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Leonard W. Sandridge was an avid champion of UVA staff and dedicated 44 years of service to the school. He joined the University in 1967 as internal audit staff and held a number of positions until he became Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in 1993. The Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contributor Award is the highest individual employee award at the University and is named in honor of him.

This award recognizes an outstanding University staff or team member who demonstrates dedication to service through individual efforts, group contributions, and commitment to our larger community.

Winners of this prestigious award not only contribute to the University in a positive way, but also enhance internal or public regard for the services provided by UVA and the Commonwealth at large. Winners' dedication to service impacts students, patients, various clients, management, fellow employees, and/or the community.

The winners of the 2025 Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contributor Award (OCA) are:

Academic Division

• Sherri Barker
• Samantha "Sam" Bryant
• Nic Miceli
• Trudy Tucker
• Tim White

UVA Health

• Sally LeBeau
• Heather Holland
• Reba Moyer Childress
• Keyri Lopez-Godoy
• Colleen Green

UVA College at Wise

• Jerry Mullins

Read below about how these exceptional employees are contributing to UVA's mission and values, and be inspired by their good works!

Learn more about this award and other ways to recognize the exceptional work of your colleagues on the HR Rewards and Recognition webpage.

Sally LeBeau (University Medical Center)

Sally LeBeau has been a steadfast presence at UVA Health for nearly three decades, embodying the values of honesty, hard work, and care. A true “UVA Lifer,” Sally currently serves as Director of Support Services and the Patient Experience Office, where her leadership continues to shape the culture of compassionate care.

Throughout her career, Sally has spearheaded initiatives that improved both operations and patient satisfaction. She enhanced interpretation services by developing medical language proficiency testing and training, streamlined parking operations to save $500K annually, and re-established the Patient & Family Advisory Council to ensure diverse voices inform system improvements. Her leadership also raised patient food experience scores from the 35th to the 66th percentile through Lean methodologies and Gemba rounding.

Most recently, Sally negotiated cafeteria discounts and healthy vending options for nearly 900 GME trainees, demonstrating her commitment to supporting those who serve UVA Health daily. Colleagues note that “Sally is motivated not by recognition, but by doing what is right in every situation.”

Her humility, consistency, and quiet excellence make her a trusted colleague and a deserving nominee for this award.

Heather Holland (UVA Pediatrics in Orange)

Heather Holland, social worker at UVA Pediatrics in Orange, exemplifies the values of compassion, service, and dedication. Serving a largely rural and disadvantaged pediatric population, Heather has become an essential partner in connecting families to vital community resources and providing counseling for children struggling with anxiety, depression, and other challenges.

Her daily commitment is evident—she rounds with clinicians each morning to anticipate patient needs and checks in personally with families to ensure ongoing support. Beyond her counseling work, Heather has led the creation of a clinic-based food pantry to address food insecurity affecting 12% of patients. She secured $19,500 in grant funding, partnered with the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, and organized a community advisory board to guide the initiative.

Colleagues note that “Heather’s positive ‘can do’ attitude and willingness to tackle difficult issues really shapes our clinic’s work.” Her leadership ensures that every child who enters the clinic will have access to food and resources before they leave, reinforcing the message that UVA Pediatrics at Orange genuinely cares for its families.

Heather’s tireless efforts strengthen both patient well-being and the clinic’s mission, making her a deserving nominee for recognition.

Reba Moyer Childress (University Medical Center)

For more than two decades, Reba Moyer Childress has embodied UVA’s values of excellence, service, and innovation through her leadership as Nursing Professional Development Specialist and Clinical Leader. Her work has transformed professional development at UVA Health, creating welcoming, efficient, and high-impact learning environments for hundreds of clinicians and new hires. Colleagues affirm that “Reba sets the tone for psychological safety, ensuring every learner feels valued and heard.”

Reba’s vision and dedication have streamlined onboarding processes, advanced simulation-based education, and strengthened UVA Health’s reputation for clinical excellence. She approaches every challenge with creativity, collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to doing what is right for patients, staff, and the broader community.

Her accomplishments are both extensive and transformative: she revitalized an abandoned clinical space into a cutting-edge simulation center, founded and grew the Virginia State Simulation Alliance (VASSA) to advance simulation-based education across 40 nursing schools and healthcare institutions statewide, and exemplified fiscal stewardship by repurposing thousands of dollars’ worth of supplies for simulation use while generously donating resources to free clinics.

Through innovation, mentorship, and stewardship, Reba has elevated UVA Health and the wider healthcare community.

Keyri Lopez-Godoy (UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center)

Keyri Lopez-Godoy, Community Navigation Specialist at the UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center, exemplifies what it means to be community-first, service-driven, and selfless. Her work focuses on reducing barriers to cancer screening and connecting families to essential resources, with a special emphasis on supporting the Latino community across the Blue Ridge Health District.

Her impact is tangible. To date, Keyri has navigated more than 350 individuals toward screenings, resulting in over 80 completed—80% of which were among Latino community members. She has also helped establish medical homes for more than 100 patients who previously lacked primary care providers, ensuring long-term access to healthcare beyond cancer prevention.

Keyri’s dedication extends beyond clinical care. She champions culturally inclusive materials, strengthens community partnerships, and mentors colleagues in best practices for engagement. Whether coordinating mobile mammography appointments, supporting food distribution, or guiding families through financial assistance paperwork, she meets people where they are with empathy and persistence.

One community member shared, “Meeting Keyri connected me to important resources. Thanks to her, I was able to get a mammogram and access food through a local pantry.”

Through compassion, creativity, and unwavering service, Keyri has strengthened both UVA Health and the communities it serves, making her a truly deserving nominee for the Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contributor Award.

Colleen Green (University Medical Center)

For more than two decades, Colleen Green, PA, has set the highest standard for compassionate and expert care at UVA Health. Specializing in complex liver diseases such as hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis C, Colleen has devoted her career to supporting some of the most vulnerable patient populations. Her dedication is both clinical and personal—she coordinates every aspect of care while offering unwavering support to patients and families.

Colleen was instrumental in launching UVA’s Post-Transplant Hepatitis C Clinic, where her innovative work with modern therapies has enabled patients transplanted with HCV-positive organs to eradicate the virus. This groundbreaking model has allowed UVA’s transplant teams to expand access to lifesaving organs, giving many patients a second chance at life. Her outcomes consistently surpass national standards, strengthening UVA’s reputation for clinical excellence.

Beyond patient care, Colleen mentors new physician assistants and nurse practitioners, shaping the next generation of healthcare providers. As one colleague reflected, “Colleen’s mentorship profoundly shaped the way I care for patients today.” She has also helped UVA achieve a >95% hepatitis C cure rate, transforming a once-debilitating disease into a treatable condition for hundreds across Virginia.

Her humility, clinical excellence, and unwavering dedication make her a true model of service and integrity.

Read about the other awardees on the UVA HR website.