Believe it or not, the 2020 Unda the Tunda employee appreciation event is just around the corner. This year, we want to hear from you!
Please submit your suggestions by March 12. Your feedback is greatly valued!
Employees
Meet CAO Janel Simpson
Chief Administrative Officer Janel Simpson joins UConn Health with a combination of private- and public-sector experience. For the last six years she’s been at the Department of Social Services, a $7.6 billion state agency, most recently in the role of deputy commissioner. She spent the majority of her career before that in the insurance industry, including HSB, the Hartford, and the Phoenix. Janel holds an MBA in finance and strategic initiative from Columbia University, and a BA in mathematics from Clark University. She arrived to UConn Health Aug. 30.
Describe your role at UConn Health?
My role is a little different than the former chief administrative officer. I have responsibilities for administrative services, including the oversight of administrative policy development and implementation, auxiliary operations, child care and wellness centers, parking and transportation, environment of care, and life safety. Responsibilities also include development of decision support function and liaison to the “One UConn” effort.
What brought you here?
The opportunity to work in an environment with amazingly dedicated and talented individuals where the work feels meaningful. This is a great opportunity to utilize my experience in operations, strategy, finance, IT. I enjoy working in environments where no two days are alike and you learn to expect the unexpected. I can honestly say, I have experienced all that in my short tenure thus far.
What about your experience will help you in this role?
The ability to prioritize, keep the “big picture” in mind while addressing the “smaller” items that may deliver large returns in short timeframes. The ability to multitask, crisis management, being able to operate, remain calm and make critical decisions under pressure.
At DSS your clients are individuals with food insecurities, need for cash assistance, medical coverage, fuel assistance, etc. When I started, our timeliness for providing benefits for our clients ranked us in the bottom 5% in the nation, leading to the filing of three federal lawsuits against the department. This placed us under a great deal of scrutiny by those we served, the media, state and federal governments.
The department gained a reputation of not caring or not doing enough, though we had some of the most dedicated and committed individuals who really wanted to make a difference. The agency had a 27-year-old antiquated system supporting an equally antiquated paper process. We had to change our technology, process, culture, and narrative simultaneously.
It was the most challenging time. Regardless, we worked as a team to define and achieve our goals. We restructured the organization, redesigned our processes, implemented a new $350 million eligibility system, and changed our culture. Connecticut is recognized by the federal government as the gold standard for system implementation, top two and top ten nationally for timely processing of SNAP and Medicaid eligibility respectively. With these changes, Connecticut received $6 million in bonus funding from the federal government. The department successfully satisfied all terms and conditions of all three federal lawsuits in less than three years.
What do you see as the most promising and challenging aspects of being CAO at UConn Health?
The promising thing is that whatever challenge we face, we have the team in place to tackle it. You see it exemplified every day.
Like other state agencies, and frankly, many private companies, you must achieve your goals with finite resources and fewer dollars than one’s spending needs. Here at UConn Health we all have the same overarching goal, together we must and will achieve it.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I volunteer my time mentoring middle and high school girls of color.
Campus Safety Corner: Patient, Winter Parking
Now’s a good time to reflect on why it’s important to park in our assigned areas when on campus for work or academic purposes, and to also be attentive of the winter storm parking bans.
Patient Parking
Several parking areas on campus are reserved for patients and visitors. Providing them with safe and convenient access to these parking areas and the surrounding buildings is an integral part of their experience on our campus. These areas include:
- Emergency Department and GI Procedure Center – surface parking and the rooftop of Garage 2.
- University Tower and Main Building – surface parking lots M1, M2 and H1.
- Garage 1 – convenient sections of levels 1, 2 and 3 and the valet staging area. These areas are marked by white signs with green lettering.
- Garage 3 – all spaces on levels 3 and 4 and the valet staging area unless signed otherwise.
For your reference:
Winter Storm Parking Bans
During winter storms and parking bans our Facilities Grounds personnel are out in force, supplemented by contracted snow removal crews, to mitigate the weather impacts on the roads, parking areas and sidewalks. The best way we can help is to be attentive to the UConn alerts and follow the snow ban instructions so the crews can keep our campus as safe and accessible as possible for the entire UConn Health community. Although staff and students who have arrived on campus prior to the start time of the bans are not required to move their vehicle, it is appreciated when you are able to if your work or academic responsibilities allow you the time to safely move your vehicle into one of the garages. Parking in the covered sections of the garages during the bans may seem inconvenient at times, so it can help if we try to remember that the primary reason for the bans is to keep our campus as safe and as accessible as possible.
—UConn Deputy Police Chief Maggie Silver and Parking, Transportation and Event Services Director Allan Peterson
Favorite Pulse Stories of 2019
Here’s what the metrics tell us about the most popular Pulse items from 2019:
Jan. 10 (1,284 clicks)
Look Familiar?
Building on the success of our recent “Power of Possible” television campaign, in the coming days—on a TV near you—will debut “The Power of Possible II.” While still heralding our teaching and research, the sequel begins to focus on our patient care and the advantage that is academic medicine.
Watch the preview, and look carefully—this was shot 100 percent on the Farmington campus and everyone in it works for UConn Health (except that dog!).
Over the coming weeks, it will be joined by additional new billboard, radio and other promotions as we tell our story and invite the community to join us in harnessing the power of possible.
Sept. 19 (968)
‘I’m a Nurse; I Can’t Let You Do This’
President Katsouleas mentioned it in his message to the UConn Health community earlier this month. Now, during suicide prevention month, the nurse practitioner who intervened and likely stopped a man from jumping from an elevated area on campus, Lauren Brennan agreed to share her account of that day.
March 22 (826)
Can We Move the Gift Shop?
The UConn Foundation is launching a campaign to relocate the gift shop to a prime location.
Learn how you can help, and why this is a cause worth keeping in mind when UConn Gives next week.
Feb. 7 (819)
PIC OF THE WEEK
Wearing Red Institution-Wide
Groups from throughout UConn Health, both in Farmington and other clinical offices, got their red on and gathered together for photos to celebrate National Wear Red Day to kick off American Heart Month. View larger photos.
Jan. 3 (780)
New Year’s Babies: Not 1, Not 2…
It sure was a busy New Year’s Day in our maternity unit, where a record six babies were born! The first to arrive was little Matthew, born at 1:17 a.m. to Heather and Joe Coss of Burlington.
Welcome to Matthew and all the New Year’s newborns: Beatrice (5:42 a.m.), Owen (9:32 a.m.), Muhammad (10:55 a.m.), Sofie (11:41 a.m.), and Caleb (4:49 p.m.). Find more information and photos.
UPDATE: In case you missed it, the babies are back!
Five of them returned for a one-year-later photo!
July 25 (738)
POWER OF POSSIBLE
Lowering Cholesterol Without Drugs
Our Lifestyle Medicine Program continues to help people make healthy choices to naturally improve their health.
There’s no shortage of success stories among physician assistant Brad Biskup’s patients — a recent one being that of Linda Nadeau, who reduced her LDL cholesterol by more than 100 points!
May 30 (701)
Connecticut’s Best Docs
Connecticut Magazine is out with its 2019 “Best Doctors” issue. There are 48 familiar faces this year, including a cover story on Dr. Omar Ibrahim and the advanced robotic tool he uses to get a head start on diagnosing/ruling out lung cancer.
Oct. 31 (700)
UConn Health Halloween
Many of our clinical staff are in costume today. Recognize anyone?
Plus, Drs. Gary Schulman and Bina Katechia from our dental faculty share a guest column that sheds some spooky light on what’s happening in our mouth when we eat candy. Second thought, maybe don’t read this until next week!
Oct. 10 (642)
PIC OF THE WEEK
Fall Fun Fest and Pumpkin-palooza
Congratulations to the Department of Quality, whose “Proud as a Peacock” pumpkin took first place in the Pumpkin-palooza contest at this year’s Fall Fun Fest! Thanks to an army of volunteers, our courtyard became a festive setting for employees to take a break and enjoy the season, some snacks, and some fellowship. See the photos and count the smiles, plus read a first-hand account from one of the Project SEARCH interns who volunteered at the event and helped create the second-place pumpkin!
Jan. 24 (642)
Spotlighting Our Faculty
Improving immigrant health, advancing infection prevention programs, and researching novel cancer therapies are just a few of the accomplishments featured in the winter edition of Faculty Spotlight.
The School of Medicine’s Office of Faculty Affairs’ video series celebrates our researchers, clinicians, and educators, and also includes an On-Point update from CEO Dr. Andy Agwunobi and medical school dean Dr. Bruce Liang.
Ugly Holiday Sweater Day
Employee Recognition Ceremony 2019
(Photos by Tina Encarnacion)
Congratulations to this year’s recipient of the Dr. Peter J. Deckers Employee Appreciation Award: Jim Behme, simulation center coordinator! Jim was chosen among six worthy finalists who were celebrated for their exemplary contributions to UConn Health.
We also honored 508 colleagues who celebrated service milestones of 5, 10, 15, and 20 years. The ceremony was attended by a standing room of friends and colleagues. If you missed the ceremony, you can still catch it on MediaSite. UConn Health encourages employee recognition at all levels and provides and offers various ways you can recognize a colleague.
Campus Safety Corner: Run, Hide, Fight
Active threat incidents are often unpredictable and evolve quickly. In the midst of the chaos, anyone can play an integral role in mitigating the impacts of an active threat incident. The Division of Public Safety aims to enhance preparedness through a “whole community” approach by providing resources.
If there is an active threat in your vicinity, you should do the following:
Run
- Have an escape route and plan in mind.
- Leave your belongings behind.
- Keep your hands visible.
- Get as far away from the threat as you can.
- If you can’t run, hide.
Hide
- Hide in an area out of the suspect’s view. (Preferably behind large objects)
- Block entry to your hiding place and lock the doors.
- Ensure the lights are off.
- Silence your cellphone or other electronic devices and remain quiet.
- If you can, have options for moving or escaping.
- As a last resort, if you can’t run or hide, be ready to fight.
Fight
- As a last resort and only when your life is in danger.
- Attempt to incapacitate the active threat.
- Act with physical aggression and throw items at the suspect. When it is safe to do so, call 911 and give the location, number and physical description of the suspect(s), and the number of potential victims if possible.
We offer free training programs on active threat, de-escalation, workplace safety, and workplace violence: recognition and prevention. These courses can be requested via https://publicsafety.uconn.edu/police/education-and-programs/public-education/.
—UConn Deputy Police Chief Maggie Silver
UConn Health Halloween
Staff from throughout UConn Health’s clinical offices and practices celebrated Halloween 2019 in costume. See if you recognize anyone?
Years of Service Milestones
Congratulations to the following employees, who have achieved milestones of 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 years of service:
25 Years of Service
Khamis S. Abu-Hasaballah, Asst VP, Research Informatics
Scott R. Allen, Interim Chief Medical Officer
Sandra A. Barnosky, Nurse Practitioner
Frank E. Barton, Multimedia Specialist 2
Christina A. Caron, Medical Technologist 2
Alexandra P. Crean, Educ & Development Spec.
Lori A. DelVaglio, Application Analyst 1
Carol L. Dumont, Staff Nurse CN3
Jacqueline P. Duncan, Assoc Prof/Clinical
Kelly A. Moore, Laboratory Assistant 2
Cheryl Oncken, Dept Head, Medicine
Hilary Onyiuke, Assoc Prof/Clinical
Margo A. Petrunti, Telephone Opr
Charles A. Saunders, MTCE Spv 1 HVA
Carol A. Schramm, Clinical Nurse Specialist
Craig M. Schramm, Assoc Prof/Clinical
George R. Smith, Staff Nurse CN3
Lorrie E. Tripp, Operations Mngr-Facilities Svc
Clelia Vanasse, Staff Nurse CN3
Wendy E. Walsh, Sponsored Program Specialist
Karen L. Zucker, Administrative Officer
30 Years of Service
Angelo A. Airo, Pharmacist-UHP
Susan L. Blasi, Staff Nurse CN3
Joanne Brochu, Information Specialist
Dorothy M. Buslewicz, Staff Nurse CN2, Outpatient
Patrick P. Coll, Professor/Clinical
Caroline N. Dealy, Assoc Prof/Basic Sci
Terri T. Donohue, Staff Nurse CN3, Outpatient
Deborah A. Dow, Adm Program Assistant 2
Diane N. Fillion, Staff Nurse CN3
Christopher Frechette, Mag Resonance Imaging Tech 2
Susan Garthwait, Adm Program Coordinator
Jeffrey B. Gross, Dept Head, Anesthesiology
Virginia R. Janick, Medical Records Clerk
Barbara E. Johnson, Respiratory Therapist
Brenda J. Kawecki, Executive Assistant
David A. Lombardo, MTCE Spv 1 HVA
Clarice Marcelino, Clinic Office Assistant
Mina Mina, Chair, Ped Dent/Dir DMD Prog
Frank Morgan, Research Associate 2
Mary-Marjorie Murphy, Clinical Coordinator 2
Michael Nowak, Asst Prof/Basic Sci
Andrew D. Nowicki, Storekeeper
Donna L. Patterson, Program Manager Faculty Devlpm
Kathleen A. Pellizzari, LPN
Douglas E. Peterson, Professor/Clinical
Lawrence G. Pittman, Director, HR Operations&Payroll
Elizabeth Pokorski, Administrative Officer
Deborah A. Redford-Badwal, Assoc Prof/Clinical
Sandra A. Rodriguez, Staff Nurse CN3
Mansoor Sarfarazi, Professor/Basic Sci
Kevin P. Shea, Professor/Clinical
Kimberly A. Sokol, Business System Analyst
Deborah H. Spillane, Business Services Manager
Cathy S. Spisak, Staff Nurse CN3
Elizabeth Strull, Asst Nursing Manager
Thomas D. Taylor, Dept Head, Reconstructive Scie
Catherine G. Trahiotis, Physical Therapist 2, UHP
Kimberly A. Tripputi, Office Assistant
35 Years of Service
Debby S. Anderson, Procurement Contract Spec
Raymond B. Carlson, Qual Crft Wrkr-Painter
Lisa Godin, Adm Program Coordinator
Lynn Godin, Office Assistant
Marja Hurley, Assoc Dean, Hlth Career Opp Pr
Alyce E. Ivey, Clinical Case Manager
Susan L. Jerwann, Purchasing and Inventory Spec
Leslie M. Loew, Director, CCAM
Martha L. Lojzim, Associate Director
Robin E. Menasian, Staff Nurse CN2
Diana L. Mikulak, Business Services Manager
Deborah A. Milewski, Medical Technologist 2
Sandra J. Newton, Application Analyst 3
Frank C. Nichols, Professor/Clinical
Linda S. Paradis, Adm Program Assistant 2
Margaret O. Rathier, Assoc Prof/Clinical
Lauren M. Salinger, Poison Information Spec
Sandra K. Weller, Dept Head, Mole Biology Biophy
Shawn H. Winberg, Desktop Technician II
Edwin L. Zalneraitis, Professor/Clinical
40 Years of Service
Rashmi Bansal, Professor/Basic Sci
John H. Carson, Professor/Basic Sci
Paul M. Epstein, Assoc Prof/Basic Sci
Jane M. Grant-Kels, Professor/Clinical
Susan Hill, Adm Program Coordinator
Lucina M. Nadeau, Medical Technologist 2
Mary E. Peach, Adm Program Coordinator
Ted S. Rosenkrantz, Professor/Clinical
Deborah Talamini – Adm Program Coordinator
Scott L. Wetstone – Assoc Prof/Basic Sci
45 Years of Service
Yvonne G. Grimm-Jorgensen, Asst Prof/Basic Sci
Fall Fun Festival 2019
UConn Health staff and students enjoy the annual Fall Fun Fest featuring the ever-popular Pumpkin Palooza decorating contest, a candy corn guessing game, and a new photo booth, along with delicious donuts, apples, popcorn, and cider. (Photos by Tina Encarnacion)
Pumpkin Palooza
Following is a first-person account participating in and volunteering at the Fall Fun Fest by Project SEARCH intern Shaunte Taylor:
I enjoyed the process of making Boogie and painting the pumpkin. Getting ready for the contest was a fun experience with my co-workers. I’m glad we got to make our own individual pumpkins like Jack Skellington, Sally, Mayor and Zero. We put a lot of work into getting prepared for the event. The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my favorite movies, I watch it all the time. I feel we did each character justice and brought each one to life. I loved seeing what each department did with their pumpkins and what they did had a lot of detail, so the competition was stiff. I also enjoyed giving out the tickets so everyone could vote on which pumpkins they liked the best. We were really hoping to win first place, but we are still very happy that we placed second! I would congratulate the team who won.
At the event there were so many treats, from popcorn to caramel apples. The donuts were really good and the cider was delicious, it was like a festival at work. It was a little chilly outside which added to the fall festival experience. I am glad that we got to participate and do this together as a team. Everyone worked well, we did it and got it done. All our hard work paid off. I would love to participate again next year!