The UW Medicine Cares Award, established in 2013, recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of individuals and teams who consistently exemplify UW Medicine Service Culture Guidelines.
“The stories shared through the many nominations we received for the Fall 2023 Cares Award are truly inspiring,” says Allison Osenar, interim senior director for UW Medicine Patient Experience. “Those honored with this award consistently demonstrated their commitment to supporting those around them and have made an immeasurable difference in the lives of patients and colleagues. On behalf of the health system, we extend our profound gratitude to all the nominees, as well as to those who took the time to share the contributions made by some of the amazing people that make UW Medicine so special.”
Fall Cares Awards
The following individuals and teams are recognized for their extraordinary dedication to our patients, colleagues and community.
Read full summaries of the Cares Award nominations for the Fall 2023 winners.
Airlift Northwest
- Bremerton Base Team: Claire Clark, RN; Angie German, RN; Becca Volberding, RN; Calle Wontor, RN; Jenifer Monroe, RN; Jenny Kain, RN; Katrina Marryatt, RN; Kris Bauer, RN; Shanna Sierra, RN; Starr Traynor, RN; Vincent Smith, RN; Wynn Anderson, RN
- Chrissy Novak, RN, RNC-NIC, C-NPT, CFRN, Flight Nurse, Olympia Base
- Heidi Johnson, RN, CFRN, CCRN, Flight Nurse, Flight Nurse Educator, Olympia Base
- Katie Johnston, MSN, CFRN, CPEN, EMT-P, Flight Nurse, Flight Nurse Educator, Olympia Base
- Wenatchee Base Team: Amber Fitzgerald, RN; Andrea Mizumoto, RN; Angela Seo, RN; Bobby Pogue, RN; Danielle Gamache, RN; Erin Moon, RN; Jenna Klemsz, RN; Jeremy O’Neill, RN; Paul Groenewold, RN; Phoebe Wolcott-MacCausland, RN; Tyree Johnson, RN
Faculty Practice Plan Services
- Janice Ornelas, Patient Account Representative 2, Patient Financial Services
- Karan Kimyuan, Coding Specialist 3, Coding and Charge Capture
Shared Services
- Cameron Ray, Clinical Lab Technician 1, Laboratory Medicine
- Information Technology Services Project Management Office Governance Team: Casey Rodgers, Chelsie Johnson, Rebecca Lawrence, Sherry Dewitt, Jean Niblett
- Lili Levy, Director, Strategic Projects & Operations, UW Medicine Hospitals & Clinics
- Program Integrity Team: Angela Reyes, Claire Watt, Daniella Nikolao, Elaine Yoon, Karen Kranz, Laura Story
- Stephanie Schuster, Principal Business Analyst, Information & Technology Services
UW Medicine Primary Care
- Charlene Hibbler, Patient Services Specialist 2, UW Medicine Primary & Urgent Care at Federal Way
- Hannah Ford, Radiology Technologist, UW Medicine Primary & Urgent Care at Ravenna
- Lopez Island Nurse Team: Andrew Robin, RN; Erica Taylor, RN; Karen Hattman, RN; Laurie Boroughs, RN
- Pamela Yung, MD, Department of Family Medicine Clinic Chief, Primary Care at Factoria
- Yi Huang, MD, Internal Medicine, UW Medicine Primary & Urgent Care at Issaquah
Harborview Medical Center
- Aaron Cheng, MD, FACS, Thoracic Surgeon
- Carol Leigh Metcalf, ARNP, MN, RN, Acute Pain Service, Anesthesiology and Pain Management
- Diana Wiseman, MD, MBA, Neurological Surgeon
- Gordon Narayan, Custodian, Environmental Services
- JT Christianson, Caseworker and Cultural Mediator, Interpreter Services
- Kathleen Conner, PA-C, Physician Assistant, General Surgery
- Max Clinic Social Workers: Christopher Layva Vera, MSW; Kierstin Brown, MSW; Teagan Wood, MSW
- Palliative Care Social Work and Spiritual Care Team: Elyse Jauregui, MDiv; Kira Schreiber, MSW
- Phuong Phu, Program Coordinator, Senior Care Clinic and Fall Prevention Clinic at Harborview
- Tim Sipes, Mental Health Specialist 2, Psychiatry
UW Medical Center
- Adult Cystic Fibrosis Care Team: Eric Rucker, RN; Jenny Hamer, MSW; Chris Goss, MD; Mark Tonelli, MD; Laura Mentele, RN; Ajai Dandekar, MD; Akeda Vasavada, PharmD; Kathy Ramos, MD; Sid Kapnadak, MD; Moira Aitken, MD; Andrea Lopriore, RD; Roshni Praghu, RC; Karissa Culley, RD; Crystal Johnson, CMA; Farah Khan, MD; Heidi Peter
- PCALS Clinic Team: Alycia Staats, OT; Colleen Williams, SLP; Desmond Wiles, SMS; Jan Pryor, SLP; Jeni Brooke RT; Katie Sweet, PT; Michael Weiss, MD; Morgan Chojnacki, RD; Nassim Rad, MD; Silver Denton, PT; WenPei Ridenour, RN
- Autopsy & After Death Services Team: Brian McGing; Charity Davis, APT; Jenna Grillo, APT; Leah Lay, APT; Raphael Lam, APT
- Brian Buchanan, CRNA, Chief Nurse Anesthetist, Surgical Services
- Henry Wong, PharmD, Lead Pharmacist, Inpatient Pharmacy, UW Medical Center – Montlake
- Karin Harlan, MSW, LICSW, Social Worker, Social Work & Care Coordination
- Kazuko Robertshaw, Program Coordinator, Cardiac Transplant
- Leslie Turner, Executive Assistant to the CEO, UW Medical Center Administration
- Mandi Bainton, PA-C, Physician Assistant, Urology
- Marta Alhama-Belotto, MD, Cardiologist, Heart Institute South Lake Union
- Maxine Wyatt, RN, RN3, Urogynecology and Urology
- Meghan Flanagan, MD, MPH, Surgeon, Breast Surgery
- Rebecca Slotemaker, CRT, Respiratory Care Lead, Respiratory Care Services
- Sam Chapman, Security Officer, Public Safety
- Whitney Rudolph, DPT, NCS, ATP/SMS, Physical Therapist, Rehab Physical Therapy
