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The highest individual employee award at the University is named in honor of Leonard W. Sandridge, who was an avid champion of UVA staff and who 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. 

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 2023 Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contributor Award are:

Academic Division:

• Paula Campbell
• Jason Freeman
• David Glover
• Beth Williams

UVA Health:

• Karen Finke
• Jolene Kidd
• Beth Mehring
• Rachel Nauman
• Matthew Robertson
• Janet Tillage

UVA College at Wise:

• Rosa Bott

Read below about how these exceptional team members 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.

UVA Health

Karen Finke

Since 1999, Karen Finke, PA, has been a valued member of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at UVA, embodying dedication, compassion, and invaluable contributions. Her story unfolds through transformative leadership, thoughtful mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a commitment to life-long learning, setting her apart as a beacon of clinical excellence.

Here are a few reasons that led to Karen's nomination and successful eligibility for the Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contributor Award:

• Innovative Clinic Management: Karen's leadership extends to the Nutrition Support and Gastrostomy Tube Clinic, a critical hub for oncology patients undergoing therapy and those with ALS. Her coordination prowess, fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, ensures seamless operations. Karen's multidisciplinary approach to patient care stands out, providing cutting-edge comprehensive care in digestive health, cancer, and neurology.
• Thoughtful Mentorship: Karen's impact goes beyond her clinical role; her mentorship creates a supportive environment for new PAs and clinicians. Through her guidance, Karen instills a commitment to high-quality patient care and communication that have made her a sought-after clinician. Her development of a PEG program for fellows, evolving into a multi-media patient education repository, enhances continuity of care and reflects her committed mentorship.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Karen's dedication to coordinating care between various departments, including oncology nursing, radiation oncology, nutrition, surgery, and GI, exemplifies her commitment to patient-centric care. Her triaging expertise ensures prompt care for challenging patients, positively impacting patient satisfaction and contributing to UVA's ALS clinic's recognition as an ALS Association Treatment Center of Excellence.
• Life-Long Learning and Striving for Excellence: Karen's pursuit of excellence and lifelong learning defines her career. Serving as the primary gastrostomy tube specialist at UVA, she influences countless patients and physicians. Karen's expertise in gastroenterology is sought after by referring providers, and her commitment to staying up-to-date has set an incredibly high bar for patient care in the state of Virginia and the University Medical Center.

Karen Finke's 24-year dedication to the Gastroenterology Division at UVA is a testament to her outstanding service, leadership, and unwavering commitment. Her contributions, ranging from innovative clinic management to thoughtful mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a commitment to lifelong learning, underscore her eligibility for the Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contributor Award. Karen's impact extends far beyond the mission and values of the University, making her a true exemplar of service and contribution within the healthcare landscape.

Jolene Kidd

Jolene Kidd is a seasoned Operations Manager for the UVA School of Medicine Office of Curriculum, bringing with her three decades of dedicated service to UVA, including two decades at UVA Health. While relatively new to this role, her wealth of prior experience has resulted in transformative leadership and an unwavering commitment to fostering a positive and growth-oriented culture. 

Here are a few reasons Jolene was nominated for and earned the Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contributor Award:

• Cultivating a Positive Culture: Jolene's leadership has fundamentally changed the culture within the Office of Curriculum. Through regular lines of communication, monthly staff meetings, and a commitment to the ASPIRE values, she has created a safe environment where employees can openly discuss mistakes, learn, and thrive. Jolene's passion for transparency and community has fostered a sense of belonging among her team.
• Inspiring Leadership: Expecting team members to reach higher standards, Jolene is dedicated to the overarching team goal of customer service and best practices. Her commitment extends to health in various dimensions, emphasizing a healthy work environment, mindsets, student outcomes, and patient well-being. Jolene actively advocates for employee promotion, empowering team members in their professional development goals.
• Financial Stewardship: Jolene's financial acumen and commitment to efficiency shine through her contributions to the clerkship program. Building upon the foundation laid by her team member, Cheryl Adams, Jolene's data-driven approach identified opportunities to save an additional $140,000 annually by restructuring student rotations, simultaneously enhancing the training experience for students.
• Institutional Knowledge: Beyond her immediate responsibilities, Jolene is a pillar of support for new colleagues at the SOM Center for Excellence in Education. Leveraging her wealth of institutional knowledge, she ensures a smooth onboarding experience, helping newcomers navigate complex systems, policies, and acronyms. Jolene's commitment to sharing best practices exemplifies her dedication to living the university's values.

Jolene Kidd is the type of leader who adds value and makes change from within, carrying herself with professionalism and positive intention and modeling strong and respectful behavior for everyone to follow. She communicates openly, has an open door policy, and never leaves you feeling unheard or unsupported. She cultivates an atmosphere of excellence, positivity, dedication, respect, and fairness. In myriad ways, Jolene embodies the essence of the UVA Health ASPIRE values, making her an exemplary recipient of the Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contributor Award.

Beth Mehring

Beth Mehring's exceptional contributions as a nurse, particularly her pioneering work with the "Earn While You Learn" program, have left an indelible mark on UVA and the broader community. Her unwavering dedication and innovative approach to workforce development have had far-reaching impacts, exceeding all expectations and warranting the highest recognition.

Here are a few reasons Beth was nominated for and earned the Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contributor Award:

• Establishing Earn While You Learn: Through Beth's collaborative efforts with Pipelines and Pathways, HR, PVCC, CATEC, and the dedicated team at UVA Health, UVA Health has been able to offer a diverse range of essential healthcare training programs and certifications. This has addressed critical staffing shortages and created valuable career opportunities for employees, having far-reaching impact on the community. Many have progressed in their roles as certified nursing assistants or patient care assistants, resulting in increased compensation and expanded career prospects. The program has sparked community engagement and partnerships with other nursing schools, thereby fortifying UVA Health's standing as a healthcare education leader.
• Leveraging Skills for the Healthcare Community: Beth's exceptional skills as a nurse have left an indelible mark on UVA Health and the broader community. Her unwavering dedication and innovative approach to workforce development have had far-reaching impacts, exceeding all expectations, and warranting the highest recognition. It has contributed to the institution's success and paved the way for future collaborations.
• Creating a Sustainable Infrastructure for Training: Beth's unflagging dedication to building strong relationships and her commitment to providing education through grant funds have broadened UVA Health's training opportunities, enabling the community to access the education necessary for healthcare careers. The shared objective of creating a sustainable infrastructure for healthcare workforce development is steadily becoming a reality, and this achievement would not have been possible without Beth's unwavering commitment.

Beth Mehring has made a transformative impact throughout UVA and the UVA community through her innovative "Earn While You Learn" initiative. Her commitment to providing education, advancing careers, and creating opportunities has not only mitigated staffing challenges but has also solidified UVA Health's position as a leader in healthcare education, positively impacting many people's lives. In the dynamic landscape of healthcare leadership, Beth emerges as a beacon of inspiration and impactful change.

Rachel Nauman

Rachel Nauman, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, is a transformational healthcare leader, seamlessly applying evidence-based practices to quality improvement, program evaluation, and daily management systems. Transitioning to the role of Administrator Ambulatory Nursing for UVA Health in 2022, Rachel's leadership has been marked by her ability to build and lead cross-functional teams, optimizing care quality, operational efficiency, and fiscal integrity. 

Below are examples of her leadership, influence and impact supporting her nomination:

• Living the ASPIRE Values: Amidst the global pandemic, Rachel showcased exceptional leadership by managing many disparate activities across multiple clinic settings. Her collaborative approach ensured timely patient access to care, operational efficiency, and effective and safe delivery of patient care. She also created a strong partnership with UVA HR that expedited the recruitment and hiring process, and provided the framework for interdisciplinary teams of caregivers to design and deliver comprehensive solutions to address the needs of struggling clinics. Rachel’s dedication to advancing care across the continuum has resulted in improved patient outcomes and a more seamless healthcare experience for patients. 
• Providing Stable Leadership and Retention: In her role, Rachel has provided stable leadership, resulting in a commendable voluntary nursing turnover rate of 13.5%, showcasing an improvement from the previous year of over 17%. Her accountable organizational expertise, leadership, and continuous improvement have contributed to the stability and success of patient care delivery.
• Mentoring Nurses: Serving as a formal and informal mentor, Rachel actively guides aspiring nurses, promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion within the workplace, and advocates for nursing leadership to drive positive change. Her efforts include initiatives like the Ambulatory Charge Nurse Fundamentals Course, advancing frontline nursing leadership.
• Communication and Practice Improvement: Rachel's exemplary communication skills bridge gaps between healthcare professionals, ensuring team alignment and understand. Creating an Ambulatory Power Huddle is an excellent example of how Rachel provides guidance, advice and support daily, bringing together representatives from inside and outside UVA to share learning and problem solve in real time. Her involvement in initiatives such as the Ambulatory Nurse Professional Governance and the Ambulatory Role Delineation project showcases her commitment to shared decision-making, patient outcomes, and innovative staffing frameworks and care delivery models.

Rachel Nauman's exemplary leadership at UVA Health is characterized by transformative initiatives, unwavering dedication, and a commitment to excellence. Her influence reaches far beyond administrative responsibilities, encompassing mentoring, diversity advocacy, effective communication, and innovative practice improvement. She has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and leadership throughout her career. These qualities exemplify the Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contributor Award.

Matthew Robertson

Matthew Robertson, Lead Advanced Practice Practitioner (APP) at UVA Health, holds influence far beyond his immediate team, garnering respect from his peers, physician colleagues, nurses, residents, and organizational leaders alike. His exceptional temperament, talents, and humility position him as an invaluable asset, contributing significantly to various initiatives throughout the organization. His professionalism, coupled with a calm and pleasant demeanor, paints a portrait of a true team player, a joy to work alongside even amidst the most challenging circumstances. Here are a few of his contributions that led to his winning the award:

• Improving Retention Rates: Matt worked with a group to evaluate UVA Health's retention rates for APPs and spearheaded the implementation of a standardized exit survey, providing invaluable date on turnover. As an active member of the credentials committee, he contributed to revising a form for APPs that streamlines processes and saves time. He proposed the expansion of the STICU/IMU advanced practice provider team, ensuring 24/7 coverage.
• Process Collaboration: Using A3/LEAN methodology, Matt led an inter-professional group to assess transfer order placement timing for STICU/SIMU patients. Recognizing opportunities to enhance inter-team communication, he developed a communication template and collaborated with EPIC builders for its implement. In another example, Matt partnered with EPIC builders to implement a co-morbid condition review process in the Trauma discharge summary template, ensuring the Division of Acute Care Surgery and Trauma could accurately capture the acuity and complexity of patients served. He also collaborated with local leaders to develop, implement, and sustain the use of an ICU rounding checklist focused on ensuring specific quality practices are implemented for each appropriate patient.
• Local and National Expertise: Matt's influence transcends organizational boundaries. He has served as a content expert for the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and is on the planning committee for the Advanced Practice Institute component of the 2-23 Philadelphia National Teaching Institute conference. Locally, he lectures to UVA Health's APPs, precepts students, and serves as a course director for the Fundamentals of Critical Care Support Course, showcasing his commitment to education and expertise.
• Resourceful Leadership: Matt's foresight led to the creation of an extensive critical care resource repository for APP fellows. This repository not only saves time and energy but stands as a lasting solution to annual resource reference banking, exemplifying his dedication to providing enduring support to critical care APP fellows.

In the dynamic realm of UVA Health, Matt Robertson's journey as Lead Advanced Practice Practioner is marked by transformative contributions and unwavering dedication. His multifaceted role in improving retention rates, streamlining processes, providing expertise locally and nationally, and establishing critical care resources showcases a leader committed to the well-being and success of his team and the broader organization. Matt stands out as a true exemplar of excellence and collaborative leadership.

Janet Tillage

Janet Tillage has served as Medical Office Supervisor for the Division of Hematology and Oncology at UVA Health for 14 years, while her journey with UVA Health has spanned almost four decades. Her embodiment of ASPIRE values in all aspects of her work has not only met but exceeded expectations, resulting in an exceptional level of effectiveness for the entire department. It is evident that Janet is not merely a supervisor but a driving force behind the success and resilience of her division.

Here are a few of Janet's contributions that led to her winning the Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contributor Award:

• Pandemic Resilience: Amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Janet emerged as a stalwart leader. As the main administrative representative regularly coming into the office, she ensured the seamless continuation of operations in patient care. From distributing webcams for telemedicine services to managing inventory and timely mail delivery, Janet's extraordinary service was a linchpin in maintaining the department's functionality during a time when most were advised to work remotely.
• Versatility and Team Player: Janet's commitment extends beyond her official duties. With a positive and pleasant attitude, she seamlessly takes on additional responsibilities, showcasing her efficiency in multitasking. Her proactive approach to identifying and resolving critical service issues has been a cornerstone of the department's stability and success.
• Critical Contributions to Programs: Janet's impact goes beyond the day-to-day operations. She played a significant role in the Fellowship Program recruitment, demonstrating her commitment by coordinating conference reservations and reminders. Her efforts in managing schedules and payment support processes for crucial programs such as the Hematology/Oncology Night Coverage moonlighting program, highlight her diligence and meticulous attention to detail.
• Overall Departmental Asset: As a critical member of the administrative team, Janet Tillage has been a driving force behind the overall effectiveness and progress of the department. Her 37-year tenure at UVA Health is a testament to her enduring dedication and invaluable contributions.

In the tapestry of UVA Health's success, Janet Tillage's thread weaves a story of resilience, commitment, and unparalleled service. Her winning the Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contributor Award is a recognition well-deserved, honoring not only her 14 years as Medical Office Supervisor but also her enduring dedication to UVA over nearly four decades. Janet exemplifies the spirit of excellence and unwavering commitment, leaving an indelible mark on the Division of Hematology and Oncology and the broader UVA Health community.

*****

Read about the Academic Division and UVA Wise winners on the UVA HR website.