We are delighted to announce the 3rd annual BSD Excellence in Staff awardees. These recipients were selected from amongst many by the BSD Selection Committee who carefully reviewed each of the nominations and selected the individuals to be honored. We are grateful to the members of the Committee who participated in the selection process.
The BSD launched the Staff Recognition Program to reward staff whose talents and accomplishments contribute towards advancing our core missions. There were five award categories acknowledging the full range of staff contributions:
- Leadership: To recognize contributions of positive role models and influencers who execute successful outcomes creating an environment that is resourceful and responsive to the needs and goals of the BSD.
- Research: To recognize contributions that are integral to research in support of expanding scientific boundaries or discovery.
- E4L Engage: To recognize contributions that exemplify the core principles of E4 Leadership: Equity, Engage, Evolve and Excel generating novel ideas to develop new or improved processes, methods, systems, programs, or services creating best practices.
- Community: To recognize contributions where the local communities benefit from innovative ideas, programming, services, or initiatives that are transformative and make a difference through civic engagement.
- Collaboration: To recognize contributions to team performance by providing encouragement and support, helping others successfully accomplish goals.
Please join us in congratulating each of the award winners.
Leadership
Paul Cronin, Executive Director, Accounting and Financial Analysis
Paul is not only dedicated and committed to his work, but he is also creative and solution oriented. His combination of institutional history, technical expertise and good judgement stands out uniquely amongst his peers. He is an effective mentor and teacher to many and has earned the respect and admiration of both colleagues and the many people he supervises.
Research
Huaiying ”Eddi” Lin, Bioinformatician Specialist, Duchossois Family Institute
Eddi has been and continues to be an instrumental person of the bioinformatics team in the Duchossois Family Institute (DFI). Not only does she have the expertise necessary to move entire projects forward via bioinformatic analysis, but she also has the interpersonal communication skills that enable the success of future collaborations. Eddi is the example of a dedicated researcher, who pushes the limits of the field of Bioinformatics.
E4L Engage
Pam Gonzalez, Director of Research Operations & Conduct, Office of Clinical Research
Since Pam’s arrival to the Office of Clinical Research (OCR), she has chartered 8 Operational Excellence events, championed the MDI for the OCR, and conducted several “Day in the Life” events. Pam’s leadership has allowed the OCR team to address root causes of quality issues through a careful analysis of the process while supporting the people and staff. Her ability to empower staff to leverage metrics and targets to help OCR achieve the E4 principles has been key to OCR’s ongoing quality improvement process.
Community
Jennifer Burns, RN, MSN, CPNP, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Infectious Diseases
Each year for the last 13 years, Ms. Burns and Walsh have given selflessly of their time, working and volunteering on many Saturdays and evenings to reach people in need of an easier way to be vaccinated. Ms. Burns and Walsh have also been instrumental in creating and executing the Comer Family Flu (and now COVID) Vaccine Clinic that is run one night per week and many Saturdays in October through December to give flu (COVID added this year) vaccines to families and kids seen in Comer and to UC employees and their children. Ms. Burns and Walsh through their selfless giving have demonstrated a meaningful and deep commitment to serving our community of employees and the people living in the neighborhoods that we serve.
Linda Walsh, RN, MSN, FNP-BC, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Infectious Diseases
Each year for the last 13 years, Ms. Burns and Walsh have given selflessly of their time, working and volunteering on many Saturdays and evenings to reach people in need of an easier way to be vaccinated. Ms. Burns and Walsh have also been instrumental in creating and executing the Comer Family Flu (and now COVID) Vaccine Clinic that is run one night per week and many Saturdays in October through December to give flu (COVID added this year) vaccines to families and kids seen in Comer and to UC employees and their children. Ms. Burns and Walsh through their selfless giving have demonstrated a meaningful and deep commitment to serving our community of employees and the people living in the neighborhoods that we serve.
Collaboration
Megan Mekinda, Assistant Director for Education, Comprehensive Cancer Center
Megan is responsible for Educational efforts in the Cancer Center and has developed and helped secure funding for 4 pathway programs for high school students, secondary educators, and undergraduates under-represented in the sciences. Megan’s intentional, thorough, and supportive mentorship has helped people discover their love for research. She is not only extremely dedicated to the advancement of impactful and inclusive cancer research but to students as well.