Six Staff Members Honored in Annual P&S Awards for Excellence Ceremony
The six recipients of P&S Awards for Excellence for their work in 2015 include individuals known for their leadership skills, dedication to patients, commitment to students, and inspirational coordination of details.
This year’s awards included a new award, the SSA Union Member/Clerical Technical Award.
Recipients of the 2015 P&S Awards of Excellence, presented in a Jan. 11, 2016, ceremony:
Community Service Award—Rachana Gavara, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics & gynecology at CUMC
Dr. Gavara is medical director of the Broadway Clinic and director of OB/GYN services for the Ambulatory Care Network. In these roles, she has made significant improvements in offering timely access to care, say colleagues who nominated her for the award. She has created special clinic sessions to expedite care for women starting prenatal care late in pregnancy, has galvanized colleagues to cover extra sessions when the clinic is short-staffed, and worked to bring about a cultural change for accommodating same-day appointments and walk-ins. Dr. Gavara “is a skilled, experienced clinician, completely committed to doing the right thing for each patient, all the time,” said one nominator.
Diversity Award—Hilda Hutcherson, MD, professor of obstetrics & gynecology at CUMC and senior associate dean for diversity and multicultural affairs
Dr. Hutcherson was recognized for developing programs that strengthen opportunities, programming, and support for underrepresented minority students. She is known for her success in student recruitment, a success that distinguishes P&S as one of the most diverse medical schools among its peers. Dr. Hutcherson founded the Kenneth A. Forde Diversity Alliance to recruit, retain, and recognize a diverse community. She is noted for the strides she has made in connecting and celebrating the diverse faculty, house staff, researchers, and students at P&S and for strengthening the mentoring and pipeline programs that help make a diverse community.
Officer of Administration/Administrative Professional Award—Nicole Lyn, practice plan director, Department of Radiology
Ms. Lyn was recognized for the many ways she has distinguished herself as practice plan administrator. She played a key role in the successful relocation of the ColumbiaDoctors radiology practice to West 51st Street, despite a tight timeline and unforeseen obstacles that included Superstorm Sandy. Her restructuring of staffing for radiology reception and scheduling both optimized workflow and improved customer service. Colleagues commend her for her professionalism, organization, and commitment to success regardless of obstacles. She inspires others, as one nomination letter summed up: “Her staff values her management, responds to her enthusiasm, and appreciates her innovative ideas.”
Officer of Administration/Managerial Award—Fran Brogan, associate director of clinical operations, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center
Ms. Brogan was honored for the unique commitment to research and patient care she carries out in her role in the Clinical Protocol and Data Management Office of the cancer center. She started in the office as a research nurse and advanced to research nurse manager then interim executive director before becoming associate director of clinical operations. As letters of nomination described her: “Fran is a perfect example of an oncology research manager who consistently leads, educates, and demonstrates measured and seasoned judgment.”
Officer of Research Award of Excellence—Harriet Lloyd, senior staff associate, Department of Ophthalmology
Ms. Lloyd has made herself an indispensable contributor to the Department of Ophthalmology, where she conducts research, manages accounts, and assists with grant applications and research papers. She has co-authored 20 papers in peer-reviewed journals during her career, including seven since joining P&S, and has presented at national ophthalmology meetings. She also co-manages a popular annual ophthalmology course that draws international speakers and attendees. One nomination letter described Ms. Lloyd as an ideal colleague: “exceptionally smart and competent and always helpful. She has a knack for getting things done, quietly and perfectly.”
SSA Union Member/Clerical Technical Award—Rosa Marcus, technician assistant, Department of Physiology & Cellular Biophysics
Ms. Marcus was recognized for the work she has done in the Department of Physiology & Cellular Biophysics since 2003. Hired as a glassware technician, Ms. Marcus has consistently taken on duties beyond those assigned, assisting both the physiology and pharmacology laboratories with administrative tasks in addition to managing her own responsibilities. One letter of nomination described her work ethic and positive attitude: “Rosa is a remarkable individual and a very conscientious employee whose clear interest is to help the investigators, the different labs, and in general the departmental operations of both physiology and pharmacology at every level she can.”
P&S has presented awards of excellence since 2008 to employees to recognize exceptional performance and contributions by individuals who contribute to the success of departments, institutes, and laboratories, which translates into success for the entire school.