Award: Collaboration
Honorees: Brittney D. Pruitt Agwu, Tamara Anne Barker, Courtney M. Blair, Teresanne R. Bohan, Scott Bullock, Marcos Carvahlo, Allison Reh Casas, Matthew James Cook, Sarah Corley, Alisha Cosgrove, Michele Deschino, Jill Ely, Molly Holbink, Dana Kalina, Myra Armon Keeble, Maria M. Marin, Courtney Michelle Gomez, Varaidzo M. Nhundu, Kristin R. Ott, Shibali Patra, Kristi Renae Pickering, Uma Raman, Navieta Ramasami, Christina L. Rios, Alli Saravanan, Shilpa Shukla, Meredith Smith, Mathew Sproles, Kourtney Thibodeaux, Karla Woodard, and Kathryn S. Young.
The mission of the YSM Pre Award Team, or YPAT, is to assist investigators with the preparation and submission of grant and contract proposals. Serving 18 clinical departments in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment, the team thrives on trust, responsiveness, coordinated problem-solving, and shared accountability. In FY 2025, YPAT supported approximately 2,700 proposal submissions totaling over $3 billion in requested funding and contributing to more than 1,000 peer-reviewed publications. YPAT credits this to their cross-coverage and shared portfolio model. While each member develops expertise and independent departmental partnerships, YPAT operates as a unified team. Members share knowledge, seek input, and step in during peak submissions, absences, and complex proposal cycles. This approach ensures continuity, reduces errors, and fosters innovative solutions. Faculty members have commented, “Their patience and kind, timely assistance with my grant submission…made a significant difference and helped keep everything on track,” and “They approached each application as a true partner in the process.”
Award: Community Service
Honorees: Sharon Anderson, Kaitie Biggs, Julianna Butler, Maryol Carmona, Vera Da Silva, Jeffrey Errico, Ashley Frisina-Deyo, Anthony Guglielmo, Anthony Ianucci, 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.
Award: Initiative
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.
Award: Inspiration
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.