Benson Alexander

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Chicago campus

Benson Alexander, our HR manager in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, exemplifies excellence and integrity in every aspect of his role. His unwavering commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment has been instrumental in ensuring our department thrives. Benson’s collaborative nature makes him a trusted partner to faculty, staff, and students alike, as he consistently prioritizes teamwork and shared success. His dedication to service is evident in his proactive approach to addressing concerns and his ability to seamlessly navigate complex situations with fairness and efficiency. Moreover, Benson’s exceptional communication skills enable him to articulate departmental goals clearly and empathetically, ensuring that everyone feels heard and valued. His leadership not only strengthens the foundation of our department but inspires those around him to strive for their best.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication, and customer service, Benson!

Mickeisha Armstrong

Department of Administration, Peoria/Chicago campuses

Mickeisha has been a true champion for the staff-led initiatives to enhance the experience for all our staff at the College of Medicine! She deserves KUDOS for her work with the staff sub-committees related to engagement and wellness (SEW) and professional development (PROLEAD). She is a role model of professionalism and fosters a collaborative atmosphere where people can be heard.

Mickeisha’s efforts have been instrumental in many new initiatives to support and recognize our talented staff. Without her commitment and collaboration, much of this work would not be possible. Therefore, she is highly deserving of this recognition for her excellent collaborative service to the College of Medicine.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core value of collaboration, Mickeisha!

Sandy Arreguin

Department of Administration, Peoria campus

Although Sandy has not been with the college very long, she is a great source of information and always strives to maintain a positive and collaborative work environment.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core value of excellence, Sandy!

Amanpreet Kuar Bains

Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Chicago campus

Amanpreet makes work full of fun and builds connections between people!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core value of communication, Amanpreet!

Kirsten Corrigan

Department of Family & Community Medicine, Chicago campus

I want to give Kudos to Kirsten Corrigan for her excellent work as MATEC’s data manager. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Kirsten for the past two years and have witnessed her growth in her role.

Kirsten demonstrates strong integrity, and her work consistently excels in quality and professionalism. She ensures data accuracy from our local partner offices through thorough monthly reviews and cleansing. Her efforts led to seven of our eight partners submitting completely clean data this past month. Kirsten developed detailed processes for collecting, cleaning, and submitting our data for a $4+ million federal grant. Additionally, she conducts detailed analyses and prepares data reports for internal and external stakeholders. I can rely on Kirsten to do an excellent job on our data management needs.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication, and customer service, Kirsten!

Margaret De La Cruz

Department of Medical Education, Chicago campus

Margie always does an amazing job!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, collaboration, and communication, Margaret!

Ann Dowty

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Ann has been a notch above anyone that I have ever seen handling variable compensation for the college. She has been always responsive, is willing to accommodate users, is approachable and stays on top of her job. She is willing to go above and beyond on a regular basis. I can site multiple examples of her dedication and customer service. We are fortunate to have her.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, collaboration, and customer service, Ann!

Colleen Duffy Kowalski

Department of Medicine, Chicago campus

I was out due to an unexpected illness for the entire month of October 2024. Colleen is aware of my day-to-day workload and stepped in to manage what she was able to address, in my absence, which included working with DOM HR. Her efforts helped as I was not able to address any matters while out of the office.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of integrity, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication, and customer service, Colleen!

Bob Faull

Department of Psychiatry, Chicago campus

Bob has had to work to meet the needs of a large number of faculty in our department who have research funding, during a personnel shortage over the past year. Despite this, his work has remained impeccable and accurate, allowing the faculty to feel confident in their grant reports. He is invaluable to our department.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core value of excellence, Bob!

Susan Hollander

Department of Administration, Rockford campus

Susan deals with all of our faculty at times when they are extremely frustrated and need help. She assists them with logging into the University systems and resetting their password, when necessary. These faculty volunteer their time to teach our students and don’t often use their UIC emails (which leads to the login issues). Susan is patient, pleasant and helpful, and very often diffuses the anger felt by the faculty members. Thank you, Susan!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of collaboration and customer service, Susan!

Daniela Jurado

Department of Surgery, Chicago campus

Daniela’s performance represents the core values of the Department of Surgery and UIC and sets a high standard for excellence across all areas. Specifically, her commitment has made an impact in the following areas:

• Excellence: Daniela’s dedication to maintaining the highest standards of accuracy, timeliness, and attention to detail has greatly improved the department’s efficiency and accuracy in billing and collections for Transplant. She delivers high-quality work that drives positive outcomes and has been instrumental in identifying trends in denials/collections in Transplant.
• Collaboration: Daniela consistently goes above and beyond by working with her colleagues, other departments, and healthcare providers. Daniela has stepped in for financial authorizations when the department has been short-staffed. When asked, she did not hesitate to agree to cover.

Daniela’s dedication and performance are an asset to the Department of Surgery. Her approach to handling complex billing scenarios and ensuring that all financial practices follow regulatory and organizational guidelines is appreciated.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication, and customer service, Daniela!

Nikki Love

Mile Square Health Center L.P. Johnson, Rockford campus

Nikki and her co-worker Tiara were leaving work for the day on 12/17/2024 and encountered a patient who needed to see a doctor. Nikki and Tiara came back into clinic, discussed the needs of the patient with our preceptor of the day and with some teamwork made sure to assist the patient with getting added to the schedule, checked in and seen by a resident. This goes above and beyond!!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, collaboration, and customer service, Nikki!

Maggie Mac

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Maggie is an expert at our student assessments at UIC; she supervises the team that makes them happen. She is knowledgeable, accommodating, caring, and one of the hardest working people I know. Her work is unfailingly accurate and thorough, and she is so easy to supervise. She brings vision and strategy, and she asks for and accepts feedback. She cares so much about student success. I wish we could clone Maggie!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, communication, and customer service, Maggie!

Ian Masterton

Office of Purchasing and Contract Management, Chicago campus

Ian handles a significant number of contracts for the College of Medicine and is responsible for coordinating the review, redlines, approval, and ultimate full- execution of these contracts. He does so in a professional manner, communicating and following up effectively despite a heavy workload
and multitude of agreements. He is dependable and is a major asset to Purchasing and Contract Management.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, communication, and customer service, Ian!

Tiara McDonald

Mile Square Health Center L.P. Johnson, Rockford campus

Tiara and her co-worker Nikki were leaving work for the day on 12/17/2024 and encountered a patient who needed to see a doctor. Tiara and Nikki came back into clinic, discussed the needs of the patient with our preceptor of the day and with some teamwork made sure to assist the patient with getting added to the schedule, checked in and seen by a resident. This goes above and beyond!!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, collaboration, and customer service, Tiara!

Alejandra Moore

Department of Medicine, Chicago campus

Alejandra is a remarkable individual, a fantastic mentor, and an amazing leader of our Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. She has 30+ years of experience in our division and it would not have survived all the bumps along the way if Alejandra was not here to smooth the path for us all!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication, and customer service, Alejandra!

Medha Pandey

Department of Psychiatry, Chicago campus

Medha has been a star in our department for years. Most recently, she has had to cope with staff shortages, but she never fails to stay on top of communications and get the job done. She is an invaluable asset to our department.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core value of excellence, Medha!

Michael Paprzyca

Department of Medicine, Chicago campus

Michael has wonderful ideas. He always approaches every situation as a learning experience and remains current on new policies and procedures. He streamlined some of the HR processes and assembled a diverse team of four seasoned professionals to provide the much-needed support to our faculty. The Department of Medicine is the largest department in the College of Medicine with over 230 faculty and over 215 residents and fellows. Michael embodies what it means to be a servant leader. He sets a positive, constructive, and professional tone in the workplace environment. He is the “go to” person for all items related to Faculty Affairs and Human Resources. Michael is also particularly sensitive to matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). For example, following the adoption of the DEI statement in the promotion dossier, Michael worked closely with the Associate Head of Faculty Affairs in the department to conceptualize not only how faculty can fulfill this requirement, but more importantly how it can be part of each faculty’s portfolio of professional activity. He has the total respect of the Department of Medicine faculty, staff and trainees.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, accountability, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, Michael!

Nishit Patel

Department of Radiology, Chicago campus

The lease for our offsite location was ending a few weeks ago. We were unable to arrange movers during business hours as the building allowed movers to enter the building only during off hours.

Nishit volunteered to go on a Saturday night, from 7 PM till late at night to make sure that the move was completed successfully and without any hiccups. At the conclusion of the move, he video recorded the premise so that we had proof of clean-up. This student employee, who works on a part-time basis, volunteered to spend his own time on a Saturday night to accomplish this!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, collaboration, and accountability, Nishit!

Libra Peray

Department of Pathology, Chicago campus

Libra is the best! In her role as Project Manager, she is in charge of getting the materials for classes from faculty and making available to all three campuses to post for students. She is very detail oriented, is able to get along and work with many different personalities and is always willing to help.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence and collaboration, Libra!

Anna Reczynski

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Anna is absolutely excellent in her role. She knows the ins and outs of advising students, but is always expanding her knowledge and improving herself as an advisor. She has a wonderful ability to relate to the students she advises, and they adore her. She is meticulous in her work and her deliverables, rarely, if ever, contain any type of error. She is always thinking ahead on ways we can improve upon our processes to better support students. Perhaps most importantly, she is loved fiercely by her team.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core value of excellence, Anna!

Anna Reczynski

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

If I have a question, Anna will go above and beyond to answer the question comprehensively. She is very supportive and will always remember and follow up. Anna goes above and beyond!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, collaboration, accountability, communication, and customer service, Anna!

Joanne Sorce

Department of Pediatrics, Chicago campus

Joanne goes above and beyond to keep the Co-Directors informed of events and updates to Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) information.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, and accountability, Joanne!

Noreen Abbasi

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Noreen is extremely dedicated to our medical students. She is committed to treating them as individuals and helping them to manage all aspects of medical school and wellness. Recently she went above and beyond for a student who had to travel to multiple cities across the United States for residency interviews. Without the ability to interview, the career choices for this particular student would have been extremely limited and this would have negatively impacted their life after medical school. Noreen used her above average interpersonal communication skills to help the student obtain housing and transportation for their interview. It is not a part of her job description but shows how far she will go for her students to help them to become successful. We are lucky to have her at the College of Medicine.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, collaboration and customer service, Noreen!

Milan Albakri Micou, Magdalena Rodriguez, Maria Valtierra, Christopher Zell

Department of Medicine, Chicago campus

Christopher, Maggie, Maria, and Milan are the dream administrative team.  Our Internal Medicine Residency Program is the largest at the Chicago campus. Still, unfazed by this complexity, they guide the day-to-day operations of our program with attentiveness, clear communication, professionalism, and caring concern for our trainee’s well-being. Being able to work alongside these 4, so as to witness their cohesiveness and drive to excel is truly inspirational!

Milan, Magdalena, Maria and Christopher: Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication and customer service!

Isaac Barrera

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

During our latest polar vortex, Isaac took it upon himself to come into the college on Sunday and Monday (MLK Day) to check that windows were closed and that everything was sealed up tight to ensure that classrooms were ready for Tuesday.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity and customer service, Isaac!

Yolanda Campbell

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Yolanda is an overall team player which is why she’s such an impactful leader. She makes UICOM a welcoming and safe space for everyone no matter their background. She is a key reason inclusion is a part of this community culture.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication and customer service, Yolanda!

Suah Cho

Department of Medical Education, Chicago campus

Suah seeks to improve administrative processes that supports a student-centered culture for our educational programs while ensuring effective communication and collaborative practices among the staff and faculty. During the last year, she has supported enhancements to our MHPE program and the expansion of our CHPE programs.  While this has been a busy time with many competing priorities, she consistently maintains an outstanding level of professionalism. She is also always a joy to work with.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, collaboration, communication and customer service, Suah!

Christine Marie Fernandez

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Christine consistently demonstrates excellence through their exceptional work quality and commitment.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication and customer service, Christine!

James Flamm

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

James is always so helpful to all elective coordinators! He sends helpful reminders about students who will be starting and keeps everyone informed about updated policies. He also happily answers any questions that anyone has and is a joy to work with.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, collaboration, customer service and communication, James!

Vanessa Gordon

Department of Psychiatry, Chicago campus

Vanessa consistently demonstrates excellence in job knowledge, skill, quality, and delivery of desired outcomes in the performance of her work. An example of her work excellence was again evidenced recently through her successful handling of a large project to vacate the contents (equipment, cabinets, print materials, furniture, etc.) within the Department of Psychiatry’s large basement storage areas (Rooms B36 & B90 in the 975 building) having received an unexpected time-sensitive request to do so. Vanessa prioritized the handling of this project, along with her many other daily work assignments and attained the desired outcome in a stellar way. She handled every step of accomplishing this project through the performance of a detailed assessment of the related storage areas’ contents and their disposition, determination and implementation of the needed project steps, self-directed work, collaboration with others (including vendors), and the completion of many associated tasks to effectively relocate and/or vacate the contents of these large storage areas. Vanessa completed this project with attention to detail, her ever-present enthusiasm, a high degree of energy, and service with a smile, all while addressing her many other work priorities in parallel. Vanessa’s dedication, commitment, hard work, and professionalism is much appreciated, and she is well-deserving of a KUDOS award!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core value of excellence, Vanessa!

Casey Guerra

Department of Emergency Medicine, Chicago campus

Casey is an absolute gem and a joy to work with. The past few months have been a bit chaotic with different trainings, certifications, and holidays. Casey has been incredibly patient in helping my team navigate it all, and she answers all questions. She has proactively sent us requirements well in advance and followed up as needed. I deeply appreciate how she goes above and beyond in sending extra resources and information.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core value of excellence, collaboration, accountability and communication, Casey!

Ginger Light

Department of Pediatrics, Peoria campus

Ginger and I have worked together for several years. She is always willing to jump in and help anywhere there’s a need and has taken on many ongoing projects for the betterment of our office and to benefit our patients. She holds herself to the highest of standards and our patients often ask for her. She is professional in her interactions and a pleasure to work with. She is patient and kind and a huge asset to UIC.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication and customer service, Ginger!

Maggie Mac

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Maggie skillfully navigates the challenges of her high-pressure job with great humility, precision, and timeliness. Everyone who has the privilege of knowing her knows she is an absolute joy to work with.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication, and customer service, Maggie!

Sydelle Martinez, Anitha Paruchuri, Nikki Stout

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Sydelle, Nikki and Anitha were our core team members responsible for reviving an in-person COM Research Forum.  We had record numbers of participants including 120 from our regional campuses.  The collaboration between them was what helped make this event such a success!

Sydelle, Anitha and Nikki: Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, communication and customer service!

Cristi Meyers-Arnold

Mile Square Health Center L.P. Johnson, Rockford campus

Cristi assisted a patient with getting scheduled for a long-awaited surgery. This patient had multiple barriers in care, including multiple medical conditions, communication barriers, self-care barriers, and transportation concerns. Cristi was able to firm up communications between our clinic, cardiology, Local UW Swedish American Hospital and UI Health Chicago. This was tedious work, but Cristi made sure to keep the patient in the know, helping him to feel confident in his care. During this process, the patient became ill and was hospitalized. Cristi went to the hospital to visit the patient, which he incredibly appreciated! Cristi also made sure to coordinate the patient’s care plan with his hospital discharge team. Before the patient was discharged, his surgery was finally scheduled along with close looping ALL the patient’s other needs. Without Cristi’s beyond extra efforts, this patient’s quality of life would have continued to decline. We are lucky to have you on our team Cristi. Thank you for all your extra efforts.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, collaboration, communication, and customer service, Cristi!

Amanda Myers

Department of Psychiatry, Chicago campus

Amanda is an amazing asset to the team and has extensive knowledge about systems and all things mental health.  Amanda also brings a lightheartedness and humor that is helpful and important to our intense field!  She has been essential in my adapting/learning as a new employee in the department and UIC.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration and communication, Amanda!

Lauren Rieger

Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Chicago campus

Lauren is always working hard to ensure that the important research that we support is communicated widely with the UIC community and beyond. She helps drives our team meetings and operations meetings that keep us engaged with each other and functioning as a team. She is also just a delight to have as a colleague.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, collaboration and communication, Lauren!

Janice Tamplin

Department of Administration, Peoria campus

Ms. Tamplin goes above and beyond to meet students where they are at and to support them. Having grandmother duties, being sick, having funding taken away, nothing can stop her in her pursuit to help students. I sincerely appreciate all the work you do, and you don’t get enough recognition that you deserve!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication, and customer service, Janice!

Eric Wallbruch

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Eric goes above and beyond when interacting with students and staff. He is always willing to help out when anyone needs something. He makes a point to get to know all the students by name and helps them feel heard and welcome at UICOM.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core value of excellence, collaboration, accountability and customer service, Eric!

Afiya Baig

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Afiya is an amazing co-worker and deserves all the thanks for her work!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication, and customer service, Afiya!

Charity Caldwell

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge Charity for her exceptional communication to all Chicago faculty, staff, and students, particularly during the recent network outage. She quickly informed everyone about the situation, demonstrating her commitment to keeping us all updated and minimizing disruption.

Charity consistently goes above and beyond her responsibilities in audiovisual support. Her tireless efforts ensure that our classrooms remain accessible and equipped for success, allowing both faculty and students to thrive. It’s clear that she genuinely cares about the college and is always seeking ways to enhance our experience.

Thank you, Charity, for your hard work and unwavering support!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, communication and customer service, Charity!

Sharon Carter

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Sharon Carter is the main artery of the Continuing Medical Education (CME) office, who embodies and demonstrates UIC values daily. She provides efficient administration of every and all elements of the program including, but not limited to day-to-day operations, responding to CME inquiries promptly, fulfilling certificate and transcript requests, ensuring financial relationships are mitigated, and database management and review of applications for educational activities to ensure the applications are accepted by the College committee.

Ms. Carter has guided the Peoria staff and countless administrators from the college and UI Health system. Sharon is the face of the CME office and has been instrumental in the maintenance and sustainability of the office since she took the role in October 2022. I learn from her daily. We are blessed and fortunate to have her on our team and here in the College of Medicine. Kudos to you Sharon!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, communication and customer service, Sharon!

Bryon Cogley

Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), Chicago campus

Bryon is always at the top of his game, ensuring that everyone on the team has all the tools they need to succeed. He is the first to ask if you need anything and will make sure that everything is running smoothly.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core value of excellence, Bryon!

Chun Dai

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Kudos to Chun for her outstanding service and unwavering support! Chun’s reliability and responsiveness are exceptional. Her deep knowledge and experience allow her to provide thoughtful, thorough, and expert support very efficiently. There are countless examples of her excellence – too many to list! Simply put, Chun is the kind of person who just gets things done, and she does it with excellence every time!!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, accountability and customer service, Chun!

Kim Densmore

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Kim is such a pleasure to work with. She is really on top of all of her responsibilities and completes everything with a smile. She uplifts everyone with her humor and positivity. She cares about the students and her co-workers!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication and customer service, Kim!

Shannon Dowty

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Kudos to Shannon – without her hard work, we would not have the Kudos program, the Employee Resource Guide, or the new annual Celebration for Staff, among other recent initiatives. Shannon has done so much for staff development at the College of Medicine! She is a wonderful COM employee, and we are lucky to have her talents here!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication and customer service, Shannon!

Trish Georgas

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Trish is one of the biggest unsung heroes of UI COM. Not only is she extremely knowledgeable about the college and its people, but she is so positive and friendly. She is one of the people I am happiest to run into in the hall. We are lucky to have her!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, communication, and customer service, Trish!

Casey Guerra

Department of Emergency Medicine, Chicago campus

Casey is an outstanding member of our administrative team. She meets all of our UIC values on a day-to-day basis. She is always willing to take on extra job duties and over the past 2 months, has worked diligently to meet various compliance requirements and collate extensive data/requests for UIC, Campus and external awards for our faculty. She has attention to detail, is organized, and takes initiative. She owns her job, is accountable, and keeps all stakeholders informed. Even on crazy, stressful days, she handles everything with grace. She independently seeks out opportunities for professional development and shares opportunities at our staff meeting on a regular basis.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication, and customer service, Casey!

Kanwal Haque

Department of Family and Community Medicine, Chicago campus

Kanwal has continued to grow in her role and has consistently provided outstanding support for our research endeavors. She is a joy to work with, always demonstrating the highest standards of competence, collaboration, and commitment. I am grateful for her contributions to supporting the advancement of our research mission.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration and customer service, Kanwal!

Thurman Harden

Department of Family and Community Medicine, Chicago campus

Thurman is an exemplary colleague who is always helpful and goes the extra mile. He balances many competing demands on his time with grace and cheer. He is an asset to our department, and we are so fortunate to have him in our work family. Thank you, Thurman, we are grateful for your wonderful support!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication, and customer service, Thurman!

Lynne Keeton

Department of Administration, Peoria campus

We would like to recognize Lynne Keeton and her team at the Peoria campus for their exceptional work in responding to recent requests that required a quick turnaround. Lynne was able to offer valuable advice based on her experiences with similar requests, fostering a supportive environment for her team and the departments impacted. Thank you to the Peoria HR department! We appreciate you!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, accountability, and customer service, Lynne!

Tammy Livingston

Graduate Medical Education, Peoria campus

I’ve worked with Tammy for a number of years, and she is an amazing coworker. She’s always quick to help when and where needed. She’s an excellent resource as well. She’s always willing to take time for others and it is so appreciated. She’s a mama bear to her residents and is fierce in defending, standing up for, and helping them with their needs. All of these qualities make Tammy an incredibly valuable coworker and UICOMP employee!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, collaboration, communication, and customer service, Tammy!

Karen Lostaunau

Department of Surgery, Chicago campus

Karen is an excellent Transplant Coordinator! Last week, a patient came to the Transplant Clinic without an appointment. Karen had her registered, did the nurse visit, arranged for labs, and had me do the pre-transplant surgical evaluation. This saved the patient another visit for her Transplant Evaluation!

Karen goes above and beyond and is a great champion for patients!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core value of excellence, Karen!

Valerie Lynn

Department of Administration, Peoria campus

Valerie is extremely knowledgeable about the credentialing process and is always willing to answer questions. I appreciate that she is willing to help with something, even though she is trying to complete her own job. She has been a huge asset to me during the process of learning a job I was unfamiliar with!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core value of excellence, Valerie!

Drew McDowell

Advancement & Community Relations, Peoria campus

Overdue Kudos to Drew for his leadership and resourcefulness during the GiveCampus migration several months ago. There was much to be figured out on the back end, and the donation page on the COM Peoria website is functional, thanks to Drew’s efforts!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of collaboration and customer service, Drew!

Joanna Michel

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Joanna has shown unwavering dedication to supporting and uplifting out students and local communities. Her work in community engagement has made a significant impact, fostering partnerships that have enriched the lives of many. Through her leadership, countless students have gained valuable experiences and skills that help them become compassionate and engaged healthcare professionals. Joanna’s commitment to promoting justice and addressing health disparities is an inspiration!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, diversity, equity and inclusion, and customer service, Joanna!

Alina Miller

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Alina is exceptionally proactive, diligent, and intelligent. She has done a wonderful job transitioning her role from managing committees to overseeing the work of a team of committee administrators and taking primary administrative responsibility for our critical accreditation survey. She works tirelessly with outstanding quality and never complains about the burden of work. We would not be nearly as functional without her!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, and customer service, Alina!

Michael Paprzyca

Department of Medicine, Chicago campus

Michael has helped the Office of Educational Affairs immensely over the past four months as we work through some challenging issues related to affiliated faculty appointments. He has gone well above and beyond the call of duty to use his deep institutional knowledge to help us make good decisions and move forward.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence and collaboration, Michael!

Anitha Paruchuri

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Shout out to Anitha for her excellent work migrating dozens of donation pages to the new GiveCampus platform a few months ago. She not only handled all of the page redirects but also made herself available as a resource to everyone who needed her. I really appreciate the solution-oriented style she brings to every project she touches.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, collaboration, and customer service, Anitha!

Laureen Perkins

Department of Administration, Peoria campus

We would like to acknowledge Laureen Perkins and her team in the Peoria Dean’s Office for their timely and thorough responses to recent requests made under very tight deadlines. Laureen effectively guided her team and the departments in providing the necessary information to ensure both accurate and efficient responses. She has empowered her team to excel, and her dedication and expertise serve as an exemplary model. We sincerely appreciate the hard work of the staff in the Peoria Dean’s Office!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, and customer service, Laureen!

Garie Pierre-Louis

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Garie is a great team player. He always makes sure everyone feels included. Garie readily takes on tasks even when his basket is overflowing. He is kind and deserves to know he is appreciated!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication, and customer service, Garie!

Anna Reczynski

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Anna is an absolutely amazing Office of Student Affairs lead. She was always readily available and so quick to help whenever needed. She had an amazing attitude and always made stressful situations feel less stressful. She always made me feel so supported and that helped me during my entire time in medical school.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core value of excellence, Anna!

Aaron Rosenthal

Purchasing & Contract Management, Chicago campus

Aaron deserves recognition for his exceptional support and for making us feel like a priority, no matter the situation. Aaron is always ready to take action and deliver results for our purchasing and contract department. Most recently, we had an urgent request with an invoice, and Aaron stepped in and provided an immediate resolution. His efforts do not go unnoticed, and we are incredibly grateful for his partnership and commitment to excellence. Thank you for everything you do!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, collaboration, communication, and customer service, Aaron!

Janine Sacco

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Janine spearheaded the Grand Rounds seminars for the Medical Student Training Program (MSTP) this year and did an amazing job. She revamped the schedule, ensured that students were paired up, and redid the introduction. The Grand Rounds are a program requirement that most students dread, but she took it on and made it a positive experience for all involved.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, collaboration, accountability, and customer service, Janine!

Jamie Sanchez

Department of Pediatrics, Chicago campus

We have been going through multiple recruitments and locums for the Pediatrics NICU in a rapid-fire approach. Jamie has been an essential partner in completing the various steps required. He is always helpful, even to the point of sending gentle reminders when things need to be done that are lagging. His communications are always pleasant and professional. Jamie is a wonderful and greatly appreciated colleague!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication, and customer service, Jamie!

Melanie Sandow

Print Shop, Peoria campus

Melanie accommodated a last-minute print shop request for the Urban Medicine Program. She was gracious and kind with my request. She completed the job in the shortened time frame (2 hours), and we had our copies and laminated documents that we needed for our program. The print shop/shipping and receiving staff is always super helpful and accommodating. They are a pleasure to work with!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, collaboration, and communication, Melanie!

Hung Ta

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Hung has worked patiently with me for the past two months to ensure proper reporting of grades. While I have been navigating my transitional role, Hung has been invaluable with his technical support, and importantly, his amazing institutional knowledge. Hung is the most polite and respectful person I work with at UIC. He is present in every encounter and injects his expertise when appropriate. He even has responded to support requests while on vacation. I think Hung is an invaluable resource for the College of Medicine and truly appreciate all the work that he does.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core value of excellence, collaboration, and customer service, Hung!

Rob Tapp

Central Information Services, Peoria campus

Big, big kudos to Rob for setting up the library computer lab for my in-training exam today. Even though bad weather was predicted, he made sure to let me know he’d be on campus to make sure things started off smoothly and to provide any support needed during the testing event. I appreciate this so much and I know my fellows do as well. Thank you, Rob!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, accountability, and customer service, Rob!

Kimberly Taylor

Department of Emergency Medicine, Chicago campus

As a newer member of the Emergency Medicine family and starting my position during the height of the pandemic, it has been a blessing to work beside Kimberly. She was able to train me in-person and would also jump on Zoom to show me how to do an administrative task. Three years and some months later she continues to answer my questions without hesitation. Her great work ethic and tenacity is something I strive to maintain. Thanks for leading the way, Kimberly!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence and communication, Kimberly!

Stacey Walters

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Kudos to Stacey for taking the time to create and deliver a presentation about Best Practices for Managing Hybrid / Remote Teams. I know this was additional work outside of her normal job duties. It was a great presentation for the College of Medicine, Chicago!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of collaboration and communication, Stacey!

Jodi Whitlock

Department of Administration, Chicago campus

Jodi puts so much effort and thought into planning events for our medical students! She’s always trying to find new ways to engage them outside of the classroom.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core value of excellence, collaboration, diversity, equity and inclusion, and customer service, Jodi!

Guomao (Lisa) Zhao

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Chicago campus

Lisa has been an incredible asset to our team throughout our Principal Investigator’s research study. As newcomers with limited knowledge of specimen banks, specimen processing, and procuring supplies for specimen storage, we have greatly benefited from her expertise. She dedicated significant time to teaching us how to navigate the specimen system database, ensuring we understood how to submit the documentation correctly. In addition, Lisa shared her knowledge on how to process and store specimens, including the proper temperatures for refrigeration and freezing. Lisa not only demonstrated the specimen processing procedures but also had us perform return demonstrations to ensure we fully grasped the process. Thanks to her guidance, we’ve made the transition from novices to being able to work independently. Lisa continues to serve as a valuable resource as we progress. We are truly grateful for her collegiality, expertise, time and mentorship!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core value of excellence and collaboration, Lisa!

Dolores Avelar

Department of Administration, Hispanic Center of Excellence, Chicago campus

Kudos to Dolores for creating the biweekly newsletter using the external platform!  The external platform requires certain guidelines that must be followed given we have program participants in the Hispanic Center of Excellence (HCOE)’s Medicina Scholars who attend other universities.  Dolores ensures she includes announcements, congratulates our Medicina Scholars in achieving milestones, such as presenting research or graduate program acceptances, all while advising students, recruiting students and assisting with HCOE’s PARE.  Thank you for the great work you do Dolores!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication, and customer service, Dolores!

Molly Barnes

Department of Pediatrics, Peoria campus

Molly has been an incredible supporter of me and my team. She has really helped to take my ideas (even the off the wall ones) to the next level through constructive critiques! She is encouraging as I try to stretch and grow professionally and works to open doors, when possible.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core value of collaboration, Molly!

Jaymi Belcher

Office of Student Affairs, Peoria campus

Jaymi Belcher provides exemplary communication and collaboration as the “go to” lead in the office of Student Affairs. Her weekly Student Affairs email consistently achieves a 70+ percent open rate and leads that metric for all email communication sent in Emma for the Peoria regional campus. This is indicative of the great job Jaymi does in assimilating the content to make sure it is concise and specific to the informational needs of busy medical students. In addition, she routinely helps our Community Relations and Web Team connect with students/student interest groups to secure details on events and programs as well as request photos to assist in publicizing student happenings to our campus and social media community. Jaymi’s outstanding collaboration and communication skills are appreciated and help us better recognize our medical students and the great work they’re doing.
Thank you, Jaymi!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, collaboration, communication and customer service, Jaymi!

Wendy Bucklin

Division of Research Services, Peoria campus

I am delighted to nominate Wendy Bucklin for recognition, she is most certainly deserving of KUDOS! Wendy consistently goes above and beyond to guide staff and faculty, answer questions, and solve problems with remarkable efficiency. Her warm and welcoming smile is the best way to start the day, creating a positive atmosphere for everyone. Wendy’s dedication to taking on additional responsibilities and her commitment to excellence in her work is truly commendable. Her overall performance sets a high standard, making her an invaluable asset to our team.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core value of excellence, integrity, accountability, communication and customer service, Wendy!

Brittney Clark

Office of the Dean, Peoria campus

Brittney did an outstanding job with organizing the Staff Appreciation Week!! Her enthusiasm and energy in planning and executing the event is admirable. She went an extra mile to ensure that staff felt special during the week. It was great to see the positive response from staff – she really rolled out a red-carpet celebration for them!!!!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, collaboration, accountability and customer service, Brittney!

Moriel Daniel

Department of Administration, Office of Educational Affairs, Chicago campus

Kudos to Moriel for her exceptional contributions to the College of Medicine. Moriel exemplifies excellence in her role within assessment, consistently going above and beyond to ensure alignment and streamline processes for optimal efficiency. Her attention to detail and collaborative efforts set a high standard for all. Her work has a significant impact on shaping the student experience and supporting the success of the college.

We are incredibly fortunate to have Moriel as part of our team. Thank you for your outstanding work and for consistently exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication, and customer service. Moriel, your contributions are deeply appreciated, and we are truly grateful for everything you do!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication and customer service, Moriel!

Nicole DiVittorio

Department of Administration, Office of Educational Affairs, Chicago campus

In her role as Educational Program Evaluation Coordinator, Nicole has expanded the capacity of our team.  In addition to the timely processing of evaluations across the curriculum, Nicole has led the process of building our curriculum map on a new platform. Nicole has also facilitated connecting students across campuses for SCB tri-campus reports and the Independent Student Analysis. She is a responsive and effective communicator. We are lucky to have her in the UI COM community!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, communication and customer service, Nicole!

Tabitha Duncan

Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Chicago campus

Tabitha Duncan deserves to be recognized for her unwavering dedication to her transplant colleagues and patients. As a nurse practitioner, Tabitha consistently demonstrates extraordinary teamwork, a positive attitude, and remarkable hard work. She has been instrumental in supporting the go live of our new post-chronic patient care structure. She has given strong advice about the operational changes and helped the team remain positive.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, collaboration, accountability, communication, and customer service, Tabitha!

Laura Hermosillo

Department of Urology, Chicago campus

Laura exemplifies multiple UIC core values a few examples are as follows:

Excellence: She is very thorough when she reviews the schedule. She is knowledgeable and will review past notes to make sure the patient has completed the ordered imaging/lab results that were requested. This assures the patient/provider will make the most of the visit and can discuss the results and update the treatment plan accordingly. This helps the day flow SO much better, and the clinic run more efficiently!

Collaboration: She collaborates with the multidisciplinary team and helps the patients connect with radiology or different providers in the department when needed. She is forward thinking and appropriately questions things that seem out of place.

Accountability: She follows through on a task until there is resolution. We have become very comfortable that the assignment will be done correctly, thoroughly and completely when she is working on it.

Communication: She closes the loop of communication by informing as needed when tasks are completed or when there is additional information or work up needed.

Customer Service: She is very timely in her task completion. She also is always pleasant and professional with the patient and team. She has a very courteous demeanor and is easy to work alongside. A true pleasure to work with.

Often the problems and issues of a department are immediately brought to the forefront. At times the ones who are doing a great job and working diligently are overlooked. I just want to ensure that Laura knows her hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed! She deserves KUDOS!!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, collaboration, accountability, communication, and customer service, Laura!

Stephanie Hornbuckle

Department of Pediatrics, Peoria campus

A patient’s mother reached out to me to ensure that I knew that Stephanie went above and beyond securing documents that were being requested for the patient. She said that Stephanie checked back in with her frequently to ensure that she understood what was needed and made sure that she was updated in terms of the process. Way to go, Stephanie!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence and customer service, Stephanie!

Warren Marchbank

Department of Administration, Informational Resources, Chicago campus

Warren is always so responsive and reliable! I often have these last minute “emergencies” related to getting set up for class or connecting to a computer and he consistently responds and saves the day! He is professional, very competent in his job and has a calming effect in times of stress.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, communication, and customer service, Warren!

Angela O’Bryant

Department of Health Sciences Education and Pathology, Peoria campus

While planning a mental health event for the Urban Medicine Mini Medical School program, Angela demonstrated a genuine commitment to collaboration in bringing her vision to life. She actively sought input from both Urban Medicine students and community members to ensure the event truly reflected the needs and experiences of the Peoria community. With thoughtful attention to detail, she incorporated engaging, multi-sensory activities—including a drum circle, therapy dogs, a smoothie station, art, and more—designed to captivate and educate 4th-7th graders. Through these experiences, students will not only learn about the importance of mental health but also leave with practical tools and meaningful reminders to prioritize their well-being.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of collaboration, Angela!

Rachel Olech

Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), Chicago campus

Rachel is an excellent colleague to work with!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, and accountability, Rachel!

Michelle Olvera

Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Chicago campus

We are happy to have Michelle Olvera working at the UIC Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. In a short time, she has handled numerous tasks with discipline and skill. With her expertise in customer service, she continues to tackle challenges with dignity and respect. She works closely with the GI Fellowship Director, Hepatology Transplant Fellowship Director, Assistant GI Fellowship Director, and GI Research colleagues, organizing online communications and meetings, setting up interviews, and scheduling in-person special events while creating an atmosphere of camaraderie. We enjoy her energy and hard work. She is a tremendous asset to an already great team!

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core value of excellence, Michelle!

Emily Orr

Department of Family & Community Medicine, Rockford campus

Emily works on multiple projects in the research division of our department and she’s an asset to each project. I truly appreciate her organizational skills and her willingness to take initiative on project tasks. Emily is bright, helpful, thoughtful, and dependable, and she consistently produces excellent work. Finally, Emily brings positive energy to our division and is a pleasure to have as a colleague and collaborator.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core value of excellence, collaboration, and communication, Emily!

Monica Phillips

Office of the Dean, Rockford campus

I would like to nominate Monica Phillips for UIC Kudos recognition. Monica exemplifies the core values of integrity, collaboration, excellence, and communication in everything she does. She brings a wealth of knowledge to the team and is always willing to lend a hand, no matter the task. Her friendly, outgoing personality makes working with her a pleasure, and she has a unique ability to make even the most challenging tasks enjoyable. Monica is truly a gem, and her positive impact is felt by everyone who works with her.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration and communication, Monica!

Dawneva Sasse

Department of Community & Family Medicine, Peoria campus

Dawneva has done a truly outstanding job planning and executing a wonderful Rural Student Physician Program (RSPP) banquet. The evening was a celebration of our students’ hard work and accomplishments, where they were honored with scholarships, medals, and recognition for being part of the RSPP program. It was clear that many hours of thoughtful planning and dedicated effort went into making this event a success. Preceptors from across the state attended to support both the program and our students, and Dawneva’s extraordinary communication and coordination made it all possible. Pulling off an event of this scale requires the collaboration of many departments, and Dawneva worked tirelessly to ensure a seamless and meaningful evening—not just for the preceptors, but for our students as well.

Thank you, Dawneva, for your unwavering commitment and the passion you bring to everything you do. You’ve created a memorable experience that will stay with our students and guests for a long time.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, collaboration, communication and customer service, Dawneva!

Raven Simpson

Department of Pediatrics, Chicago campus

Raven began her role as a new behavioral health navigator for our department and very quickly proved herself to be an invaluable member of the team.  She collaborates incredible with colleagues both in and outside of the program and I consistently get positive feedback from both patients and providers she works with.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication, and customer service, Raven!

Jaylen Williams

Department of Administration, Informational Resources, Chicago campus

Jaylen is a pleasure to work with. He is excellent at his job and keeps a cool head in stressful situations. Whenever I walk into a session and see that he is running tech-support, I immediately feel calm and reassured that everything will run smoothly and if any technical issues arise, they are sure to be dealt with swiftly.

Kudos for exemplifying the UIC core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, communication, and customer service, Jaylen!

Senior Biomedical Information Research Specialist Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS)

 As a Senior Biomedical Information Research Specialist in the College of Medicine’s Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS) since 2018, Subhash is recognized for his exceptional contributions to the mission of UI COM.

Director, Medical Student Learning Environment
Department of Administration, Dean’s Office

 As the Director of the Medical Student Learning Environment since 2018, Tim is recognized for his exceptional contributions to the mission of UI COM.

Director, Curricular Affairs
Department of Administration, Dean’s Office

As the Director of Curricular Affairs since 2021, Matt is recognized for his exceptional contributions to the mission of UI COM.

Director, Human Resources Shared Services
Anatomy & Cell Biology, Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, Microbiology & Immunology, Physiology & Biophysics

As the Director of HR for the Basic Sciences Shared Services since 2021, Karen is recognized for her exceptional contributions to the mission of UI COM.

Medical Assistant
Department of Medicine, South Loop Physicians Group

 As a certified Medical Assistant in the Department of Medicine, South Loop Physicians Group since 2011, Urena woods is recognized for her exceptional contributions to the mission of UI COM.