UConn Health honors employees through our PAWS and TEAM awards at biannual celebrations. These awards recognize individuals who consistently exceed expectations with teamwork, a positive attitude, a strong work ethic, and superior service. We also celebrate groups advancing UConn Health's mission with togetherness, effort, positivity, and motivation.
As part of our "Seasons of Gratitude," share a congratulatory message with your colleagues on the UConn Health Wall of Gratitude.
2025 Spring/Summer
Nominated by Kassandra Ortega, Clinic Office Assistant • UMG-Orthopedics
Lexi is a kind team player. Her willingness to help others and up lift her colleagues I believe strengths her team. She has a positive attitude. Her kind, warming and funny personality is contagious. Lexi up lifts her patients and assures them she is there every step of the way and is there for their needs. Lexi goes above and beyond in her work as a nurse. She demonstrates patience and unwavering commitment. She takes pride in her tasks.
The way she treats her patient is what a true definition of a nurse and leader. Someone who demonstrates compassion no matter what day or time. I have seen Lexi have patience and understanding to her sick patients. Her personality makes her patients feel safe and she is someone they can count on. Lexi is a very kindhearted nurse who love what she does, and you can see this as soon as she enters the room. Her spirit up lifts those who need it.
Nominated by Jennifer Sposito, Administrative Manager • UMG - Munson Neurology
Daniela is part of our Neurology Call Center staff team. While we are not physically together, she speaks with hundreds of our patients every week and provides a personalized connection with our patients and staff. She goes above and beyond by reaching out to staff, helping to triage and solve patient problems, and being a kind, listening ear when patients are going through a difficult time. Often times, she deescalates tense situations before we even receive the call. She truly has a gift that cannot be replicated, we are so lucky to have her as part of our Neurology Team! In a recent encounter, a patient was yelling at Daniella, and she displayed extraordinary patients, empathy and understanding to help this patient.
Daniella has a wonderful work ethic, she is always positive and brings that to the work every day with her calls, and also in staff and interdisciplinary team meetings. She brings positive ideas to the table during meetings and is quick to ensure that both her peers in Neurology and the Call Center are on the same page, and this really shines with the patient care that comes across. As previously mentioned, it is greatly appreciated by the staff and leaders that she is able to masterfully deescalate difficult patient interactions. She should be recognized because it is a gift that she is able to provide this Exemplary level of customer service that aligns with the mission, vision and values of UConn Health.
Nominated by Eliza Rivera, Administrative Manager • UMG - Population Health
Rachel exemplifies being part of a team by fostering collaboration, supporting colleagues, sharing expertise, and ensuring a coordinated approach to patient care through effective communication, crisis management, and promoting a positive, supportive work environment. She also exemplifies an awesome attitude through her unwavering compassion, optimism, resilience, and dedication to going above and beyond for her patients, always fostering a positive and supportive environment. Rachel consistently displays a wonderful work ethic by going above and beyond in her commitment to patients, taking initiative to resolve complex issues, maintaining a high level of professionalism, and consistently meeting deadlines while managing a demanding caseload, all while remaining dedicated to improving patient outcomes and supporting our team.
I would like to nominate Rachel for employee recognition for her exceptional dedication and compassion in assisting a patient in need. Rachel went above and beyond to support an 87-year-old Canton office patient facing financial challenges. This patient, who was working full-time as a bus driver while caring for his wife battling stage 4 cancer, shared his struggles with paying for rent and food.
Rachel quickly connected him with the CHOICES (Connecticut’s program for Health insurance assistance, Outreach, Information and referral, Counseling, Eligibility Screening) program, helping him enroll in a new insurance plan that saved him $389 per month. She also facilitated his enrollment in the SNAP benefits program, easing the burden of purchasing food. Thanks to Rachel's efforts, the patient was able to retire and remain at home to care for his wife.
Furthermore, on 2/6/25, Rachel testified in support of Raised Bill No. 1176, advocating for the true value of the AAA (Area Agencies on Aging) and its vital benefits to the older population. Rachel's proactive efforts and commitment to helping this patient and the greater community demonstrate her outstanding dedication to the well-being of others.
Nominated by Christine Campbell, RN, Quality Assurance Specialist • Clinical Effectiveness Admin
Mary Kate recently transitioned to the Patient Safety and Quality Department where she has jumped in with both feet. She became an instant member of the team. She has taken on additional responsibilities with enthusiasm and passion. Mary Kate masters each responsibility quickly and with grace. Her sense of humor elevates those around her increasing comradery and teamwork.
She was asked to cover the Trauma program when a co-worker left, and she stepped in to manage the trauma alerts and data. Due to her thoroughness and attention to detail she was auditing a trauma chart when she found something concerning. A 100-year-old patient that was seen in the emergency room and was not yet scheduled for his follow up imaging that was suggested after an addendum was filed to the image review. This addendum was filed after the patient had been discharged home. Mary Kate's careful review of his imaging, and her dedication to Safety CHAMP behaviors, she ARCC'd up her concern to leadership outside of her department. This led to the patient being called and brought back in for imaging without delay. Mary Kate's dedication to patient safety and quality care helps to create bridges within the institution.
Nominated by Emmett Sullivan, Director, Specialty/Ambulatory Ops • Pharmacy
Dr. Carey as part of her clinical responsibilities, works in the internal medicine department alongside the prescribers. She aligned the resources of the UConn Health retail pharmacy's Dispensary Of Hope (DOH) program to ease the patient's financial burden for their prescriptions. She is supportive of all the team members she encounters. From the pharmacy students and residents to the medical staff and nursing team, Jill can always be seen sharing a smile and providing a solution to the problem presented.
Dr. Carey carries many responsibilities, in addition the clinical pharmacist, for internal medicine she also supports the population health clinic. Her efforts also further the mission of education by being the pharmacy residency director for the ambulatory care (PGY-2). The care model that she is part of, has developed also has positive clinical outcomes. She has a particular IM patient by following their coaching and accessing medications from UHPSI's DOH program have lowered their A1C from 12 to 7.4. the lowest level they have had in 5 years.
Nominated by Christina Garcia, Nurse Practitioner • UMG - General Dermatology
Betsy always helps out with everyone without being prompted or asked. It makes a big difference to all of us. The clinic runs smoothly as a whole and we go home happy, and the patients are satisfied. She loves to work. She loves to do a good job. She keeps her sense of humor whether or not she is tired or busy. She communicates clearly and gets things done efficiently.
She is the difference between a rough day and a great day because she works hard to make sure everything runs smoothly. I've never worked with anyone as hard working as her. She is good to my patients — she calls them when they need a person to talk to directly and gives them her time, consistently.
Nominated by Sarah Loschiavo, Nursing Director - Palliative Medicine, Supportive Care and Hospice Services
Kara is a critical member of the inpatient palliative care team! This is evident by a recent email I received from Patient Relations with a compliment for the team and Kara. Kara's role on the care team impacted this patient and family tremendously, even in their pain.
Email from patient’s daughter:
My father died at UCONN on February 2025 after spending 3 weeks there under your care and services. As you can imagine it was a horrific 3 weeks for us as we faced what seemed to be the inevitable. We were there for 6-8 hours every day listening and learning and hoping but at no time did we feel unrecognized or unsupported.
It feels strange to be feeling so positive about such a devastating experience, but this is the purpose of my letter; to thank everyone we encountered for giving us the very best they could give. The expertise, knowledge, compassion and attention came every day, from everyone, at every level of expertise, on every shift.
We went from ICU to Palliative Care in those 3 weeks with many of the same team from beginning to end. A shout-out to Kara in Palliative Care. So respectful and careful as she had to handle the most difficult subjects. She was always there … made the time.
So, thank you all, God bless you and keep up the good work."
Kara joined the palliative care team over 1 year ago and brought her critical care expertise and awesome attitude to enhance our team. Kara is the light that patients needs during some of their darkest moments. She is a fierce patient advocate with a can-do attitude. She always has the patient/family's best interests at the forefront of her practice. We are so lucky to have Kara on our team, caring for some of the most complex and medically fragile patients at UConn! Kara's work ethic is outstanding! Kara's dedication to her team and patients is admirable. In a recent situation, a new consult was received late in the day...on a Friday evening. Kara called me with her concerns that the patient was symptomatic and asked if she could stay late to see the patient. In follow up, Kara shared that the patient was suffering, and she was grateful she saw the patient, addressed her symptoms and provided the support she needed that evening. This is just one example of the work ethic Kara exemplifies daily!
Kara routinely provides superior services to patients, families, learners and our team. In addition to the examples above, Kara shares her critical care knowledge and expertise with our team and learners with impromptu education sessions (related to patients the team is seeing) and started developing palliative care extubation guidelines to improves processes, clinical care and outcomes. Kara eloquently intertwines her critical care expertise and palliative care expertise to enhance the care of patients across JDH.
Nominated by Lisa Dion, Nurse Manager, Neonatal • N.N.I.C.U. Unit
Aaron has demonstrated on more than one occasion to help out our team on non-scheduled work. Aaron has remained positive even when it meant he had to work late on a last-minute request to help us achieve our goal.
The NICU was recently working on an upgrade to our milk scanning system. This project was being managed mostly by CT Children's but needed to be integrated with UConn Health IT systems. It was discovered shortly before implementation that there were items that needed to be completed before Go Live. Aaron stepped right in and worked late one evening to complete these items so our project could be implemented on time. On a recent Friday evening our printing for our milk scanning system went down. The HELP desk was unable to help, and I reached out to IT leadership. They notified Aaron who troubleshooted the issue and fixed the server before the weekend. If this had not been completed it would have been a potential safety issue for our tiny patients for the weekend.
Nominated by Jessica DeMarest, Asst Nursing Manager • Medical/Surgical/Oncology Unit
Trish went above and beyond to keep staff safe during a recent Fentanyl exposure on UT6. She gave direction every step of the way. She obtained information quickly and efficiently when needed. She was just amazing. Trish was reassuring, caring, professional and took charge.
Trish wanted everyone to be safe during the event. She took every action possible to ensure it was completed effectively and completely. Trish was managing the contact with multiple departments, including but not limited to Police, Fire, and Administration. Trish has a take charge attitude. She gets the job done with upmost professionalism. Even though Trish has other events going on in the hospital she got us through this safely and calmly.
Nominated by Julia Blair, Administrative Manager • Human Research Protection Prog (HRPP)
Stephen will never hesitate to lend a helping hand, offering support to his colleagues and the research community whenever needed. His ability to collaborate with his team and the research community are a testament to his professionalism. Stephen has a consistent positive attitude which fosters an environment of trust and respect among his colleagues. His hard work and commitment not only contribute to the team's success but inspires those around him to strive for excellence. Stephen is dependable and reliable and willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. He cares about the work he does and about his colleagues. He goes above and beyond to make himself available and approachable to the research community and, through this work ethic, helps to facilitate research at UConn Health while ensuring regulatory compliance.
Submissions to the IRB are often time sensitive and that urgency creates stress for the researcher. Stephen will do whatever he can to prioritize that submission to accommodate the researcher, even if it means working outside of his regular hours or through his lunch. In a recent example, Steve went above and beyond to help a researcher by completing submission tasks usually completed by a study coordinator, just to assist a researcher who was struggling. Steve's consistent effort, along with his reliability and ability to collaborate effectively with the team and his colleagues make him truly special and we are grateful to have him on our team.
Nominated by Sarah Loschiavo, Nursing Director-Palliative Medicine, Supportive Care and Hospice Services - JDH
Anne exemplifies being part of a Team for many reasons. Please see the WHY in the recognition I received from one of the teams Anne worked with in caring for a patient:
"I’d like to recognize the palliative care team, with special mention to Anne Megson, for the outstanding work she did during a particularly challenging goals of care discussion. The patient had been readmitted multiple times, and the family was understandably angry and frustrated. Anne navigated the conversation with incredible skill, maintaining focus on the patient’s needs while guiding everyone through the difficult situation with both compassion and expertise. Her patient advocacy and leadership in the meeting set a remarkable example for all the residents and fellows in the room today.
Thank you, Anne, for your outstanding work!"
Anne has a Can-do attitude. She comes to work ready to tackle challenging patient cases. Anne collaborates with other members of the care team to optimize clinical outcomes and align care with patient wishes. Palliative care is challenging work, but Anne consistently brings her smile and optimism which impacts patient care and team wellness. Anne's Work Ethic is admirable. This is evident in the clinical care of patients and supporting family members during their loved ones illness. The service has been very busy, and Anne routinely offers to pick up extra shifts, assuring the team is supported, patients are cared for and the service is available to colleagues.
In addition to the recognition outlined above, Anne consistently mentors new staff and students, volunteers to lead educational initiatives for nursing and the medical school and runs the palliative care bereavement meeting for our interdisciplinary team. Anne is dedicated and devoted to her work, always keeping patients and families first. UConn is extremely lucky to have her compassion, leadership, advocacy, clinical expertise and humor!
Nominated by Natalie Brito, A UConn Health Patient's Family Member
Heather was amazing to my sister during her stay at labor and delivery. This is my sisters first time giving birth and Heather made sure she was comfortable and safe while in the hospital. Heather shows that she truly loves her job, she is extremely nice and attentive. Heather is an amazing nurse!
Nominated by J.J. Odom, Univ Director • Buildings and Grounds
George has really worked to develop his team where they work together collaboratively to achieve better results. George always has a positive attitude, and it is apparent with how he greets his team daily and how they interact with him. George will always work to find solutions that benefit everyone and will work tirelessly to support his team and the organization.
The real reason I think he deserves this recognition is because we recently had an employee who did not show up for work and did not call which was out of the ordinary. Instead of George stopping there, he made repeated attempts to try to contact the individual but was unsuccessful. He finally called local law enforcement where the employee lives for a wellness check and upon arrival they found the employee had a serious medical event. The police confirmed that if the person had not been found they would have died. The employee has since then recovered and is back to work.
George would hate that I am recognizing him for this and would not want to be recognized, as this is just who he is. A person that loves his team and has one of the biggest hearts of any human being I have ever had the pleasure of working with and I am extremely proud he is part of my team but overall, his dedication to UConn Health for the last 15 years is unwavering!
Nominated by Taryn Daley, Clinic Office Assistant • Cardiology Outreach
I have never seen an employee move so quickly on an issue I needed handled. Normally when you call a provider's office you are told not to expect a quick turn around and to give them 24-48 hours. Well today to I call my PCP office and had my form fixed and back in under 3 hours. Holly's knowledge of urgency and her level of compassion to see about my needs brought me to tears.
Holly is my doctors MA and his schedule is always full, but we never have to wait two days for an answer. Her patients are a priority, and I feel like one. I needed papers filled out for FMLA and it needs to be in by a certain time frame, but I never mentioned that to her and to have it done in record time is impressive.
This attention to detail, and compassionate attitude deserves to be recognized.
Nominated by Beata Labunko, Univ Director • UMG-Population Health
Kelly is an integral part of our quality team. She works really well with the data analytics part of Population Health and management, providing feedback that helps us improve our workflows. She is always willing to pick up extra tasks and assist her co-workers. Kelly has a very positive attitude and strives to help us achieve high quality rating in our value-based programs. She enjoys seeing the final results indicating that we achieved high scores for quality measures, such as diabetes HbA1c control, colorectal cancer screening, breast cancer screening or annual wellness visit completion that she works on. Kelly has an incredible work ethic. She completes her assignments in a timely manner. Once she completes the assigned tasks, she proactively reaches out to her supervisor asking for additional work. She is very productive, and she is a high performer on our team.
Kelly did an amazing work with assigned task of increasing annual wellness completion among our primary care patients. She conducted telephonic outreach and helped hundreds of patients schedule their annual visit. In particular, her diligence and persistence working on scheduling patients with United Medicare Advantage insurance helped us achieve 79% completion in 2024 (as opposed to 69% in 2023) resulting in a substantial financial incentive payment to UConn Health.
Nominated by Justyna Kazimierczyk, Asst Nursing Manager • Surgery/Orthopedics Unit
Kristen always take an extra step to help her patients. She is willing to switch assignments or help other nurses or aides that need help. She always goes above and beyond with patient care. She has no problem braiding hair or painting patients nails. She is always very quiet, never complaints about patient assignments and patients always have positive things to say about her!
Kristen is an excellent nurse, and a great team member! She is always very helpful! She doesn't have a problem with taking care of "difficult" patients and at the end of her shift she would still say "it wasn't bad" or "could be worse".
Just recently, a blind patient asked to speak to me and he wanted to inform us about excellent care he received from UT5 staff, but he especially wanted to acknowledge what a great job Kristen is doing. She helped him set up his iPhone with Siri and she made him feel very safe! He insisted that we should give her a raise! I am extremely proud and happy that she is part of UT5 team.
Nominated by Lisa Dion, Nurse Manager, Neonatal • N.N.I.C.U. Unit
Alka is a wonderful leader. She consistently makes sure her team is recognized for their contributions. Alka has a calming presence even when situations are getting sticky.
Alka is one of the most responsive leaders I have ever worked with. Whenever I reach out to her, she always responds quickly to help me resolve issues. On a recent Friday evening our printing for our milk scanning system went down. The HELP desk was unable to help, and I reached out to her. She connected with IT staff that could troubleshoot and fix our system before the weekend.
The NICU was recently working on an upgrade to our milk scanning system. This project was being managed mostly by CT Children's but needed to be integrated with UConn Health IT systems. It was discovered shortly before implementation that there were items that needed to be completed before Go Live. Alka was covering for an AVP and stepped right in, engaged her team and implementation of our project was able to start on time. Thank you Alka!!
Nominated by Ellen Shaw, Nursing Director • Nursing Administration
Samantha creates an incredible experience for her patients within UConn's Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center. A patient stated "The care we receive is so refreshing and we are always in the know due to Samantha's upbeat attitude and demeanor. My wife and I are so touched by her care and follow through, it goes way beyond just nursing, you can clearly feel it's from her heart. All I can say is Samantha leaves such a positive reflection on UConn Health."
Samantha goes above and beyond for her patients. She has had a major impact on a patient who has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and has gone above and beyond for the patient and family.
For the consistent and compassionate care, she provides to our patients, Samantha is truly deserving of this PAWS recognition.
Nominated by Anna Marine, Medical Assistant • UMG - Munson Neurology, and Linda Manzelli, Director, Ambulatory Practice • Cardiology
Jennifer Sposito is an outstanding manager who shows up every day with positivity, dedication, and care. Her team knows they can count on her—no matter the challenge. Whether it's resolving complex issues or offering steady support, Jennifer is always present, always encouraging, and always willing to help.
Anna shares that Jennifer supports everyone through their challenges with an awesome, outgoing attitude. She listens, she problem-solves, and she lifts others up. Her positive energy is constant, and her commitment to the well-being of her team makes a real difference in the day-to-day.
Linda adds that Jennifer has truly grown in her role as Administrative Manager for the Neurology service. She brings a calm, thoughtful approach to every situation and is deeply dedicated to quality care. Her clinical insight and focus on patient needs are evident in everything she does. Jennifer has earned deep respect for her leadership in growing the stroke program and applies that same diligence and passion across all areas of care.
Jennifer’s combination of compassion, professionalism, and unwavering support makes her a trusted leader and a vital part of UConn Health. Her presence strengthens her team and improves the patient experience. She embodies the values we strive for every day—and we are lucky to have her.
Nominated by Amy Clark, Asst Nursing Manager • Infectious Diseases / Manager of the Ryan White Program
Eileen consistently goes above and beyond for every one of her clients. Recently she assisted a client to avoid eviction and met with the Housing Authority of Hartford. Eileen caught a mistake, which has become part of a class action lawsuit as the housing authority incorrectly calculated the client's rent, which led to a review of all calculations made by the housing authority. The notice to quit was withdrawn and the client will remain housed. Eileen works tirelessly to ensure her client's needs are met and is always someone that I can count on.
Eileen will always drop everything to assist a client or other Ryan White team members. Eileen is an integral part of reviewing and entering data to ensure the team can keep grant funding. This recent example is just one of many acts of kindness and superior service that Eileen provides.
The Ryan White Program provides treatment for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and B. It offers testing, medical care, outpatient medical services, and medical case management. The program aims to provide comprehensive HIV primary medical care, medications, and essential support services for low-income people with HIV. It also includes education, prevention, and early detection for HIV through outreach, counseling, and testing services. The program funds direct health care services for people living with HIV through grants to states, cities, and community health organizations.
Nominated by Brittany Arnoso, Clinic Office Assistant • UMG-General Neurology
Jessica is one in a million. She is a prime example of a team player. She is always the first person to help out without even being asked. Whether it's for a patient or helping out a fellow staff member, you can always count on her. Jessica always displays a positive attitude at work. She's always willing to go above and beyond for both patients and staff members. You can always count on Jessica to be at work no matter what. Her attendance is exceptional. Having someone you can always count on to be at work shows her wonderful work ethic.
Jessica has taken on the role of many special projects that have needed work on in the office. Whether it be a specific project or just day to day tasks you can always count on her. She is the go-to person that everyone comes to when they need help with anything and everything.
Nominated by Ryan Scott Pesce, Staff Nurse CN2 - Outpatient • UMG - Munson Neurology and Ana Ramos, Clinical Practice Manager 1 • UMG-General Neurology
Brittany is the epitome of a dedicated and compassionate team player. She leads with kindness, intuition, and professionalism—greeting patients each morning with a warm smile and a cheerful “good morning” that immediately puts others at ease. Her positive, calming presence uplifts those around her, and she is always quick to offer help before it’s even requested.
One Friday evening, Brittany noticed an elderly woman sitting alone outside the Brain and Spine Institute. Though off the clock, she turned around to assess the situation. The patient, who had been seen earlier by another department, was confused, had no phone, and was awaiting a ride that never came. After checking with departments and spending significant time trying to reach MTM, Brittany ultimately arranged and paid $50 out of pocket for an Uber to ensure the patient got home safely. She stayed more than 90 minutes past her shift. When asked why she did it, Brittany simply said, “All I could think of was my own grandmother when I saw her sitting there alone and cold.”
Brittany is exceptional when it comes to customer service — she is attentive, asks the right questions, and always greats patients with a friendly smile. Earlier that same week, Brittany noticed another patient growing upset while waiting for bloodwork. His ride was threatening to leave, and the driver refused to wait. Brittany calmed the patient, intervened with the driver, coordinated a new ride through MTM, and ensured the patient got safely into the vehicle. Brittany shared, “It’s upsetting seeing these patients who have medical conditions being treated this way—left to panic and feel alone. That man was literally about to have a panic attack because he wasn’t sure if he should choose his health or be left behind.”
Brittany’s unwavering compassion, quick thinking, and advocacy exemplify Superior Service. Her actions reflect the very best of UConn Health as she is a perfect example of what we stand for here at UConn and we are very lucky to have her as part of our team!
Footnote: Jennifer Sposito, Administrative Manager • UMG Munson Neurology, reports that Brittany was compensated for her Uber expense and that Population Health has since addressed the transportation issue with the MTM company to prevent future occurrences.
2025 Spring/Summer
From her nominations:
“Throughout her career, Ashley has made a lasting impact in her field through her unwavering passion for delivering quality patient care. She is widely recognized as a strong patient advocate who consistently takes a patient-centered approach, always seeking opportunities to improve patient outcomes…. Above all, she always prioritizes the needs of the patient, ensuring that their care is not only effective but also compassionate. Her dedication to improving patient care has had a lasting influence on her colleagues and the healthcare system, setting a high standard for excellence in patient care.”
(Source: DeFrancesco, Chris. “Celebrating UConn Health’s Nurses.” UConn Today, May 5, 2025. https://today.uconn.edu/2025/05/celebrating-uconn-healths-nurses/)
From her nomination:
“Through her advocacy, she has been a mentor, and guide and encouraged many to go into the nursing field. For nurses already in the field, she has encouraged them to go farther. As a colleague she serves as a role model for professionalism, for patient care and for going above and beyond to take care of her patients. For patients, she represents a practitioner who understands what it is like to be a patient, to be in their position, and she makes clear that she will advocate and take care of them as they are under her care. Everyone she has taken care of is made to feel comfortable, safe and protected.”
(Source: DeFrancesco, Chris. “Celebrating UConn Health’s Nurses.” UConn Today, May 5, 2025. https://today.uconn.edu/2025/05/celebrating-uconn-healths-nurses/)
From nomination:
"'Dayna is a 30 out of 10.’ This is just one of many patient responses recognizing her exceptional care. She is the first to respond in emergencies and always ready to support her teammates. As charge nurse for 493 hours this year, she balances leadership with mentoring, spending over 125 hours precepting new graduate nurses. In 2024, she earned three Good Catch awards for preventing potential safety events—though she sees it simply as ‘what a nurse does.’… She cultivates a culture of collaboration, respect, and continuous learning, strengthening both her team and the workplace environment.”
(Source: DeFrancesco, Chris. “Celebrating UConn Health’s Nurses.” UConn Today, May 5, 2025. https://today.uconn.edu/2025/05/celebrating-uconn-healths-nurses/)
From her nomination:
“She is a fierce advocate and clinical expert in her field, utilizing her compassionate approach and clinical expertise to grow the Neuro-Oncology program at UConn Health. Kate has made a lasting impact by advancing interdisciplinary collaboration and improving care for patients and families…. She also prioritized the well-being of the patient’s family, addressing their needs with compassion and skill. Over the years, I’ve witnessed her exceptional expertise in neurological care and her perceptive insight into psychosocial issues. Kate embodies Florence Nightingale’s attributes including compassion, dedication, leadership, self-sacrifice and whole person care.
(Source: DeFrancesco, Chris. “Celebrating UConn Health’s Nurses.” UConn Today, May 5, 2025. https://today.uconn.edu/2025/05/celebrating-uconn-healths-nurses/)
From her nomination:
“Through her specialized programs, she has developed and implemented a culture that is tailored to and meaningfully engages older adults. These programs focus on early mobility, and emotional support, ensuring that older adults receive holistic and comprehensive care…. She has empowered and equipped nurses with the knowledge and skills needed to provide quality care to and advocate for older adults. Florence Nightingale and Rachel Meehan share a commitment to improving patient care and advancing the nursing profession. Nightingale’s pioneering work, as Rachel’s has done, laid the groundwork for the multifaceted role of modern-day nursing.”
(Source: DeFrancesco, Chris. “Celebrating UConn Health’s Nurses.” UConn Today, May 5, 2025. https://today.uconn.edu/2025/05/celebrating-uconn-healths-nurses/)
From her nomination:
“Erin is the colleague everyone wants by their side, encouraging others to succeed…. Erin has built a lasting legacy at UConn Health through her unwavering commitment to nursing, compassion, and leadership. Through her role as a mentor and preceptor, Erin has shaped the careers of many nurses, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and confidence to thrive in their roles…. She fosters teamwork, strengthens culture and empowers her colleagues to succeed both personally and professionally. Erin always goes above and beyond, and her selflessness is unparalleled -she has set the foundation for others to thrive.”
(Source: DeFrancesco, Chris. “Celebrating UConn Health’s Nurses.” UConn Today, May 5, 2025. https://today.uconn.edu/2025/05/celebrating-uconn-healths-nurses/)
2025 Spring/Summer
Team Members: Chad Bianchi, Controller • Finance and Reporting, Maura Bobinski, Executive Staff Asst • Office of Health Affairs, Joanne Boucher, Director, Strategic Projects • Strategy and Business Development, Donna Brugnetti, Finance Manager • Budget and Data Analytics, Brian Gibbs, Strategic Planner • Strategy and Business Development
Nominated by Chris Hyers, Vice President Marketing & Strategy • Strategy and Business Development
The work to apply for and eventually be granted 23 additional inpatient beds for JDH was massive. For over a year these people gathered, analyzed, redid, rethought, rewrote and hunted down more information in support of the successful case than can be adequately characterized. In the end, the 290 (yes 290) page application and all the additional work that followed in the hearing process was successful because each of these people would take their part, work together and with others in the organization to make sure we had the best, most complete story of patient need and how the success of JDH was fueling our growth possible.
Their work, rework, and rework again make them the unsung heroes of the successful effort to expand bed capacity at JDH.
Team Members: Michelle De Lawrence, Kadie Ireland CPC, and Jessica Torres CPC, Coding Reimbursement Spec • Intensive Outpatient Program
Nominated by Ivelisse Martinez, Clinical Coordinator • Psychiatric Clinic
Michelle, Jessica, and Kadie serve as Coding Reimbursement Specialists for the Psychiatry Department, where they demonstrate exceptional teamwork, initiative, and professionalism on a daily basis. Together, they are responsible for reviewing and processing 17 billing Workqueues (WQs) each day. To manage this workload effectively, they hold daily check-ins to communicate priorities, set goals, and shift assignments as needed to ensure timely and accurate processing.
Their commitment to excellence goes beyond routine responsibilities. They have taken the lead in completing audit sheets weekly and monthly to help ensure UConn Health meets Joint Commission standards. The team also proactively reaches out to providers regarding charge concerns or documentation issues, often identifying opportunities for improvement. They consistently bring thoughtful suggestions to the Weekly Coding meetings and have successfully flagged and helped resolve multiple EPIC system glitches by submitting tickets and following through until resolution.
Always positive and approachable, they are known for their willingness to support one another and jump in when a teammate needs help. Their openness to questions and their eagerness to maintain a collaborative environment reflect their outstanding work ethic and shared dedication to high-quality service. We are truly fortunate to have this reliable, motivated, and solutions-driven team supporting our department.
Team Members: Beebe, Teresa, Principal Trainer • IT Clinial Systems; Leslie Bell, Administrative Director • Nursing Administration; Melissa Blake, Application Analyst 2 • IT Clinical Systems; Cori Brown, Application Analyst 3 • IT Clinical Systems; David Croke, Associate Vice President • Revenue Integrity; Margaret Cummings, Principal Trainer • IT Clinical Systems; Rebecca Daniels, Reimbursement Analyst 2 • Clinical Business Services; Gretchen Daukas, Application Analyst 3 • IT Clinical Systems; Nicole Dejoseph, Manager, Patient Access • Patient Access; Sue DiMatteo, Univ Director • Patient Financial Services; Michelle Dionne, Application Analyst 3 • IT Clinical Systems; Naomi Donat, Application Analyst 3 • IT Clinical Systems; Kyle Dunleavy, Director of Single Billing • Clinical Business Services; Sarah Ginnetti, Associate Vice President • Clinical Business Services; Donna Hayes, Asst VP, Revenue Integrity • UMG-Administration; Megan Joseph, Manager, Patient Access • Patient Access; Ancy Joseph, Application Analyst 2 • IT Clinical Systems; Luis Lopez, Mgr, Patient Financial Svcs • Patient Financial Services; Ania Martula, Application Analyst 2 • IT Clinical Systems, Christine Masotti, Asst VP, Payer Negotiation • Contract and Network Management; Carole Mclaughlin, Epic Training Coordinator • IT Clinical Systems; David Miner, IT Project Manager • IT Project Management Office; Bryan Neurath, Associate Director • Clinical Laboratory; Rebekah Normandeau, Univ Director • Patient Access; Carolyn Orrell, Director, EPIC Revenue Cycle • IT Clinical Systems; Paula Palmieri-Grimm, Univ Director • Contract and Network Management; Jean Petricca, Clinical Practice Manager 2 • Neag Cancer Center (JDH); Katie Pires, Application Analyst 3 • IT Clinical Systems; Alka Sharma, Director, Info Technology • IT Clinical Systems; Michal Urban, Application Developer 1 • IT Clinical Systems; Kristin Wallace, Asst VP, Health Marketing • Health Marketing & Multimedia Svcs; Sharie Whittley, Associate Director, Radiology • Imaging Services Administration; Julie Wilbraham, Application Analyst 2 • IT Clinical Systems; Tamarcia Woodard, Clinical Practice Manager 2 • Imaging Services Administration; Milissa Woodward, Director, Ambulatory Access In • UMG - Call Center
Nominated by David Miner, IT Project Manager • IT Project Management Office
The project team for supporting OON Preparedness and ConnectiCare going out of network exemplify the expression that it takes a village. The team rallied behind the goal of building out processes and ways to support those processes for being prepared in the event ConnectiCare or any other insurance provider goes out of network. This team is made up of Operations, Clinical, Finance, IT, Marketing, and Compliance team members who are facilitating communication to our patients, building out Epic enhancements to support Continuity of Care and patients who want to use OON benefits.
This is all while working hard to avoid ConnectiCare or any other payer from going out of network. No one at UConn Health or our patients wants ConnectiCare to be OON but the team is working to be ready if it happens.
This team has had to meet multiple times a day/week on top of their already busy workload. I have seen the team have a very patient focused attitude when it comes to wanting to build a workflow that allows the greatest number of patients to continue to have access to UConn Health's clinical staff and facilities. Long brainstorming sessions in the beginning have led to detailed plan that the team is working through to minimize the impact to our patients.
Through all this, the people that make up this team are not just on the project, they also will be supporting ConnectiCare patients and other payer patients every day through obtaining authorizations, rescheduling, and finding ways to keep our patients at UConn Health.
Team Members: Josh Indeck, MSW, Social Worker 2 • Social Work; Kayleen Sandberg, RN, Clinical Case Manager • Case Management
Nominated by: Mary Kate Buckley, Quality Assurance Specialist • Clinical Effectiveness Admin
These two effectively work together to "tag team" socially complex cases that come into the Emergency Department to help make sure these patient's get discharged safely and timely. Josh will tackle the social issues like temporary or emergency shelter, coordinating transportation, food and medication delivery, town and outpatient social work follow up, coordinating with families and conservators to make sure they are aware and on top of the needs of their loved one/ward. This allows Kayleen to focus on coordination of home care services, what is or isn't possible through insurance and ensuring that start of care happens ASAP. Having this focused attack that covers all angles they are able to be more efficient which is in everyone's best interest. Their efforts help reduce the number of return ED visits these patients have.
4/15/2025 - A patient was seen in the CHF clinic, sent to ED for concern about worsening infection and medication availability. This patient is well known to the ED care coordination team, Josh in particular has worked with him many times over the past few years. This patient's regular pharmacy had been unable to deliver his prescriptions this week, so Josh coordinated having them sent to the UCONN pharmacy, walked there himself to pick them up and personally handed them to the patient. Kayleen was able to trouble shoot with patient's usual pharmacy to find out what the trouble was and updated patient so it can be avoided in the future. She also confirmed patient's home services were still active and as well as his aides through the VA. Patient felt comfortable returning home.
Team Members: Kathryn Smith, Lead Physician Assistant; Tarannum Malwat, Nurse Practitioner; Daniel Adelman, Ersilda Ajce, Heather Kurtzman, Jeffrey LeBaron, Kristen Leonard, Lisa Malone, Barbara Pelletier, Amanda Rousseau, Erica Sheehan, Joseph Stancavage, Thomas Yantus, and Alexander Skonieczny, Physician Assistants • Emergency Room Unit
Nominated by: Alise Frallicciardi MD, Medical Director Emergency Department
The AP group of the Emergency Department has worked tirelessly over the past few years to make sure that the department runs effectively, efficiently and that the patients get the care they need. As the number of patients coming to our ED has grown the AP's are seeing patients in hallways, waiting rooms and anywhere we can provide patient care. The ED is not an easy place to work. The patients are in distress, waiting and sometimes the environment can be unpleasant. The AP's take this in stride, always with a positive attitude and professional demeanor. They work together to make sure that any scheduling holes get covered and really work as a team to keep the ED as a whole running smoothly. Our PA's call the hundreds of patients who have urine cultures, radiology findings, lab results and resolve so many issues that would have never been caught. They are the unsung heroes of the UConn ED. They work together to provide consistently amazing, quality care to the patients they see. AP's can work anywhere in healthcare, yet our AP team chooses to work here in the UConn ED where they have an immeasurable and positive impact on the care patients receive every single day.
Team Members: Brandon Agnew, Application Analyst 2 • IT Clinical Systems; Marie Armington, Mgr Patient Financial Services • Patient Financial Services; Ashley Birge, Clinical Coordinator • UMG - General OB; Natasha Campbell, Application Analyst 1 • IT Clinical Systems; Anna Caputo, Reimbursement Analyst 2 • Revenue Integrity; David Croke, Associate Vice President • Revenue Integrity; Assunta DiMatteo, University Director • Patient Financial Services; Michelle Dionne, Application Analyst 3 • IT Clinical Systems; Deborah Draper, Reimbursement Analyst 2 • Contract & Network Management; Trisha Faraday, Application Architect • IT Clinical Systems; Bridget Ferland, Business Systems Analyst • Patient Financial Services; Sarah Ginnetti, Associate Vice President • Clinical Business Services; Donna Hayes, Asst VP • Revenue Integrity UMG; Todd Jackson, Application Analyst 3 • IT Clinical Systems; Ancy Joseph, Application Analyst 2 • IT Clinical Systems; Laura Karwoski, Application Analyst 2 • IT Clinical Systems; Beata Labunko, University Director • UMG - Population Health; Jennifer Lane, Reimbursement Analyst 2 • Patient Financial Services; Ania Martula, Application Analyst 2 • IT Clinical Systems; David Miner, IT Project Manager • IT Project Management Office; Kelly Motowidlak, University Director • UMG - Administration; Carolyn Orrell, Director • EPIC Revenue Cycle IT Clinical Systems; Paula Palmieri-Grimm, University Director • Contract & Network Management; Katherine Pires, Application Analyst 3 • IT Clinical Systems; Khadija Poitras-Rhea, Associate Vice President • UMG - Population Health; Kerry Providence, QA Specialist • UMG - Population Health, Ria Racette, Application Analyst 2 • IT Clinical Systems; Katherine Rudolewicz, University Director • UMG - Administration; Lalaine Sampieri, Manager • HIM Coding Health Information Management; Alka Sharma, Director • Info Technology IT Clinical Systems; Heidi Thompson, Clinical Practice Manager 2 • UMG - General
Nominated by: Christine Masotti, Asst VP, Payer Negotiation, Contracting and Network Management
The HUSKY Maternity Bundle Payment Program project team exemplifies Togetherness, Effort, Attitude, and Motivation. In June of 2024 after a year and a half delay DSS notified all Medicaid participating provider groups that the HUSKY Maternity Bundle Payment Program would be implemented effective January 1, 2025. The program is not voluntary. UMG as a participating Medicaid provider group is required to participate. The notice prompted Paula Palmieri-Grimm and Carolyn Orrell into high gear. Under their leadership the multi-departmental HUSKY Maternity Bundle Payment Program project team was formed. The team was tasked with converting existing claim billing and payment systems for Medicaid OB delivery cases from global payments to episode-based “Case Rate” payments for qualifying maternal health providers. The program update also included updates to systems to account for “incentive payments” (shared savings) for delivering high-quality, cost-efficient care. The team had less than six months to complete the project which was not a lot of time for a project of this magnitude. This was a HUGE project on a very tight timeline.
The multi-departmental project team included 31 staff members from IT Clinical Systems, IT Project Management, UMG Administration, UMG – General OB, Population Health, Patient Financial Services, Clinical Business Services, Contracting, and Revenue Integrity. The team called together quickly and charged with an enormous task that no one on the team had previous experience with demonstrated their ability to think quickly and rely on each other and resources such as EPIC Wisconsin researching best practices and talking with peer provider groups. Team members challenged each other, leaned on each other and each offered their experience and expertise to ensure successful completion of the project. It was a true team effort with each member of the team contributing!
The team led by Paula Palmieri-Grimm and Carolyn Orrell with David Minor as the Project Manager successfully brought the project to completion on time to meet the January 1, 2025, implementation date.
The HUSKY Maternity Bundle Payment Program project team went above the call of duty in many ways. Mainly adding this project to their already full plates and prioritizing it to ensure UMG didn’t experience a lapse in reimbursement from Medicaid. Staff from 9 Departments were pulled together on very short notice and tasked with completing the project in less than six months. The team’s focus and dedication to the project resulted in the project being completed on time meeting all deliverables to ensure timely billing and collection of payments from Medicaid for Maternity cases along with successful building of the tools needed to support the shared savings and incentive-based payment components of the program.
Multidisciplinary Team Members: Jaime Imitola, Professor/Clinical • Neurology; Hamza Coban, Asst Prof/Clinical • Neurology; Amanda Hernandez, Asst Prof/Clinical • Neurology; Brittany Arnoso, and Jessica Torres, Clinic Office Assistants • UMG-General Neurology; Karen Altomari-Nelson, Clinical Program Coordinator • UMG-General Neurology; Iza Colon, and Maggie Negron, Medical Assistants • UMG-General Neurology; Marshalene Stewart, Patient Svcs Representative • Nephrology; Kaitlyn Elliott, Pharmacy Clinical Coord • UConn Health Pharmacy Services Inc.; Laura Moehringer, Social Worker 2 • UMG-General Neurology
Nominated by: Karen Altomari-Nelson,Clinical Program Coordinator • UMG-General Neurology
The Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Team at UConn Health is the definition of teamwork, dedication, and excellence in patient care. Our team works seamlessly and collaboratively to ensure that our MS patients receive the highest quality care, support, and guidance throughout their journey.
Each member of our team plays a critical role in ensuring that our patients receive comprehensive, compassionate, and coordinated care. We work together to:
Beyond our daily work in the clinic, we are also deeply committed to supporting the MS community outside of UConn Health. Our team actively participates in MS Society Walks and MS-related events, advocating for research, awareness, and improved patient resources. Through these efforts, we demonstrate our unwavering dedication to our vision of enhancing the lives of those living with MS.
The success of our clinic is built on the foundation of teamwork, communication, and a shared commitment to providing exceptional care to our MS patients. We go above and beyond every day to ensure that our patients feel heard, valued, and supported.
For these reasons, I proudly nominate the MS Team at UConn Health for the Team Award, recognizing our unwavering dedication to superior patient care and outstanding teamwork.
Team Members — Clinical Effectiveness Admin: Arlene Villahermosa, Clinical Program Coordinator; Curricular Affairs: Jim Behme, Clinical Simulation CTR Coordinator; Alex Hoeger, Academic Computing Spec III; Epidemiology: Scott Calderone, Quality Assurance Specialist; Rachel Crosby, Infection Control Specialist 2; Nancy Dupont, Nursing Director; Katharine Falotico, Infection Control Specialist 2; Lisa Gentile, Quality Assurance Specialist; Lisa Giannakopoulus, Quality Assurance Specialist; Erica Gomez, Quality Assurance Specialist; Hospital Administration: Caroline DeFrancesco, Administrative Officer; Professional Practice and Clinical Excellence: Jeanne Szewczak, Adm Program Assistant 2; Judith Curry, Adm Program Coordinator; Janice Hahn, Associate Director; Desiree A. Mahon, Clinical Program Coordinator; Larissa Morgenthau, Nursing Director; Noelle Amato, Devon Bandouveres, Debra Cratty, Donna Criniti, Shannon Curtis, Amanda Darcey, Melinda Kindulas, Rachel Meehan, Yara Mendez, Creedance Mongillo, Kara Parker, Melissa Revicki, Michelle Taylor-Davison, Deisy Velez, and Amy Zipf, Nursing Professional Dev Specialists JDH; Marlena Wojtylo, and Natalia Zaniewski, Nursing Professional Dev Spec UMG; Justine Butler, and Annie Tucker, Staff Nurse CN3 JDH; Hospital Administration: Caroline DeFrancesco, Administrative Officer
Nominated by: J.J. Odom, University Director of Buildings & Grounds, Desiree A. Mahon, Clinical Program Coordinator • JDH-Prof Prac and Clin Excellence, and Michelle Taylor-Davison, Nursing Professional Dev Spec • JDH-Prof Prac and Clin Excellence
J.J. Odom shares: I would like to extend my deepest appreciation and gratitude for the outstanding work the Epidemiology Team does each and every day. Their unwavering dedication to patient safety, expert guidance in infection prevention, and your tireless efforts to educate and support our nursing staff and all other departments do not go unnoticed. Your commitment has played a vital role in maintaining a safe environment for both our patients and staff, especially during the most challenging times.
From ensuring proper protocols are followed to providing hands-on training and immediate support when issues arise, your professionalism and compassion make a profound difference. You embody the values of excellence, collaboration, and patient-centered care that benefits UConn Health. I wanted to recognize and thank you for being the guiding force in our infection control efforts. Your knowledge, teamwork, and care are truly inspiring, and I am proud to have such a remarkable team supporting the health of our entire community and that I get to collaborate with on a daily basis!
Your consistent performance in always prioritizing the best interests of our patients and staff is outstanding and worthy of this PAWS award!
Desiree Mahon shares: This entire Professional Practice and Clinical Excellence team works cohesively and tirelessly to create a nurturing and effective learning environment, preparing nursing and other clinical staff members to become competent and compassionate healthcare professionals. They are a dedicated team, that work closely with colleagues and staff to create a supportive learning environment organize team-building activities and foster a sense of community amongst staff and patients. They value each other, they value their purpose and ensure everyone feels welcomed, included and valued. Engaging in professional development that is always evidence-based, to stay updated with the latest nursing practices and educational techniques. Encouraging and supporting new hires and existing personnel daily and annual with training, refreshers, and competencies. This is the TEAM that sets the tone, the foundation and brings vision to who we are and the clinical excellence we value at John Dempsey Hospital.
Michelle Taylor-Davison shares: There was an identified need to re-educate in-patient nurses on proper indwelling catheter insertion. The driving force was Patient Safety to decrease out CAUTI rates. Together members of professional practice and clinical excellence, quality, and infection prevention/epidemiology and SIM teams coordinated over 6 months to educate 563 nurses!
The coordination, flexibility and willingness of all teams to tackle and take this project on at different times and hand off to each other when needed was a phenomenal example of our team's ability to motivate each other and coordinate as well as commit together to overall arching principles that improve our patient's safety and quality!
Team Members: Craig Ryan, Asst Prof/Clinical • Emergency Medicine; Margaret Britton, Elizabeth Grabber, and Bridgett Ray, Diagnostic Rad Techs; Courtney Eastman, Selma Elmaz, Sheanna Galarza, Damaris Perez, and Travis Raboin, Medical Assistants; Keely Martin, Nurse Practitioner; Robert Brice, Christopher Maio, and Aubrie, Nagy, Physician Assistants
Nominated by: Qerime Pocesta, Lead Radiologic Technologist • Canton Urgent Care
The Storrs Urgent Care team embodies the principles of Togetherness, Effort, Attitude, and Motivation through their unwavering commitment to patient care, teamwork, and a supportive work environment. Day after day, they rise to the challenge, seamlessly working together to provide exceptional care to 70-90 patients daily during peak seasons. This exceptional teamwork ensures that each patient receives timely and compassionate attention, even in the face of high demand.
The team’s sense of Togetherness is truly remarkable. They create an inclusive environment where everyone feels supported, including the student population who rely on their care during times of illness. With empathy and understanding, the team not only addresses the students’ health needs but also ensures they feel valued and respected throughout their experience.
Effort is at the core of everything this team does. They approach each day with a readiness to tackle any challenge, demonstrating remarkable efficiency and dedication to maintaining a high standard of care. No matter how busy or complex the workflow becomes, they consistently deliver results with poise and professionalism.
Their positive Attitude serves as the foundation of their success. The team fosters a welcoming atmosphere for both patients and new team members alike. By embracing new colleagues and helping them feel comfortable within the workflow, they create a sense of belonging that strengthens the entire group. This inclusive mindset helps build trust, camaraderie, and a shared drive to succeed.
Lastly, their Motivation is an inspiration to all. Every team member is deeply committed to achieving collective goals and ensuring the best outcomes for patients. Their passion for their work and for supporting one another makes them a shining example of what a unified and motivated team can accomplish.
Together, this team exemplifies the very best of healthcare—combining skill, compassion, and determination to make a lasting impact on those they serve.
The Storrs Urgent Care team at UConn Health goes above and beyond their regular responsibilities to align with the mission of providing exceptional patient care, fostering innovation, and promoting cost-efficiency. Some examples of such special tasks or projects include:
These are ways teams go above and beyond to make things better for patients and the organization.
