MADISON, Wis. — During Women’s History Month, Violet LaClair, a nursing assistant at UW Health, reflected on her journey towards acceptance and fulfillment in her career. LaClair’s role involved providing exceptional care to patients, especially those undergoing gender transition surgeries. “As the first person they see when they enter the room, I made sure they were comfortable,” LaClair said, emphasizing the importance of empathy in patient care. LaClair said being transgender herself facilitates instant connections with trans and non-binary patients. Her sincerity and experience earned her the prestigious Sunshine Award at UW Health for assisting a patient during a personal gender-specific test.