Staff Appreciation & Recognition Champions (ARC) Awards

Each day, every member of the YSM community works to advance our educational, research, and clinical missions. Together, the synergy of everyone’s unique talents and novel perspectives creates high-performing teams that enrich our culture, advance discovery, and increase our impact in improving the health of all people.

In March 2025, YSM leaders introduced the inaugural YSM Staff Appreciation & Recognition Champions (ARC) Awards. Recognizing that impactful achievements are often achieved through collaboration, the program celebrates teams who exemplify the following aspirational behaviors, which are essential to enhancing our vibrant and inclusive community in support of our core values.

Thank you for supporting the ARC awards and celebrating the important ways our community members are helping to shape science, medicine, and the future of YSM.

Send questions to the committee at ysmarcawards@yale.edu.

Congratulations to the Staff ARC Awardees for 2026. These awards will be presented at a formal breakfast ceremony on June 10.

Honorees: Sharon Anderson, Kaitie Biggs, Julianna Butler, Maryol Carmona, Vera Da Silva, Jeffrey Errico, Ashley Frisina-Deyo, Anthony Guglielmo, Anthony Iannucci, Renato Locks, Kristin Moriarty, Joe Poletsky, Philip Stevenson, Hannah Vieira, and Nicole Zurlis.

The Yale SportSafe program was created to expedite patient care, expand much-needed services for local athletes, and strengthen the Yale sports medicine division’s impact and visibility in the community. Their impact is felt through annual cardiac and musculoskeletal screenings for high school athletes, rapid access to care after an injury, specialized knowledge for female athletes, and the standardization of evidence-based protocols. Through a coordinated set of clinical, educational, and outreach initiatives, Yale SportSafe has improved access and continuity of care and has elevated health and safety standards for athletes in New Haven and across Connecticut.

Honorees: Howard Bibbins, Kathy Bunko, Linda Canales, Kendra Griffin, Karn McKane, Claudia Meyers, and Terri Stenquist.

Imagine this: You have made the selfless decision to donate an organ, and then you get a medical bill. It’s obviously a mistake, but one that compounds the stress of this crucial moment. To Yale Medicine’s Special Payor Team, anticipating and preventing this moment is about compassion, integrity, and mutual respect among colleagues. Special Payors is not just a billing unit. They are a dedicated support system, frequently sought out for their specialized knowledge and collaborative approach. Through a detailed audit of claims that were caught in a bottleneck or misdirected, they built sophisticated automated workflows that reduced the queue by 85%. This means faster processing, a seamless experience for patients, and time freed up for complex tasks. The team has cultivated a culture around developing constructive relationships, nurturing their colleagues’ professional growth, and collective problem-solving.

Honorees: Victoria Dagostino, Kimberly Blackman, Yudilyn Jaramillo, and Varaidzo M. Nhundu.

Through the Leadership Meet and Greet Series, members of the Department of Psychiatry’s ARCH Task Force have created a sustainable model for directly connecting with and learning from leaders. The series creates the opportunity to engage top leaders in meaningful discussions, ask questions, and gain insights. Each leader has shared the challenges, surprises, and joys along their paths; the role of mentors and sponsors; their visions for investing in and nurturing the potential in others; and the daily habits and leadership qualities that have contributed to their successes. The series has fostered unity among staff, faculty, and trainees. The team hopes it inspires their colleagues to volunteer and to offer mentorship in the local community.

Each year, four teams, embodying each of these aspirational behaviors, will be selected to receive an ARC award:

• Collaboration: Demonstrates respect, integrity, and teamwork in actively listening, expressing ideas, seeking feedback, resolving conflicts, and involving others to solve problems or develop innovative solutions.
• Initiative: Demonstrates commitment, courage, and proactive leadership in identifying opportunities for change and embracing new approaches for tackling challenges and driving improvements.
• Inspiration: Exhibits professionalism, enthusiasm, and motivation in striving for excellence; fostering a positive, supportive work environment; and encouraging the attainment of ambitious goals.
• Community Service: Actively contributes to the greater New Haven community through ongoing volunteerism, mentorship, and initiatives that promote well-being and inclusion and create meaningful impact

The ARC Award is co-sponsored by YSM’s Offices of Collaborative Excellence, and Finance & Administration, and the Culture Committee. It was made possible by the members of the YSM Staff ARC Awards Committee who have brought the program to fruition:

• Michele Carpenter – Senior Program Manager, OCE
• Ryan Curran – Associate Director, Leadership and Staff Development, YMTD
• Chelsea Gomez – Program Manager, OCE
• Sarah Hagans – Associate Director, Administration, Internal Medicine
• Paula Maguina – Senior Research Finance Manager, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery
• Franny Puglisi – Lead Administrator, Department of Microbial Pathogenesis

Recognizing that impactful achievements are often achieved through collaboration, the program will celebrate teams who exemplify the following aspirational behaviors, which are essential to enhancing our vibrant and inclusive community in support of our core values. Each year, four teams, embodying each of these behaviors, will be selected to receive an ARC award.

A team consists of two to 15 people who have worked together, formally or informally, to impact the YSM community positively. Teams can come from the same or different departments within Yale School of Medicine. They may be recognized for ongoing efforts or specific projects. The team must meet the following criteria:

1. Employment Status:

• All members of nominated teams must be current, full-time, or part-time YSM staff (verified by HR upon nomination).
• Employees of all job classifications are eligible.
• Teams composed of eligible staff members may be nominated or self-nominated.

2. Demonstration of Criteria:

Team nominees must exemplify one or more of YSM’s Staff ARC Award aspirational behaviors:

• Collaboration: Demonstrates respect, integrity, and teamwork in actively listening, expressing ideas, seeking feedback, resolving conflicts, and involving others to solve problems or develop innovative solutions.
• Initiative: Demonstrates commitment, courage, and proactive leadership in identifying opportunities for change and embracing new approaches for tackling challenges and driving improvements.
• Inspiration: Exhibits professionalism, enthusiasm, and motivation in striving for excellence; fostering a positive, supportive work environment; and encouraging the attainment of ambitious goals.
• Community Service: Actively contributes to the greater New Haven community through ongoing volunteerism, mentorship, and initiatives that promote well-being and inclusion and create meaningful impact.
  

3. Inclusivity and Positive Impact:

Team nominees should be known for fostering an inclusive environment and positively impacting colleagues, departments, or YSM more broadly.

4. Scope of Contribution:

Both ongoing contributions, and specific initiatives or projects, within the past year will be considered, whether they pertain to daily responsibilities or go above and beyond their regular duties.

The process is designed to ensure fairness, inclusivity, and transparency in identifying teams who embody the award criteria.

Nomination: Team nominations, including self-nominations, can be submitted by any YSM faculty, staff, or students.

Submissions must include specific examples of how one of the four key behaviors are demonstrated by the team.

Initial Review: After nominations close, the YSM Staff ARC Awards Committee, which includes representatives from various departments and levels of YSM, will conduct an initial review.

The committee will verify basic eligibility.

• Eligible teams are evaluated based on the degree to which they demonstrate YSM’s Staff ARC Award behaviors and YSM’s Core Values and foster inclusivity.
• The committee will score each team nominee against a standardized rubric, focusing on:
  • Contribution: Demonstrable positive impact.
  • Alignment with Core Values: Clear examples of embodying YSM’s Core Values.
  • Inclusivity: Commitment to creating a respectful and inclusive environment.
• Based on the scoring, a short list of finalist teams will be selected for further consideration.

Final Section

• Finalist teams will be reviewed by a selection panel, including senior leaders and the YSM Staff ARC Committee, to provide a range of perspectives.
• The selection panel will make final recommendations for award recipients in each category.

Approval

• Final recommendations are submitted for approval to: the deputy dean of YSM Finance & Administration, and Darin Latimore, deputy dean of collaborative excellence, and professor of Internal Medicine.

Announcement

• Award recipients are notified privately, then announced to the YSM Community.
• Awardees will be celebrated at the YSM Staff ARC Awards Ceremony.
• The YSM Office of Collaborative Excellence will highlight the awarded teams in its news.