To the YSM Community:
We are delighted to share that 38 Yale School of Medicine (YSM) colleagues have been selected to receive inaugural Staff Appreciation & Recognition Champions (ARC) Awards, which celebrate teams who exemplify collaboration, initiative, inspiration, and community service. These awards were officially presented at a formal breakfast ceremony on June 11, 2025.
We are grateful to the ARC Awards Committee members who created the program as an initiative of the YSM Staff Culture Committee, and who performed the difficult task of selecting four teams from among the two dozen who were nominated. We are also grateful to those who wrote nominations in recognition of their colleagues.
Following are the honorees for 2025 and excerpts from their nominations.
Award: Collaboration
Shymar Avery and Nakia Woods
As Facilities supervisors, Shymar and Nakia are the quiet force behind many of YSM’s successful operations and events. Their reliability, attentiveness, and solution-focused mindset reflect a deep pride in their work and genuine care for the YSM community. Whether it’s cultivating a positive and welcoming first impression during high-profile recruitment events, or preventing disruptions during weather-related emergencies, their dependability allows faculty and staff to focus fully on academic and engagement efforts. They lead by example, inspire and empower individuals at every level, and cultivate a sense of belonging and shared success.
Award: Community Service
Carol Amico, Tahirah Armstrong, Lauren Astorino, Ralph Brooks, Richard Colon, Stacey Cannon, Mark DiLeone, Jr., Angela DiPaola, Sarah Esteves, Tracy Ghantous, Heather Goodwin, Linda Lopez, Elda Martinez, Luis Ojeda, Rene Ortiz, Esther Schlossberg, Alysse Schultheis, Anne Stevens, Stazja Stuccio, Adati Tarfa, Barbara Valdes, Ronald Valenzuela, and Marinelly Ventura
The InSTRIDE team works on the ground, breaking down barriers to deliver clinical care directly into the communities where it is needed. Their fleet of mobile health vehicles, including the first legalized mobile pharmacy and clinic in the United States, has provided almost 700 patients with nearly 2,000 prescriptions since its launch in December 2023. The team — clinicians, nurses, a pharmacist, community health workers, researchers, project coordinators, and drivers — coordinate travel to housed and unhoused communities in an expanding list of cities. They build trusting partnerships with local agencies and are united by a mission to reach the most vulnerable.
Award: Inspiration
Sandra Sapp and Manmeet Virdee
The creators of the Yale Pediatrics Diversity Council have demonstrated initiative and unwavering dedication to fostering collaboration, inspiring others, and engaging in meaningful community service. Their impact has transformed the department’s culture to one that embraces dialogue and compassion. They inspire others to adopt new perspectives and work together toward common goals, bringing together staff across roles to engage in honest conversations around workplace climate and contribute ideas for change. They have formed initiatives that are strategic, well-executed, and sustainable, and they model grassroots leadership that is humble, authentic, and deeply community-oriented.
Award: Initiative
Richard Ahern, Teresa Carty, Michelle Colaccio, Marianito Cenabre, William Cook, Shawn Hill, Anthony Iannucci, Beth Lynch, Brad Serrecchia, Andrew Sidera, and Katherine Woods
The Department of Orthopaedics Medications Committee proposed a bold change in the department’s prescription management, which resulted in significant cost savings and improved efficiency in dispensing. They found success by anticipating obstacles, developing a comprehensive implementation plan, providing staff training, and monitoring the program's progress. Though it represented significant changes to workflow, they guided a seamless transition with minimal disruption to clinical operations. The committee was able to identify critical problems through in-depth data analysis, develop innovative solutions, advocate for their vision, collaborate across departments, and effectively implement change.
High-performing teams such as these enrich our culture, advance discovery, and increase our impact in improving the health of all people. Thank you for supporting the ARC awards and celebrating the important ways our community members are helping to shape science, medicine, and the future of YSM.
Sincerely,
Nancy J. Brown, MD
Jean and David W. Wallace Dean of Medicine
C.N.H. Long Professor of Internal Medicine
Arnim Dontes, MBA
Deputy Dean for YSM Finance and Administration
Darin A. Latimore, MD
Deputy Dean of Diversity & Inclusion
Chief Diversity Officer
Associate Professor, General Internal Medicine