Making a Difference: March 2019 highlights

Employees across Michigan Medicine continue to make a difference and inspire colleagues through their hard work and dedication. Recognizing the contributions employees make to the organization helps the team to become more motivated, drives better teamwork and gives each individual a sense that they are an integral part of achieving organizational goals.

Here are just a few examples of how faculty and staff helped Michigan Medicine provide exceptional care and service last month:

Peer recognition

Kristina Mulzer, senior quality improvement pharmacy technician, Pharmacy Services

Kristina, the IV training that we got from you was the most helpful thing I have encountered at Michigan Medicine so far. You really took the time to make sure people understood what they were doing, and made sure they were comfortable and confident doing it. The focus you put into the importance of sterility was what I would want in an employee if my own family members were in the hospital. “Thank you” does not seem like enough, but I truly appreciate you for taking your job so seriously and for loving it so much!

Rebecca Servello, Bebe Larson, Maryann Kozak, Cassie Ditmore, Mott operating room/PACU

Thank you all for volunteering for the Teddy Bear Clinic, our collaborative interactive community education opportunity with the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum! Countless children — along with their friends and families — gained valuable exposure to our medical world in a fun and friendly way because of you!

Jacob Dekarske, maintenance mechanic, Hospital Maintenance

Jacob always goes above and beyond to provide the Environmental Services team with exceptional and speedy service. He keeps machines running the way they should and has not once been unable to find a solution to our issues. Great work, Jacob. Michigan Medicine wouldn’t be the same without you!

Rami Sherif, M.D., house officer, plastic surgery

Rami, thank you for being such an outstanding team member! Not only did you take the time to round to all the surgery patients, but you made yourself available to colleagues who had questions. You also spent time sitting and talking with us, getting to know us as individuals. You truly embody the attitude that “we are all on the same team.” Thanks for making an impact on our staff!

Loulie Meynard, administrative manager, Volunteer Services

Loulie is exceptional. She has an open-door policy, which is extremely helpful with all of our busy schedules. She always makes us feel welcome and is always thinking about the best-possible scenario when ideas are brought forth. I truly appreciate Loulie’s hard work and passion for her role. Thank you!

Brianna Freedman, registered nurse, Mott 10E pediatric ICU

Brianna, you were willing to give a very sick patient a ball that you had caught at a baseball game. This meant so much to the patient’s family and says a lot about your character — and how much you care. Thanks for always being a team player and for advocating for your patients. Michigan Medicine is lucky to have you!

Patient to staff

Kendra Dunsford, physical therapist clinical specialist, MedSport, Ice Cube Clinic

Kendra, you make a difference by personally getting to know your patients, showing compassion and pushing them when you know they can be pushed. I only healed at the speed I did because of your help and encouragement. Nearing the end of my PT, you made sure I had all the tools I needed to keep getting better and stronger. Michigan Medicine is fortunate to have you and I was lucky enough to get to work with you. Thank you for making a difference in my life!

Kelly Scheu, nurse practitioner, Rogel Cancer Center

Kelly makes thriving and living life with stage IV metastatic breast cancer possible, bearable and easier. Her loving, compassionate demeanor combined with exceptional professionalism have helped me process, adjust and excel since being diagnosed. Thank you, Kelly, for your service to humanity. You are a phenomenal human being and your work matters! 

Bernadine Elam, custodian, Environmental Services

Thank you, Bernadine, for making my month-long hospital stay a little brighter. I had a lot of health problems and you always took a little time out of your day to make me feel like someone cared about me. It was a lot of small things that you did and said that made me feel better each and every time that I saw you. You really do make a difference and I want to make sure that you know it!

Alok Sachdeva, M.D., assistant professor of neurology

Dr. Sachdeva is amazing, His caring and attention to detail is incredible, taking the time to get to know our issues. His knowledge of my medical challenges is extensive and I feel very confident in his care. His passion for his career shows and he obviously loves what he does. He is a wonderful asset to Michigan Medicine and an example of why it is one of the top hospitals in the country.

Family to staff

Dominic Tomasi, Volunteer Services

I recently came to the hospital to visit my stepfather, who was in the ICU. I wasn’t sure of the easiest way to get to the unit, so I stopped at the information desk where Dominic was sitting. He immediately greeted me with a smile and said “it might be easier if I just walk you there, if you don’t mind.” He escorted me to the floor and once there, he showed me where to check in at the desk. What could have made my visit to ICU even more stressful was diverted thanks to your wonderful volunteer, Dominic. Thank you!

Click here to nominate a colleague or team who makes a difference at Michigan Medicine!