More than 1,500 UTMB employees were recognized for reaching important milestones in their careers during the annual Employee Service Day ceremony on Oct. 21 at Levin Hall. Collectively, the employees represented 19,850 years of service to UTMB and its mission. Special service pins were presented in five-year increments, with 45 years being the longest tenure honored at the ceremony. In addition, 532 GEM card recipients were recognized for “Going the Extra Mile” in their daily activities.
45 Years of Dedication
Donna Sollenberger, executive vice president and chief executive officer for the UTMB Health System, took a moment to celebrate Dr. Leonard Swischuk, who has been with UTMB since 1970 and is known throughout the field of radiology for his groundbreaking expertise in pediatric imaging and as an educator of radiology and pediatric medical students, residents and faculty members.
Among his discoveries, Swischuk found that X-rays can show the difference between viral and bacterial lung infections in children. This innovation has helped pediatricians make more accurate diagnoses, resulting in a decrease in the overuse of antibiotics to treat children.
“Dr. Swischuk literally wrote the book—six of them to be exact—on pediatric radiology and has dedicated himself to our students, residents, staff and patients for an incredible 45 years,” said Sollenberger. “Dr. Swischuk is revered here at UTMB as a tremendous leader and mentor and for treating people with dignity and compassion.”
A video about Swischuk’s tenure at UTMB, along with comments from his colleagues, was played before he accepted his service pin and shared a few funny, but heartfelt words with the crowd.
“When I got here in 1970, I got off the plane and thought to myself, ‘what am I doing here?’” said Swischuk. “But when I got up the next morning, I felt like a rose beginning to bloom in spring. I walked into UTMB and saw there was an enormous opportunity, to do things from the roots and provide new knowledge—so away I went, and I’ve never looked back.”
The Highest Degree of Professionalism
Maria D. Garcia, senior administrative manager of the UTMB Center for Addiction Research, received The Nicholas and Katherine Leone Award for Administrative Excellence at this year’s Employee Service Day celebration.
The award recognizes a manager or supervisor at UTMB who displays the highest degree of professionalism, with a monetary prize of $7,500: $2,500 for the winning manager and $5,000 for developing and training in his or her department.
Employee Advisory Council members reviewed and scored a total of 34 nominations, and Garcia was the only nominee to receive a perfect score throughout the selection process.
She began her career at UTMB more than 10 years ago translating for Spanish-speaking patients.
“I’m very excited, humbled and honored,” said Garcia. “I’m thankful to Dr. Kathryn Cunningham for giving me the opportunity to lead her division in this wonderful work they are doing both at UTMB and in the community. My favorite thing about UTMB is the people—we just saw there are people who have been here for 40-plus years, and I work with people every day that I’ve known since the day I started.”
The Leone Award, established in 1971, is made possible through an endowment from Dr. Nicholas Leone, a former commanding officer and director of the Public Health Service Hospital in Galveston, and his wife Katherine.