Four staff members at Yale School of Medicine (YSM) have been named recipients of 2026 Recognition Awards by the Working Women’s Network (WWN) at Yale University.
The WWN awards are presented annually to employees across the Yale campus who demonstrate outstanding contributions in six categories. The eleven awardees will be honored at a ceremony in April.
Congratulations to the YSM staff recipients:
Janine Hoffmann, senior administrative assistant for the Department of Surgery’s Division of Surgical Oncology, Section of Breast Surgery, was awarded in the category of Work Life Champion. This award honors women who take extraordinary measures to help colleagues balance their professional and personal responsibilities. Her nomination described Hoffmann as “the glue that holds us together … someone whose quiet strength and genuine kindness transform the workplace,” citing her willingness to step in to support colleagues, assist with time-sensitive work, and offer encouragement during challenging moments. Hoffmann is widely known for fostering a culture of compassion and support that helps colleagues across the department navigate the demands of a fast-paced academic medical setting.
Beth Lynch, senior director of the revenue cycle at YSM, was awarded in the category of Heroine, given to a woman who advocates, mentors, or nurtures others at Yale. Beth was nominated for her exceptional leadership, advocacy, and commitment to helping others thrive at the Yale School of Medicine. Over many years, she has mentored and advanced team members, championing professional growth through meaningful opportunities. Since stepping into her current role, Beth has cultivated a collaborative, inclusive culture—bridging teams, improving processes, and empowering staff to lead with confidence. Her nomination noted that she “creates an environment where people feel seen, supported, and encouraged to reach their full potential.”
Carolina Machado, manager of education and outreach programs in YSM’s Office of Collaborative Excellence (OCE), was selected for the Innovator/Creator category. Her projects include the Seeds of Success science initiatives for K–12 students in New Haven. Carolina was nominated for bringing enthusiasm, thoughtfulness, and an innovative mindset to all parts of her work. Her nomination said she helped create focus groups for Hispanic community faculty and staff, develop structured questions, and identify themes from their responses. She was key to organizing a retreat for OCE staff and faculty advisors, and then turned a stack of notecards into a long-needed interactive database for sharing active projects. In addition, she has led skills-based workshops for the team, mentored several colleagues, and, “measurably improved our office’s efficiency — all with humility and in a spirit of collaboration.”
Colleen Moriarty, MS, director of media relations and audience development at YSM, was selected as a Work-Life Champion in recognition of the profound difference she makes for working parents on her team. Colleen’s nominator said she has redefined what it means to balance full-time work and parenting—creating an environment where flexibility, trust, and understanding allow working parents to truly thrive. Her nominator shared that this flexibility of scheduling fosters, “a lack of stress of ‘trying to make it all work,’” and, “I have the energy to give 110% to work, knowing that my value to her and the team does not change with life’s happenings.” Colleen empowers her colleagues to contribute to the successes of their families and their colleagues.
The Working Women’s Network (WWN) is an employee resource group open to all Yale employees. Its mission is to provide programs and resources that champion the exploration and pursuit of personal and professional goals, in order to enhance employees’ success while also furthering the advancement of the university.