Eighty-nine exceptional UConn Health employees were honored at the spring PAWS ceremony in Keller Auditorium Thursday. The employees were recognized for exhibiting the following qualities: being Part of a team, an Awesome attitude, a Wonderful Work Ethic, and Superior Service. In addition to the individual awards, two TEAM awards were also highlighted. Prior to recognizing each of the honorees, UConn Health CEO and Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, Dr. Andy Agwunobi welcomed and thanked them for their commitment and dedication which is deeply rooted in the overall success of our organization.
Among those recognized was an unsung hero Brenda Ortiz, a clinical office assistant in our General Medicine clinic. A patient, who has been coming to UConn Health for years, requested that Brenda be recognized for her outstanding service. The patient stated that Brenda always treats him like family. Every time he comes to UConn Health, Brenda offers him a big smile and greets him by name. He went on to say that he has seen her interact with other patients in the same manner, consistently. He is sure that she must have a bad day from time to time but it never affects her relationship with her patients. Brenda’s supervisor also noted that Brenda recently has started encouraging other employees to lead healthy lives by walking and exercising with them during lunch using our gym. Every day, Brenda focuses on making someone’s life better.
Here’s a complete list of the honorees:
Savitri Appiah…………………………………………………….. Patient Services
Noreen Allsop…………………………………………………….. Pulmonary Clinic
Tina Ammerman…………………………………………………. Dermatology Clinic – Canton
Michelle Cyr……………………………………………………….. CMHC – Osborn Medical
Tiffany Dyke………………………………………………………. CMHC – Osborn Medical
Patricia Fagan…………………………………………………….. Cardiac Cath. Lab
Heather Gaw……………………………………………………… CMHC – Osborn Medical
Aaron Greenblatt………………………………………………… Customer Service Support
Cesar Jerez………………………………………………………… CMHC – Osborn Medical
Sharon Kleinhen…………………………………………………. Parking & Transportation Services
Patricia Pavelchak……………………………………………….. RN Float Unit
Amanda Darcey………………………………………………….. JDH – Organization & Staff Development
Arlene Morin………………………………………………………. JDH – Organization & Staff Development
Donna Levesque…………………………………………………. Dental Financial Services
Rhonda Motley…………………………………………………… Dermatology Clinic – Canton
Brenda Ortiz………………………………………………………. UMG – General Medicine
Jessica Santos-Martinez……………………………………….. Neag Cancer Center Unit
Alka Sharma………………………………………………………. UConn HealthONE
Renata Szczepaniak…………………………………………….. Molecular Biology & Biophysics
Angela Thompson………………………………………………. Periodontology
NIGHTINGALES
Noreen Allsop…………………………………………………….. Pulmonary Clinic
Devon Bandouveres……………………………………………. JDH – Organization and Staff Development
Diana Campbell………………………………………………….. CMHC-Hartford-MED
Susan M. DelaCruz………………………………………………. CMHC-York-MED
Michael C. Desena………………………………………………. CMHC-Garner-MED
Diane Flanigan……………………………………………………. Clinical Nursing Units
Raymond Foster…………………………………………………. UMG-General Medicine
Sue Ellen Goodrich………………………………………………. Hospital-Admin
Kelly A. Quijano………………………………………………….. CMHC-Administration
TEAMS
Pulmonary Medicine Outpatient Nurse Team
Noreen Allsop Jilly Kelly Annette Wright
Grace Howard Joan Sellek Mary-Margaret Taylor
Labor & Delivery, OB/GYN Team
Patty DosSantos Almeida Carrie Ferrindino Jessica Pena
Robin Anderson Diane Fillion Jessica Perkins
Michelle Baker Lina Godfrey Karen Piazza
Christine Biolo Rocio Goyzueta Lauren Piro
Irene Bonati Sarah Hill Jacki Pond
Patricia Bowen Laura Jaggon Millicent Reynolds
Maryanne Calderoni Deb Junkins Doreen Rinaldo
Karen Callahan Suzanne Karelus Lauren Rocco
Jenny Caroon Danielle Kinney Jenny Serrambama
Marianne Chapman Joanna Kuszaj Danielle Shweky
Jen Charette Toni Leers Valerie Sokoloski
Melanie Cherubino Eileen Lopez Deb Stelick
Joann Cipriano Susan MacDonell Teri Stratton
Crose. Amy AnnMarie Marolda Courtney Tobin
Tara Distasio Karin McCormick Kimberly Tripputi
Mia DiTamasso Marisa A. Merlo Kathy Whitehead
Becky Fang Heather Messier Nicole Worrell
Kristen Festa Diane Morgan