A major economic engine that garners more than $126 million in research grants and contracts annually with nearly 1,000 faculty members and almost 5,000 employees, the University Arizona Health Sciences each year recognizes the outstanding efforts of staff and appointed personnel working within and among its colleges.
The 2016 Awards of Excellence Ceremony was held April 16 and is organized by the UA Health Sciences Staff Advisory Committee members, who each year seek nominations for a variety of awards to recognize the service of UA Health Sciences staff and appointed personnel.
The Georgia Reynolds Dedicated Service Award honors permanent classified staff members or appointed professionals (excluding deans and directors), who have at least 15 years of cumulative employment with strong service to UAHS, as well as the community. Jack Roberts, assistant to the chair of the Department of Otolaryngology with the UA College of Medicine – Tucson was honored with the award for his contributions as ombudsperson, and for his community service and leadership within the department. Hildi Williams, program coordinator senior for medical student education at the UA College of Medicine –Tucson, also was nominated. UAHS Vice President for Precision Health Sciences Kenneth S. Ramos, MD, PhD, PharmB, also interim dean of the UA College of Medicine – Phoenix, recognized both nominees and presented the award to Roberts.
The Lura Hanekamp Awards of Excellence are presented to two classified staff members and one appointed personnel employee at the UA College of Medicine – Tucson and were presented by Dean Charles B. Cairns, MD.
Classified staff members nominated included: Angie G. Hessell, executive assistant at the Department of Medicine; Peggy Nolty, program manager with the Department of Neurology; Cori Jin Rodriguez, program coordinator senior with the Department of Surgery; and Alejandra Zapien-Hidalgo, student recruitment and retention specialist with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and assistant professor of Family and Community Medicine. Zapien-Hidalgo and Nolty were recognized with the award.
Appointed Personnel nominees included, Seres J. Bennett Cross, research specialist senior with the Department of Physiology; Lydia K. Kennedy, director of the UAHS Office of Diversity and Inclusion; and 
Tanisha N. Price Johnson, PhD, executive director of admissions and financial aid and research assistant professor with the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the UA College of Medicine – Tucson. Dr. Price Johnson was presented with the award.
The UA College of Nursing Awards for Excellence presented by Joan Shaver, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor and dean, included Employee of the Year, awarded to Amanda Gluski, MA, assistant director of student affairs, and the Staff Award for Excellence, awarded to Sue Habkirk, PhD, coordinator of instructional support services. Lisa Gelia, senior program coordinator, and Christie Norman, coordinator for clinical affairs, were nominees.
UA College of Pharmacy Awards for Excellence were presented by Professor and Interim Dean John E. Murphy, PharmD, to Kate Johnson, RN, interprofessional care coordinator at the Medication Management Center, 
Tim Wunz, PhD, director of information technology, and Ann Taylor, MPH, project manager for the Center for Health Outcomes and PharmacoEconomic Research and other units. Kwyn Szabados, PharmD, a medication management specialist, was recognized as a nominee.
UA Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health Awards for Excellence were presented by Dean Iman Hakim, MD, PhD. Classified Staff nominees included Monica Muñoz, administrative associate for the associate dean for community programs, Rebecca Ruiz, program coordinator senior with the Center for Rural Health and Shannon Whitewater, health educator with the Health Promotion Sciences Department. Ruiz earned the Staff Award for Excellence.
The nominee and winner of the Appointed Professional Service Award for Excellence was Kimberly Barnes, MPH, Phoenix coordinator for the Office of Student Services and Alumni Affairs.
Thanks to the following UAHS – Staff Advisory Committee members for their contributions in this year’s award ceremony:
- Agnes Attakai, MPA, director of health disparities outreach and prevention education at the UA Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health;
- Jamie McKay, administrative associate, UA College of Pharmacy;
- Elizabeth Mellor, executive associate, UA College of Pharmacy;
- Sonia Nieves, program coordinator senior, UA College of Public Health;
- Jose Solorzano, systems administrator senior, UA College of Medicine – Tucson;
- Jennifer Varela, coordinator of administrative affairs, UAHS Office of Senior VP of Health Sciences;
- Michelle Whitehead, coordinator of personnel affairs, UA College of Nursing;
- Hildi Williams, program coordinator senior, UA College of Medicine – Tucson.
Media Contact: Rebecca Ruiz McGill