Smith receives Madison proclamation

MADISON — Dr. Amy Smith was recognized Tuesday night with a proclamation from the city declaring Aug. 1 as her day due to her outstanding achievements in the healthcare field. 

Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler kicked off the Aug. 1 meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen by presenting the proclamation to Smith and thanking her for her service to the community. 

“I’d like to begin tonight with a special recognition of a fine lady who has given her life to helping people and taking care of so many,” Hawkins-Butler said. “In Amy Smith, we see the compassion and love of a nurse, and nurses care about what they do. It’s a passion and a ministry.” 

Smith was recognized along with her daughter Jessica and husband Joel.  

“Amy is a Madison resident and has been named the Alumna of the Year for Nursing at UMMC,” Hawkins-Butler said. “On behalf of the city of Madison, we would like to present you with a proclamation, declaring this day your day.” 

Smith went to the UMMC School of Nursing with a health professions scholarship from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She then returned the favor, serving the VA for more than 30 years in roles from nursing to health care executive.

Smith is now VA director of clinical operations for specialty care and received the Alumna of the Year award during an awards luncheon in May at the River Hills Club in Jackson. The award recognizes School of Nursing alumni who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and service, and who have made significant contributions to health care, the nursing profession or UMMC’s School of Nursing. 

Smith said it is an honor for her to serve this nation’s heroes, and her family includes veterans who have served in World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam. 

“Whereas, Dr. Amy Smith, an esteemed resident of Madison, has been acknowledged as the distinguished 2023 UMMC School of Nursing Alumni of the Year, an honor bestowed upon her in recognition for her outstanding achievements and leadership in the healthcare industry.,” Hawkins-Butler said. “Therefore I, Mary Hawkins-Butler of the City of Madison, hereby proclaim and comment Dr. Amy Smith for her exceptional achievements, transformative leadership, and unwavering dedication to the field of healthcare. We extend our heartfelt congratulations, and our deepest gratitude for her remarkable contributions to the healthcare community. Thank you for being who you are, and thank you for doing what you do. We love you.”