.
State agencies were requesting medical personnel to treat victims in tents, trailers, and even in the woods. Medical professionals were needed to accompany search and rescue teams as people were pulled from rubble and rescued from rooftops. Days were spent in āpop-upā ERs in camper trailers and tents, providing the only medical care available to communities that had everything washed away. Schools, doctors' offices, churches, and restaurants are all gone. Along with water and power.Ā While I had years of experience in pre-hospital medicine, search and rescue, and emergency room environments, nothing could have prepared me for what I saw during those times. My heart ached as I walked around an elementary school gym lined wall to wall with cots for hundreds of people who had lost everything. I spent several days at a homeless shelter that was specifically for medically complex displaced residents. People who require oxygen, insulin, wound care, etc. They needed help! They lost everything. Hospitals were at max capacity. Ambulances couldnāt get to and from most places. Everyone was trying their best. Ā With all that being saidā¦.
This nomination isnāt just for me, itās for all the nurses (other medical professionals too) that I met in the days and weeks after Hurricane Helene. Itās for my friend Emily, who worked with the National Guard in Blackhawk helicopters. Her smile and kind demeanor made her so much more than a stethoscope and a go bag. Itās for my friends in Old Fort, NC, whose entire town was washed away, yet they STILL offered a warm meal and clean clothes to the girl they had just met the day before! Itās for that tough-as-nails group of RNs from Yancey County who seemed to effortlessly run a clinic from a kindergarten classroom- and never complained. Sam, Victoria- just a few names Iāll not soon forget. Heroes! My heroes.
Ā This nomination is for my 8-year-old volleyball team, who asked about the kids whose school was washed away. Were they safe? Did they have toys or clothes- because if not, they would give them some of theirs! My heart was broken and glued back together half a dozen times.
This nomination is for WNC- from 'hills to hollers!'
Thanks for taking the time to read about the incredible nurses Iāve had the opportunity to serve with. While Iād be over the moon to be selected (I mean like fan girl jumping up and down over the moon!!!) I want my nurse family to know⦠they're not forgotten. They are saving lives. Theyāre changing lives. Including mine.Ā
Be blessed yall! And thanks again šš¤©ā¤ļø"
Ā
Exclusive Prize Packages
Our eight nurse honorees received:
- Recognition on the big screen
- Exclusive pregame fan tunnel experience on the court
- Two complimentary game tickets
- A pair of Fabletics scrubs
- A pair of Clove shoes
- A prize bundle from NuWest
T-Shirts
As part of this slam dunk of appreciation,Ā Mel's Crafty Corner was thrilled to offer nurse basketball-themed t-shirts! These thoughtfully crafted, adorable tees were an excellent way for Dream fans to support nurses in style!Ā

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We want to extend our thanks to the Dream, our nurse honorees, and everyone who showed up in support for an inspiring night of basketball, gratitude, and recognition at the Atlanta Dream Healthcare Appreciation Night! We absolutely cannot wait for the next one!
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Nurse Night