- Burnett School College of Medicine UCF
Staff members at the UCF College of Medicine – called the “glue that holds us together” by Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean Dr. Deborah German – were honored at October 23’s annual Staff Awards celebration.
“You do the work that’s often behind the scenes, and people think everything just flows together,” Dr. German said before announcing the honorees. “But we all know that nothing happens without the work that you do every day.”
Winners are chosen from staff from across the medical school’s missions and this year, a new “Team of the Year” was recognized for outstanding service. The winners are:
- Facilities scheduler Chip Youngblood was the Medical Education USPS Employee of the Year and also earned overall College of Medicine Staff Member of the Year. Youngblood often arrives early and is the last to leave to ensure that internal and public events at the medical school go smoothly. “No matter how crazy the logistics or the crowds get, he maintains a calm, cheerful approach,” Dr. German said, adding that Youngblood also coordinates housing for medical students while they do rotations at the Bay Pines V.A. Hospital in St. Petersburg. “It’s an honor to be a very small part of what gets accomplished here, training the doctors of the future,” he said. “I enjoy what I do, I enjoy the people I work with, and this is really all just a bonus.”
- A&P Employee of the Year, Brenda Perez was praised for her selfless dedication as the module coordinator for interprofessional education who also handles logistics for the M.D. program’s annual medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic. This summer’s event brought 49 students, faculty, volunteer physicians and dentists and even a pastor who cared for more than 800 patients. Perez’s focus on teamwork and service includes her vacation time as she served as a translator for the Florida Hospital craniofacial team doing cleft palate repairs in Mexico. “This is my second home, my extended family,” Perez said of the College of Medicine. “It’s a pleasure to come to work every day.”
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences USPS Employee of the Year is Administrative Assistant Lisa Simcoe, is the first face that most people see when they enter the Burnett Biomedical Sciences building in Medical City. Nominators noted Simcoe’s warm smile, friendly welcome and creative problem solving skills in keeping track of graduate students, faculty and staff at one of several Burnett School locations across UCF campuses. “I’m really blessed to have this job, so it’s wonderful to greet everyone as they come in the morning,” Simco said.
- Nurse Manager Anthony Dearman was honored as the UCF Health/Regional Extension Center Employee of the Year for his efforts to provide top-tier care to patients at the College of Medicine practice. With the opening of the practice’s second location in Medical City this year, Dearman has taken on a multitude of tasks in addition to managing patient care, including coordinating facilities, equipment, vendors and hiring additional staff. Dr. German called Dearman “someone who rolls up their sleeves and jumps in to help, a true team player.”
- The M.D. program’s Clerkship Coordination Team won the inaugural group award for their work in guiding third-year medical students through their first clinical experiences at 14 affiliated hospitals across Florida. They also assist fourth-year students with clerkships at hospitals across the country. “If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a team to educate a medical student,” Dr. German said of their work. Members of the team are Margaret Orr, Kimberly Gilfedder, Ann Kennedy, Celia Linton, Morayma Cubero, Carlene Grant, Katherine Newsum and Ken Stacks.