Staff Appreciation & Recognition Champions (ARC) Awards

Each day, every member of the YSM community works to advance our educational, research, and clinical missions. Together, the synergy of everyone’s unique talents and novel perspectives creates high-performing teams that enrich our culture, advance discovery, and increase our impact in improving the health of all people.

In March 2025, YSM leaders introduced the inaugural YSM Staff Appreciation & Recognition Champions (ARC) Awards. Recognizing that impactful achievements are often achieved through collaboration, the program celebrates teams who exemplify the following aspirational behaviors, which are essential to enhancing our vibrant and inclusive community in support of our core values.

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.

Congratulations to the Staff ARC Awardees for 2025

In its inaugural year, 38 Yale School of Medicine (YSM) colleagues have been selected to receive the Staff ARC Award. The four teams were selected by the ARC Awards Committee members, from among the two dozen who were nominated. The winning team members will receive an engraved award and will be honored at a formal breakfast ceremony held on June 11, 2025, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Following are the honorees for 2025, and excerpts from their nominations. Please join us in congratulating them all!

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Award: Collaboration

Shymar Avery and Nakia Woods

As a Facilities team, 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.

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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.

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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, and bring 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.

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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.

Each year, four teams, embodying each of these aspirational behaviors, will be selected to receive an ARC award:

• Collaboration: Demonstrates respect, integrity, and teamwork in actively listening, expressing ideas, seeking feedback, resolving conflicts, and involving others to solve problems or develop innovative solutions.
• Initiative: Demonstrates commitment, courage, and proactive leadership in identifying opportunities for change and embracing new approaches for tackling challenges and driving improvements.
• Inspiration: Exhibits professionalism, enthusiasm, and motivation in striving for excellence; fostering a positive, supportive work environment; and encouraging the attainment of ambitious goals.
• Community Service: Actively contributes to the greater New Haven community through ongoing volunteerism, mentorship, and initiatives that promote well-being and inclusion and create meaningful impact.

Deadline April 21, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EST (closed). Self-nominations are welcome.

Send questions to the committee at ysmarcawards@yale.edu.

The ARC Award is co-sponsored by YSM’s Offices of Collaborative Excellence, and Finance & Administration, and the Culture Committee. It was made possible by the members of the YSM Staff ARC Awards Committee who have brought the program to fruition:

• Ryan Curran – Associate Director, Leadership and Staff Development, YMTD
• Michele Carpenter – Senior Program Manager
• Sarah Hagans – Associate Director, Administration, Internal Medicine
• Chelsea Gomez – Program Manager
• Paula Maguina – Senior Research Finance Manager, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery
• Franny Puglisi – Lead Administrator, Department of Microbial Pathogenesis

Recognizing that impactful achievements are often achieved through collaboration, the program will celebrate teams who exemplify the following aspirational behaviors, which are essential to enhancing our vibrant and inclusive community in support of our core values. Each year, four teams, embodying each of these behaviors, will be selected to receive an ARC award.

A team consists of two or more people who have worked together, formally or informally, to impact the YSM community positively. Teams can come from the same or different departments. They may be recognized for ongoing efforts or specific projects. The team must meet the following criteria:

1. Employment Status:

• All members of nominated teams must be current, full-time, or part-time YSM employees.
• Employees of all job classifications are eligible.
• Teams composed of eligible staff members may be nominated or self-nominated.

2. Demonstration of Criteria:

Team nominees must exemplify one or more of YSM’s Staff ARC Award aspirational behaviors:

• Collaboration: Demonstrates respect, integrity, and teamwork in actively listening, expressing ideas, seeking feedback, resolving conflicts, and involving others to solve problems or develop innovative solutions.
• Initiative: Demonstrates commitment, courage, and proactive leadership in identifying opportunities for change and embracing new approaches for tackling challenges and driving improvements.
• Inspiration: Exhibits professionalism, enthusiasm, and motivation in striving for excellence; fostering a positive, supportive work environment; and encouraging the attainment of ambitious goals.
• Community Service: Actively contributes to the greater New Haven community through ongoing volunteerism, mentorship, and initiatives that promote well-being and inclusion and create meaningful impact.
  

3. Inclusivity and Positive Impact:

Team nominees should be known for fostering an inclusive environment and positively impacting colleagues, departments, or YSM more broadly.

4. Scope of Contribution:

Both ongoing contributions, and specific initiatives or projects, within the past year will be considered, whether they pertain to daily responsibilities or go above and beyond their regular duties.

The process is designed to ensure fairness, inclusivity, and transparency in identifying teams who embody the award criteria.

Nomination: Team nominations, including self-nominations, can be submitted by any YSM faculty, staff, or students.

Submissions must include specific examples of how one of the four key behaviors are demonstrated by the team.

Initial Review: After nominations close, the YSM Staff ARC Awards Committee, which includes representatives from various departments and levels of YSM, will conduct an initial review.

The committee will verify basic eligibility.

• Eligible teams are evaluated based on the degree to which they demonstrate YSM’s Staff ARC Award behaviors and YSM’s Core Values and foster inclusivity.
• The committee will score each team nominee against a standardized rubric, focusing on:
  • Contribution: Demonstrable positive impact.
  • Alignment with Core Values: Clear examples of embodying YSM’s Core Values.
  • Inclusivity: Commitment to creating a respectful and inclusive environment.
• Based on the scoring, a short list of finalist teams will be selected for further consideration.

Final Section

• Finalist teams will be reviewed by a selection panel, including senior leaders and the YSM Staff ARC Committee, to provide a range of perspectives.
• The selection panel will make final recommendations for award recipients in each category.

Approval

• Final recommendations are submitted for approval to: Arnim Dontes, deputy dean of YSM Finance & Administration, and Darin Latimore, deputy dean of collaborative excellence, and associate professor of Internal Medicine.

Announcement

• Award recipients are notified privately, then announced to the YSM Community.
• Awardees will be celebrated at the YSM Staff ARC Awards Ceremony.
• The YSM Office of Collaborative Excellence will highlight the awarded teams in its newsletter.