Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital’s singing nurse, Jared Axen, has received the seventh annual “Hospital Hero” award for Southern California, officials announced Monday.

The award for “outstanding commitments and achievements of health care professionals” was presented during a celebration Friday in downtown Los Angeles.

Axen, a semiprofessional singer before he became a nurse at his hometown hospital, takes requests from patients while he cares for them and then holds their hands and sings their choice of song.

Axen told The Signal in October that it seemed awkward at first making the transition from singer to nurse, but now, it’s “more than just a form of entertainment, but a tool I can use for my patients.”

“There’s no formal singing therapy program here,” said hospital spokeswoman Katreena Salgado, “just human interaction.”

Henry Mayo and Axen’s patients have recognized the nurse for his unique patient care.