Pulse

Looking at Us: Mark Koziol, Maintenance/Grounds Crew

Mark Koziol, maintenance employee, doing leaf clean-up in the center courtyard of the main building at UConn Health. (Photo by Janine Gelineau)
Mark Koziol, maintenance employee, doing leaf clean-up in the center courtyard of the main building at UConn Health. (Photo by Janine Gelineau)

Mark Koziol, 33-years old from Plainville, works on the grounds crew in the Maintenance Dept. He’s worked at UConn Health for 13 years, he’s married and the father of an 8-month old girl. This time of year, Mark and his fellow grounds crew workers are extremely busy with – you guessed it – cleaning up leaves. It’s an extremely time-consuming job considering the size of our campus which stretches 209 acres and includes our Munson Road, 195 and 400 Farmington Avenue locations. That’s a whole lot of leaves to get rid of.

Q: Other than leaf clean-up – what are some of your other job responsibilities?
A:
It really depends on the time of year. We do landscape maintenance so in the spring and summer we’re mowing, tree and hedge trimming, mulching, planting flowers, and cutting the ivy – that needs to be done several times a year.

This time of year, it’s cleaning up the leaves and cutting down the day lilies and ornamental grasses. Then when winter comes – it’s a whole another story.  We have to remove the snow and spread salt on all the sidewalks, parking lots and roads here on campus and our nearby locations.  We also have to clear the snow from the garages, otherwise it’s too much weight. We plow the snow and then we find a designated safe place to dump it off the garage. That takes a long time.

I typically start my day at 6 a.m. but if we get a major snow storm we come in when we’re needed and work around the clock until all the snow is cleared. We stay overnight here if it’s necessary. Our department has couches or we sleep in our trucks. Depending on the storm, we can end up being here for a few days. Last year we were lucky so this year we’ll see what happens.

And then throughout the year, we’re in charge of the litter pick-up.

Who is your favorite actor? Robert De Niro

What’s your favorite junk food? Pizza

What’s your favorite sports team? Red Sox

What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

If you could meet someone “famous” who would you most like to meet? “Big Papi” David Ortiz

Q: Is littering a big problem on campus?
A:  Usually it’s the patients who are messy.  The employees really are not that bad.

Q: What job do you like the best?
A:
Well, fall is my favorite time of year and I never seem to get tired of leaf blowing.

Q:  Overall, why do you like working here?
A:
I enjoy working in this field and being outside. The people are nice, too.  I’ve met lots of nice people through the years.

I also like the variety.  Every season brings something different.  And this campus has changed tremendously since I started back in 2003. When I started, there was no MARB or Outpatient Pavilion. There was a greenhouse there. I remember the Butler buildings and Dowling North and South. The campus has really expanded for the better but then again, it also means we have a lot more work than we used to.

Popular Tennis Tournament Benefits Cancer Fund

From left, David Marshall, General Manager/Director of Tennis at Farmington Field Club, Jennifer Grey and Aaron Frankel with the UConn Foundation. (Photo by Janine Gelineau/UConn Health)
From left, David Marshall, General Manager/Director of Tennis at Farmington Field Club, Jennifer Grey and Aaron Frankel with the UConn Foundation. (Photo by Janine Gelineau/UConn Health)

The Farmington Field Club (FFC) Children’s Classic Tennis Tournament completed its 33rd year of activities this summer. The FFC Tournament, the second longest running U.S. Tennis Association New England Tournament was held over two weekends in July (Adult Tournament July 9-10 and the Junior Tournament July 16-17) and raised more than $11,000 for the UConn Children’s Cancer Fund. This year’s tournament had more than 100 player participants over the two weekends and was viewed by several hundred spectators.

The proceeds from the event, primarily derived from the financial support and sponsorships of many local corporations and companies and individual contributions, helps advance UConn’s research into the diagnosis, treatment and eventual prevention of children’s cancer. To date, the fund raising efforts of FFC has contributed more than $365,000 to the Farmington Field Club’s Endowment for UConn Children’s Cancer Program.

The Farmington Field Club, a private membership tennis, swimming and paddle tennis club, encourages and welcomes tax deductible donations to this worthwhile cause. Donations may be sent to:

The Farmington Field Club Endowment for UConn Children’s Cancer
UConn Foundation, Inc.
P.O. 4032
Farmington, CT  06034

UConn Health Names New VP of Human Resources

John Peeples
John Peeples

UConn Health will welcome John Peeples as Vice President of Human Resources on November 28.

Currently with Dimensions Healthcare System in Maryland, John brings over a decade of senior level human resource experience – in both healthcare and government – to his new position. He will be reporting to Dr. Andy Agwunobi, CEO of UConn Health.

“I am looking forward to working on issues that impact our people,” John said by phone, “developing what I hope will be high impact human resource and talent management programs while balancing our obligation of fiscal discipline and efficiency.”

Holding an MBA in Organizational Behavior and Management Policy and certifications from multiple major professional organizations, John is a Fellow with The American College of Healthcare Executives.  John will assume leadership of the Farmington-based HR function from Chief Administrative Officer Carolle Andrews, who has served during the search as interim leader.

“John’s addition to our team brings important experience and perspective as we tackle the important work clearly illustrated in our recent engagement survey,” says Dr. Agwunobi. “Carolle and the team have done commendable work in an interim period and set a foundation for future success.”

“We had a number of qualified, diverse and enthusiastic candidates from all over the country,” adds Andrews. “John’s selection is the result of hard work by a search committee and our willingness to take as long as needed to find the right leader for our organization and our times.”

Joining John in Connecticut is his wife, Brandie.

Large Turnout for Making Strides Event

  • Survivors tent sponsored by UConn Health.
UConn spirit and pride was evident with the largest team turn out ever for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Hartford event on Sunday, Oct. 16 at Bushnell Park. Team UConn Health Husky Heroes proudly joined 5,500 walkers to help raise over $280,000 to support the American Cancer Society in the fight against breast cancer. The team was comprised of patients, caregivers, friends, staff and families. It was a beautiful autumn day and UConn Health once again had the honor of sponsoring the Survivor Tent which offered survivors delicious food, tips and advice, special goody bags, and a space to interact with other survivors.  One of the speakers at the event was a Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center patient whose story for the opening ceremony was impactful and moving. She was able to share the experience with her family and caregivers, providing inspiration and hope to all participants. Thank you to all who raised funds, volunteered their time in so many different ways, and continue to support important events like Making Strides.

 

Leadership Message: Yale and Connecticut Children’s Affiliation

Dear Colleagues,

We are writing to inform you that our close affiliate Connecticut Children’s Medical Center has entered into initial affiliation discussions with Yale New Haven Health System.

Knowing the leadership at both Connecticut Children’s and Yale New Haven Health System, we are confident that their goal is to enhance children’s care for the region and the state while exploring ways they can partner to improve healthcare access for children.

We expect that if a new collaborative alliance between the two pediatric medical centers moves forward it should have a positive impact on advancing pediatric healthcare in Connecticut and help create a readily available expanded network of experts and services spanning the state.  Also, we expect it would not only preserve but strengthen and bolster the academic commitments and collaborations among Connecticut Children’s, UConn Health and our School of Medicine.

For many years UConn Health has enjoyed a close educational, research and clinical affiliation with Connecticut Children’s.  We have been assured that these relationships will not be affected by the proposed alignment.

We will continue to work closely with Connecticut Children’s to provide excellent patient care, research and training of healthcare professionals for the region.

We wish Connecticut Children’s well in their future discussions and plans. We will keep you updated on any further developments.

Andrew Agwunobi, M.D., MBA
Chief Executive Officer, UConn Health
Executive Vice President for Health Affairs

Bruce T. Liang, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Dean, School of Medicine

Fall Festival 2016 Photo Gallery

  • Photos from the Fall Festival on Oct. 6, 2016 (Janine Gelineau/UConn Health Photo)

The fall festival features favorite autumn eats and the annual Pumpkin Palooza decorating contest. Photos by Janine Gelineau.

Congratulations to our Pumpkin Palooza winners!

1st place

Department of Immunology — “Be Wise and Immunize”

Deborah Daversa, Sally Hatzenbuhler, Karen Morris, and Kimberly Young

2nd place

Health Marketing and Communications — “Emoji-Palooza”

Tina Encarnacion, Sheryl Rosen, and Kristin Wallace

3rd place

The Graduate Office — “Coffee and Donuts”

Carrie Berlepsch, Tracy Dieli, Barbara Kream, Dorothy Linnhoff, Lynn Puddington, and Stephanie Rauch

 

Employee Engagement Survey Results

Engagement survey thank you

Results shared at Tuesday’s Town Hall provide insight and baseline data into our level of workforce commitment, also known as engagement. A raw engagement score of 3.67 looks great to those of us who grew up in a graded world but in this case, it’s not a B+. Our results place us in the lowest 10 percent of similar organizations for overall engagement.

Nearly 50 percent of all employees took the survey, adding over 2,000 open ended comments that all together provide measurement and context to the often elusive world of organizational culture. Sure, anyone can differ in how connected we feel to our workplace, any day, even hour-by-hour, but overall this tells us some really important things about ourselves.

With more detail available by using this link on UConn Health Express, and to be shared by your leaders in the coming days, the infographic shows a lot about the general sentiment of the organization. Thanks to everyone who took the time to complete the survey. We will do this again in spring 2017 and we hope that more than 60 percent of you participate, express your opinion, and offer feedback as we strive toward building a culture worthy of our name and our mission.

 

Pediatrics is Joining Connecticut Children’s

Dr. Larry Scherzer
Dr. Larry Scherzer

In just a couple of days, our pediatric practice at UConn Health will transition to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.  There are a lot of benefits to this including greater coordination between our primary care and specialty physicians at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center which will result in superior care for our patients.

Although the practice is changing ‘affiliations’, we (the physicians) are not changing, nor are our office locations. We remain at 800 Connecticut Boulevard, East Hartford and 65 Kane Street, West Hartford.   Importantly, we will remain on the staff of UConn John Dempsey Hospital and continue to provide all of clinical services at the Well Baby Nursery.  We will also continue to serve as teachers to our medical students and residents and to serve as full-time members of the Department of Pediatrics.

Our phone number will change. To reach pediatrics after October 1, to establish care or make an appointment, call us at 860-837-7250.

Primary care pediatrics has been a part of UConn Health from its beginning, and the pediatricians wish to thank the UConn Health community for its support over the years.  We look forward to continuing to serve our community and to enjoy many future collaborations under our new hospital affiliation.

Larry Scherzer, MD, MPH

Successful Survivors Day at UConn Health

  • From left, Dr. Susan Tannenbaum, division chief of hematology oncology at the Neag Cancer Center, and Abigail O'Brien, senior director of development at the UConn Foundation and breast cancer survivor, spoke during the event.
    From left, Dr. Susan Tannenbaum, division chief of hematology oncology, and Abigail O'Brien, senior director of development at the UConn Foundation and breast cancer survivor, spoke during the event.
The 19th annual Survivors Day event was held Sunday, Sept. 18 in the new Academic Rotunda at UConn Health. Abigail O’Brien, senior director of development for the UConn Foundation and a breast cancer survivor, kicked off the morning by inspiring guests to celebrate and “live life like you’re dying.”  She introduced Dr. Susan Tannenbaum, division chief of hematology oncology in the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Tannenbaum reminded the audience to reflect on not only the patients as survivors but the caregivers as survivors who are strong and resilient and are in the fight together with patients. Close to 200 survivors with their caregivers, family, faculty and support staff enjoyed brunch before creating beautiful drawings of a butterfly – a symbol of endurance, change, hope and life. The art piece was made possible by CT Art School in South Windsor, which had six instructors on staff to help narrate and assist with the drawing. Attendees also got a chance to paint portions of a mural that will later be displayed in the cancer center.  The event ended with nearly each survivor receiving a basket or gift card compliments of the generous UConn community.

 

New UConn Health ID Badges for Everyone

In keeping with the new branding for UConn Health, the UConn Health Police Department will issue new ID badges to all employees who still possess a UConn Health ID badge with a blue background and the former UConn Health logo.  The new ID badge will include your name, department of assignment and a maximum of two credentials.  The expiration date listed on your current ID badge will not change unless your current ID badge is due to expire in 2016.  New ID badges for employees will be issued as follows:

Birthdate         Badge Issuance Month
January, February, and March September 2016
April, May and June October 2016
July, August and September November 2016
October, November and December December 2016

You must report in person to the UConn Health Police Administration window to obtain a new ID badge. You must also return your old ID badge or pay a $15.00 fee prior to being issued a new ID badge (cash, checks and credit cards are accepted). The old ID badge will immediately be deactivated when the new ID Badge is issued.

Our hours of operation for the issuance of ID badges are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6 to 10:30 am and 1:30 to 3:30 pm.