(Photo of Sharon Kozachik Courtesy of MUSC)

The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Nursing has announced that two nursing instructors, Sharon Kozachik, Ph.D., R.N., and Amy Smith, DNP, APRN, have been named 2025 Palmetto Gold Award recipients. The award is one of the highest honors in South Carolina’s nursing profession. 

The Palmetto Gold Award, presented annually by the South Carolina Nurses Foundation, highlights the top 100 nurses across the state who demonstrate exceptional commitment to their patients, profession and communities. This year’s honorees represent MUSC’s dedication to transforming nurse education and advancing high-quality, compassionate care across South Carolina.

“We are deeply proud of the extraordinary nurses being honored,” said Catherine O. Durham, DNP, APRN, dean of the MUSC College of Nursing. “These remarkable individuals exemplify the qualities we strive to instill in every MUSC nursing student. Their leadership and dedication reflect the heart of our mission and serve as a powerful inspiration for the next generation of nurses across South Carolina.” 

Kozachik, an associate professor and national leader in pain and palliative care, has trained more than 150 nurses across the U.S. and China. During Covid, Kozachik established an emergency fund to help students facing unexpected financial hardships – offering support for essentials like housing, transportation, and basic living expenses. She chaired the Palliative and End-of-Life Care expert panel for the American Academy of Nursing and was one of the first nurses to ever serve as faculty for the Lake Arrowhead Sleep Neuroscience Training Program. Kozachik is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and active in several professional organizations.

Smith is an instructor and lead faculty for the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at MUSC, blending her clinical work in palliative care with innovative nursing education. A certified nurse educator, she has been teaching since 2012 and is known for advancing interprofessional learning and clinical judgment skills. Her work has earned multiple honors, including MUSC’s Excellence in Faculty Teaching Award and the Golden Lamp Award, an internal award for nursing faculty who are nominated by students for excellence, compassion and integrity. 

These nurses were honored April 26 at the 2025 Palmetto Gold gala in Columbia. Proceeds from the event support scholarships for nursing students across South Carolina, furthering the mission of excellence in nursing education and practice.