by Brooke Bunch

On Wednesday, Feb. 23, OU-COM held its Annual Service Awards Ceremony.

The ceremony honored employees for their years of service to the college, which was established by the Ohio General Assembly in 1975. The medical school admitted its first class of students a year later. The ceremony marked milestones at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25. Employee recognition for 30 years of service will take place in 2006.

The mood for the event was set by a tape Dean Jack Brose, D.O., had listened to earlier that afternoon.

“It was a tape on management,” he told the crowd gathered in Irvine Hall. “It says it’s nice for organizations to have a direction and strategic plan — things we spend so much time on — but in reality, they’re not all that important.”

What is important are the people, Brose said, because in a changing world, the strategic plan of today may not be the strategic plan of tomorrow.

“So what’s important is to have the right people on the bus,” he says, “who have not only gotten us to where we are today, but who will get us to where we’re going tomorrow.”

“This is an event,” said Peter Dane, D.O., associate dean for predoctoral education, “to recognize the values we place on all the services provided by people who dedicate themselves to the college.”

Recognition was given by department heads to outstanding employees in their departments. Ruth Ann Freeman was one of two outstanding employees chosen in the Office of Academic Affairs; the other recipient was Joy Matthews-Lopez, Ph.D.

“I’m just glad I made it on the bus,” said Freeman upon receiving her award.

“In many cases she’s the driver,” laughed Dane.

The ceremony took a humorous turn when Norm Gevitz, Ph.D., chairman of the Department of Social Medicine, took the stage to honor the department’s outstanding employees. Receiving the 2005 “Socio-Pathic Award” were Judith Edinger, Michael Weiser, Nancy Cooper, Sarah McGrew and Cheri Sheets to honor their work during the past year.

Gevitz then proceeded to request a dark stage, upon which he lit up the “Atomic Enabler Award,” a colorful, spiked lamp given to Lynne Chapman, or “the individual who provides the fuel to enable people to do their work, or the person who buys the coffee and tea,” he said.

Also receiving outstanding employee awards were Nancy Wilcox, Beth Maxon, Janice Smith, Administrative and Financial Services; Kathy Gossett, David Bradley, Jamie Remy, Bonita Biegalke, Ph.D., and Nancy Stevens, Ph.D., Department of Biomedical Sciences; Michelle Bobo and William Duerfeldt, D.O., Department of Family Medicine; Tracy Marx, D.O., Department of Geriatric Medicine/Gerontology; Ralph Berry, Information Systems and Instructional Technology; Judi Rioch, Office of Research Grants; Billi Jo Reeves, Jill Harman, Student and Professional Support and Relations.

Rioch and Joe Wolfe were awarded for their perfect attendance in 2004.

Thirty-seven employees were honored for service ranging from five to 25 years.  

Receiving 25-year recognition awards were Steven Carin, D.O.; Audrey Covalt; and William Duerfeldt, D.O.

Receiving 20-year recognition awards were Tami Erwin, Sarah McGrew, Allen Reed and Edwin Rowland, Ph.D.

Receiving 15-year recognition awards were Carol Blue, Janet Hammer, Eric McFadden and Miriam Thomas.

Receiving 10-year recognition awards were Peter Bell, D.O.; Jeffrey Benseler, D.O.; Steven Clay, D.O.; David Eland, D.O.; Donald Furci, D.O.; Edward Gotfried, D.O.; Kathy Gossett; Beth Maxon; Sue Meeks; Karen Montgomery-Reagan, D.O.; Olivia Ojano-Sheehan, Ph.D.; Jamie Remy; Nili Urieli, D.O.; Michael Weiser; and Lawrence Witmer, Ph.D.

Receiving 5-year recognition awards were Linda Armstrong; Jill Breeze; Tyrone Carr; Gillian Ice, Ph.D.; Darrell Grace, D.O.; David Krahe, D.O; Christina McGuire; Joanne McMullen; James Preston, D.O.; Geraldine Urse, D.O.; and Connie Walker.