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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 2024 Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contributor Award (OCA) are:

• Academic Division: Kathy Alderson, Joey Carls, Lisa Shuler, Sherri Sullivan
• UVA Health: Scottie Frey, Tausha Grim, Gene "Taylor" Tereskerz, Sandra Burks, Fisher Rhoads, Nancy Rush
• UVA College at Wise: MaryAnn Keith

Read below about how these exceptional UVA Medical Center and School of Medicine employees are contributing to UVA's mission and values, and be inspired by their good works! (Read about the other awardees on the HR website.)

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

Scottie Frey (University Medical Center)

Scottie Frey has been a cornerstone of excellence at UVA Health for 24 years, exemplifying the ASPIRE values — Accountability, Stewardship, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Excellence — in every facet of her work. Her leadership, commitment to patient care, and dedication to UVA’s mission have had a lasting impact on the organization.

Some of Scottie's key contributions include:

• Leadership in Integrating HIM Departments: During the acquisition of UVA Community Health hospitals, Scottie successfully integrated the Health Information Management (HIM) department into her team, ensuring seamless alignment with UVA Health's high standards. Her steadfast commitment to maintaining the integrity of medical records required difficult decisions and workflow changes, all of which she navigated with professionalism and respect for differing viewpoints.
• Advocacy for Patient and Provider Needs: Scottie serves as a tireless advocate for UVA Health at both the patient and state levels. Whether diffusing challenging situations with patients over medical record access or advocating against burdensome state regulations for clinicians, her calm demeanor and strategic thinking ensure equitable outcomes.
• Champion of Employee Engagement and Resource Stewardship: As the leader of the Health Information Technology (HIT) Employee Engagement group, Scottie has amplified staff voices, fostering a culture of inclusivity and collaboration. Her stewardship is evident in operational efficiencies, such as outsourcing underutilized call center hours, resulting in significant cost savings for UVA Health.
• Commitment to Excellence and Mentorship: Scottie exemplifies accountability and mentorship, guiding her team with empathy and inspiring confidence. Her leadership in projects, such as aligning UVA Health’s HIM standards across departments, has reinforced the organization’s commitment to patient safety and quality care.

Scottie Frey’s exceptional leadership, unwavering integrity, and dedication to UVA Health’s mission make her a true embodiment of the ASPIRE values. Her ability to drive change while maintaining respect and collaboration has made her a role model across the organization. Scottie’s contributions are not only vital to UVA Health’s success but also inspire those fortunate enough to work alongside her. 

Tausha Grim (University Medical Center)

Tausha Grim serves as a Nursing Professional Governance Clinical Leader at the University Medical Center, where her expertise, leadership, and commitment to patient safety and collaboration have had a profound impact. Tausha is a trusted "dot connector," skillfully navigating interprofessional teams and fostering partnerships across clinical and administrative domains to drive innovation and excellence in patient care.

Here are some of her key contributions:

• Enhancing Patient Safety and Workflow Coordination: Tausha leads efforts to address complex patient safety challenges, including managing the 2024 IV fluid shortage and planning the multi-year phased upgrade of GE monitors. She collaborates with multiple departments to develop and implement tailored solutions, ensuring patient care remains uninterrupted and of the highest quality.
• Supporting Nursing Governance and Mentorship: As a coach and preceptor, Tausha guides committee chairs and emerging nursing leaders, fostering their professional growth and strengthening UVA’s distributed professional governance network. Her ability to balance mentorship with empowering others to lead effectively is a hallmark of her leadership style.
• Facilitating Interdepartmental Collaboration: Tausha serves as a liaison between nursing and key departments like Supply Chain, Pharmacy, Clinical Engineering, and Accreditation. She bridges gaps and promotes shared decision-making to advance critical initiatives, including regulatory readiness and infrastructure improvements for procedural sedation safety.
• Driving Organizational Excellence: Tausha contributes to UVA Health’s mission through her role in preparing the 2024 Magnet Redesignation application, showcasing UVA’s nursing best practices to a national audience. Her efforts ensure that UVA Health remains a model of nursing excellence and innovation.

Tausha Grim exemplifies UVA Health’s ASPIRE values—accountability, stewardship, professionalism, integrity, respect, and equity—through her tireless commitment to advancing nursing practice and fostering interprofessional collaboration. Her leadership, humility, and ability to inspire confidence in others make her an invaluable asset to the organization and a role model for all who work with her. It is an honor to recognize Tausha’s outstanding contributions to UVA Health and the communities it serves.

Gene "Taylor" Tereskerz (University Medical Center)

Gene “Taylor” Tereskerz exemplifies the values of UVA Health through his unwavering dedication to patient care and his ability to transform lives, one small act of kindness at a time. As a key member of the Community Paramedicine team, Taylor has consistently gone above and beyond to ensure patient safety, comfort, and well-being. His contributions extend far beyond the scope of his role, leaving a profound and lasting impact on patients and colleagues alike.

Some of these contributions include:

• Exceptional Patient Support: Taylor provides holistic care for patients, including assisting with daily activities, performing home maintenance, and offering emotional support. Whether installing grab rails, managing medications, or delivering donated items, his actions consistently prioritize patient safety and comfort.
• Innovative Problem-Solving: Taylor has creatively addressed patient challenges, such as coordinating the construction of safer trailer steps for a patient with mobility issues. His proactive approach prevents accidents and ensures accessibility.
• Impactful Program Development: As a co-creator of the Community Paramedicine program, Taylor helped design processes that have reduced emergency room visits by up to 75% within three months of patient enrollment, leading to improved outcomes and significant cost savings for both patients and the hospital.
• Building Patient Connections: Taylor ensures patients feel valued and understood, fostering trust through detailed care plan reviews and thoughtful gestures like remembering birthdays or writing sympathy cards. His actions have improved patient perceptions of UVA Health, creating a sense of individualized, compassionate care.

Taylor Tereskerz’s work embodies the mission and values of UVA Health, from his role in reducing hospital utilization to his genuine care for every patient. His dedication stems from personal experience, inspiring him to bridge care gaps and ensure no patient feels overlooked. Taylor’s unwavering commitment, compassion, and innovative thinking make him a role model for colleagues and a vital contributor to UVA’s success. His impact resonates deeply within the UVA health and Charlottesville communities.

Sandra Burks (School of Medicine)

With over three decades of exceptional service at the University of Virginia, Sandra Burks, RN, BSN, CCRC embodies the ASPIRE values and has made an indelible impact on clinical research, patient care, and community service. Her unwavering dedication, innovative leadership, and selfless commitment to her colleagues and community make her a truly outstanding candidate for this prestigious recognition.

Some of her key achievements include:

• Pioneering Leadership in Clinical Research: Sandra joined UVA in the early 1990s as a bedside ICU nurse and has since advanced into transformative roles. She was the inaugural managing director of the Surgical Therapeutic Advancement Center (STAC) and later led the integrated Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia (iTHRIV), which secured a $23 million NIH grant under her guidance.
• Rapid Response During COVID-19: Sandra played a pivotal role during the pandemic by launching a COVID-19 clinical trial in just 10 days, a process that typically takes months. She also volunteered to administer vaccines, demonstrating her commitment to community health.
• Expanding Access to Research: As managing director of STAC and later iTHRIV, Sandra significantly increased access to clinical trials, particularly for underserved populations. Her efforts have strengthened collaborations with institutions like Virginia Tech, Carilion Clinic, and Inova Health, benefiting patients and researchers across the state.
• Mentorship and Team Development: Sandra's management style is deeply collaborative and supportive. She consistently prioritizes her team’s growth, offering mentorship and resources to help them excel. Her efforts have cultivated a culture of excellence and inclusivity.
• Community Outreach: Beyond her professional achievements, Sandra is committed to health education and advocacy. Notably, she has spearheaded a sun safety initiative for elementary students in Buena Vista, Virginia, reflecting her dedication to prevention and wellness.

ASPIRE Values in Action

• Accountability: Sandra takes full ownership of her responsibilities, ensuring transparency and swift adaptation to challenges.
• Stewardship: She manages resources effectively, fostering partnerships that maximize impact and efficiency.
• Professionalism: Known for her kindness and collaborative spirit, Sandra inspires excellence in those around her.
• Integrity: Sandra’s ethical approach builds trust and credibility in research and patient care.
• Respect: Her compassionate and inclusive leadership ensures everyone feels valued.
• Equity: Sandra actively works to create opportunities for underrepresented groups and improve access to research for underserved communities.

Sandra’s contributions have elevated UVA’s reputation as a leader in clinical research and public service. Her work with iTHRIV and the Virginia Clinical Coordinating Research Network (VCCRN) has improved healthcare access in rural areas, while her leadership within national organizations has positioned UVA as a hub for innovation in translational science.

Sandra Burks exemplifies what it means to be "great and good." Her unparalleled dedication to advancing UVA’s mission, improving healthcare access, and fostering collaboration makes her a role model for all. She truly embodies the spirit of excellence and service this award represents.

Fisher Rhoads (School of Medicine)

Fisher Rhoads is an exemplary member of the UVA community whose dedication, innovation, and leadership have significantly advanced research and operations across multiple departments. As a Lab Research Specialist in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and a contributor to various interdisciplinary collaborations, Fisher has consistently exceeded expectations, making a profound impact on UVA’s mission and reputation.

Here are highlights of his contributions:

• Operational Excellence: Improved biospecimen management by auditing institutional documentation, addressing process errors, and coordinating improvements with the UVA Biorepository and Tissue Research Facility.
• Leadership and Outreach: Led community engagement initiatives to refine patient enrollment methods, resulting in increased participation in federally funded projects and enhanced research design.
• Collaborative Achievements: Contributed to multi-center projects supported by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, coordinating with national and international institutions, which bolstered UVA’s reputation in research excellence.
• Advanced Research Contributions: Played a pivotal role in machine learning research for analyzing histologic tissue specimens, managing complex datasets, and annotating images for algorithm training with exceptional precision, professionalism, and efficiency.
• Mentorship and Education: Supported Ph.D. students, postdoctoral fellows, and undergraduate trainees by guiding research, contributing to thesis projects, and developing manuscripts and abstracts presented at national conferences.

Fisher Rhoads exemplifies UVA’s ASPIRE values through his dedication to advancing research, mentoring others, and improving operations. His impact extends beyond his immediate team to benefit the broader University community. Fisher’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and collaboration makes him a highly deserving candidate for the 2024 Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contributor Award. His work ensures that UVA continues to excel in its mission to serve students, staff, and the public.

Nancy Rush (School of Medicine)

Nancy Rush has been a dedicated member of the UVA School of Medicine since 1999 and has served as the assistant to the chair of her department since 2005. Her role encompasses a broad range of responsibilities that she executes with exceptional dedication and professionalism, making her an invaluable asset to the department and the broader UVA community.

Highlights of Nancy's contributions include:

• Departmental Leadership: Manages daily operations, including the chair’s schedule, travel arrangements, equipment maintenance, research space upkeep, and departmental events such as retreats and seminars.
• Support During Growth: Handles onboarding for new faculty and staff, coordinates lab renovations, and oversees the procurement of major equipment, ensuring seamless integration during a time of significant departmental expansion.
• Advocacy and Innovation: Champions initiatives for post-doctoral researchers by increasing visibility of recognition events and advancing sustainability by spearheading the Green Lab Certification process across the department.
• Exemplary Service: Serves as a primary point of contact for new hires, faculty, and research staff, offering guidance on UVA processes, facilities, and resources, far exceeding her formal duties.

Nancy Rush is the cornerstone of her department, embodying UVA’s ASPIRE values through her accountability, stewardship, professionalism, and respect for all. Her dedication to fostering a welcoming and efficient work environment, alongside her innovative contributions to departmental operations, makes her highly deserving of recognition. Her tireless efforts and positive impact truly exemplify the spirit of the Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contributor Award.