Meaningful Recognition

The UW Medicine Cares Awards were established in 2013 to formally recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of individuals and teams who consistently exemplify our UW Medicine Service Culture Guidelines. Nominees go above and beyond to support other members of the UW Medicine community.

Our outstanding faculty and staff are our greatest resource and are critical to UW Medicine’s ability to achieve our mission of improving the health of the public. We are so honored to recognize the following individuals and teams for their unwavering commitment to the service culture guidelines that make UW Medicine such an amazing place to work.

Marta Alhama-Belotto, MD (Cardiologist, Heart Institute South Lake Union)

Marta Alhama-Belotto treats all staff and patients with compassion, dignity, and respect. Despite her busy schedule, she is approachable and always makes time to communicate clearly. She takes a personal and hands-on approach to caregiving, often calling patients directly with test results while maintaining excellent communication with other providers. Dr. Alhama-Belotto actively works to reduce rehospitalizations and strives to improve efficiency with a goal of constant improvement. She is an advocate of patient-centered care and is a role model for her colleagues, embodying the values outlined in the UW Medicine Service Culture Guidelines. 

Mandi Bainton, PA-C (Physician Assistant, Urology)

Mandi is an example of compassion and care in action. In addition to providing excellent patient care, she takes the lead in helping ensure new staff feel welcomed, comfortable, and supported. She has made onboarding and initial training more efficient by developing and implementing a multimedia procedure guide to help new to our clinic medical assistants and nurses understand how best to set up for each provider and provide a refresher for those who need it. Mandi is a core member of the team; she is patient focused, effective, dedicated, and committed to equitable care. She has the respect of staff, trainees, and fellow providers, she was a force for stability during a series of large-scale transitions, and she has significantly contributed outside of regular hours as a member of the EDI Committee.

Brian Buchanan, CRNA  (Chief CRNA, Surgical Services)

One of the reasons our CRNAs are so successful is because of Brian Buchanan. Brian’s commitment to excellence permeates every aspect of his job and he is a compassionate, caring example of our Service Culture Guidelines in action, showing respect to patients and colleagues alike. Brian is a leader and a member of multiple committees, including the OR Taskforce, where he works to solve problems through collaboration and teamwork. He constantly juggles the demands of the OR and hospital with staffing needs and staff job satisfaction, meeting with nursing, hospital, and anesthesia management to address issues and potential concerns.  Brian also promotes innovation by regularly asking for staff feedback on how to improve procedures, helping to maintain an inclusive environment. He frequently advocates for his peers to get involved with hospital committees, educational opportunities, peer mentoring, shadowing, and precepting. He has an open-door policy and appreciates direct, productive communication. Brian is an example of the excellence that UWMC offers patients and staff, and he is committed to the vision and mission of UWMC.

Meghan Flanagan, MD, MPH (Surgeon, Breast Surgery)

Dr. Flanagan goes above and beyond with her patients who have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. She also goes above and beyond with the staff in her clinic. Dr. Flanagan is a mentor who takes care to make everyone feel valued as part of the team, inspiring her colleagues to greater achievements through her leadership of the Breast Surgery Clinic. She is a consummate academic physician who attains excellence in domains as broad as patient care, research, education, mentorship of residents and medical students. She leads with grace using a supportive, mature leadership style. 

Whitney Rudolph, DPT, NCS, ATP/SMS (Physical Therapist, Rehab Physical Therapy)

Whitney strives for excellence, supporting her colleagues and patients with equal competence. She is knowledgeable, resourceful, and exemplifies the UW Medicine Service Culture Guidelines, going above and beyond for every patient and patient family member by advocating for them and ensuring that they have the care and resources they need. She is very often sought out by colleagues for her expertise to consult on their complex patients, and during the consultations Whitney provides the same level of attention and compassion as she devotes to her own caseload. She is an integral part of creating a culture of collaboration and teamwork both within the physical therapy department and across disciplines in rehab therapies. She supports recognition events that contribute significantly to the morale and engagement of her colleagues and has supports multiple quality improvement measures to improve patient care. Whitney is shown here with her family.

Henry Wong, PharmD (Lead Pharmacist, Inpatient Pharmacy, Montlake Campus)

Henry has worked as a distribution pharmacist in the main hospital pharmacy at UWMC since completing his residency 20 years ago. Moving into a lead position, he has quietly made his mark as a gifted scheduler for all clinical and distribution pharmacist roles in the department. Those who work with Henry know that his exceptional dedication has been critical to ensuring ongoing pharmacy services to patients in our community in a time of staffing challenges. Henry also coordinates the training of new pharmacists in the inpatient setting to ensure that they have the skills needed to provide excellent patient care. Henry’s work ethic and dedication to UWMC’s patients are inspiring as he has continued to provide high quality pharmaceutical care through patient surges and staff shortages. Henry’s colleagues recognize and value his efficiency and expertise, and he is consistently and equally dedicated to patient care and the welfare of his peers.

Sam Chapman (Security Officer, Public Safety)

Safety Officer Sam Chapman shows respect for patients, families, and staff even during difficult circumstances. Sam is able to control and de-escalate potentially dangerous situations, and he takes collaboration with staff and caregivers seriously, taking the time to get to know fellow staff members so that in stressful times the teamwork is seamless. Regardless of the challenges Sam encounters, he approaches each day with a positive attitude that uplifts the spirits of both his colleagues and the patients we serve. What truly sets him apart is his genuine desire to connect with those he interacts with. He takes the time to get to know others on a personal level, making them feel heard, understood, and valued. This level of care is extraordinary as he consistently goes above and beyond to create a sense of community within our hospital.

Karin Harlan, MSW, LICSW (Social Worker, Social Work & Care Coordination)

As the primary social worker for Medicine E and the Medicine Intensive Care Unit, Karin coordinates care for some of the most medically and socially complex patients at UWMC. As such, she often provides invaluable continuity of care for patients who are admitted regularly, as well as patients who transfer back and forth between the ICU to acute care. Karin's demeanor is always so kind, and the way in which she genuinely cares for her patients shows through, exemplifying the quality and comprehensive care that UW Medicine stands for. She cares about each of her patients and works hard to deliver the care and resources they need even in challenging circumstances, boosting the ability of all healthcare team members to deliver patient-centered care. Through her dedication, creative problem solving, empathy for the most vulnerable patients, exceptional communication skills, thorough documentation, and her eternally positive attitude, Karin brings joy to the whole healthcare team and is an outstanding colleague.

Kazuko Robertshaw (Program Coordinator, Cardiac Transplant)

Kazuko supports her patients and her team with equal dedication. She is an invaluable resource and is detail-oriented, attending team and program meetings and taking thorough notes. She has incorporated "WOW" moments in meeting agendas that highlight the accomplishments of a specific team member, assisted in developing an LVAD support group, set up a patient memorial area, and she has applied for and received two wellness grants. Kazuko inspires her colleagues, who feel supported by her presence and appreciative of all she does to promote kindness and inclusivity.

Becki Slotemaker, RRT (Respiratory Care Lead, Respiratory Care Services)

Becki is everything a hospital wants in a respiratory therapist. She works in the Neonatal ICU, as an ECLS specialist and in adults. She always comes to work in a good mood and is always ready to help. Her colleagues see her as a mentor. When she is not Charge RT for the shift, she is constantly checking on others, lending a hand, educating, and making sure patients are safe. Becki is seen as a fantastic, dependable resource for colleagues across all her units. The department is fortunate to have had her as part of the team for many years.

Leslie Turner (Executive Assistant to the CEO, UWMC Administration)

Leslie’s invaluable contributions extend beyond the immediate scope of her responsibilities. Her exceptional sense of humor, solution-oriented mindset, flexibility, organization, attention to detail, knowledge, and proactive approach make her the embodiment of UW Medicine's service culture guidelines.  Her remarkable qualities and unwavering commitment have not only elevated our team but have also deeply impacted our patients and colleagues. Her ability to infuse lightheartedness into interactions creates an environment where colleagues and patients alike feel instantly welcomed and comfortable. This invaluable trait cultivates a sense of camaraderie that contributes positively to our workplace culture.

Maxine Wyatt, RN (RN3, Urogynecology & Urology)

As an RN in the Pelvic Health Center, Maxine is a superstar for both her colleagues and patients. Maxine brings a high level of expertise, professionalism, and kindness to all the cisgender female patients in the clinic who need care for sometimes emotional and difficult conditions, and she is equally compassionate with our transgender male patients. The physicians, medical assistants, and patients rely on her to maintain an elevated level of care, even with staffing shortages and other logistical challenges. She has been a consummate team player during an extraordinarily challenging staffing/ leadership period. She is always willing to identify how to be helpful in the care of our patients and in support of our team.

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, PC)

The Cystic Fibrosis program cares for over 300 adults, often with complex medical and psychosocial issues. The multidisciplinary team works consistently and tirelessly to provide outstanding care. The teamwork, camaraderie, and consistently positive attitude demonstrated by this group is truly impressive. They are motivated only by helping patients achieve their best outcome, and work together to ensure the highest level of care for people living with CF. Any of these team members would be worthy of a Cares award nomination on their own but given their collaboration and team-first mentality we want to recognize the whole group.

ALS Clinic Team

(Alycia Staats, OT, Colleen Williams, SLP, Desmond Wiles, Seating and Mobility Specialist (SMS), Jan Pryor, SLP, Jeni Brooke, RT, Katie Sweet, PT, Michael Weiss, MD, Morgan Chojnacki, RD, Myla Smith, Nassim Rad, MD, Silver Denton, PT, WenPei Ridenour, RN)

This team has developed the ALS clinic from the ground up, to provide more collaborative care for the ALS population. Getting an ALS diagnosis is life changing and overwhelming. For a population that is already having mobility issues, having all their care coordinated into a clinic lessens the burden on the patients and their families. This clinic coordinates care between the MD, therapist, and vendor to streamline the process for getting patients a wheelchair. This is especially important in a disease that can progress quickly or already be progressed by the time of diagnosis. Despite a challenging patient population, this team remains dedicated to helping patients maintain quality of life as their function declines.  They are compassionate toward their patients and each other. Through collaboration, they make sure that the complex needs of every patient are met and that follow-up needs do not fall through the cracks.

Autopsy and After Death Services Team

(Brian McGing, Program Manager, Charity Davis, APT, Jenna Grillo, APT, Leah Lay, APT, Raphael Lam, APT)

This team collectively extends the hospital’s excellent patient care and compassion to grieving families and the greater community. Locally, the COVID-19 pandemic collided with the exponential increase in drug-related fatalities, resulting in deaths that overwhelmed the capacity of funeral homes and transport services. Despite critical staff and resource shortages, this team consistently coordinated the transport of a record number of decedents, continued the management and coordination of Indigent remains (those unclaimed by family or loved ones) with the Medical Examiner’s Office, coordinated transportation of decedents that fell under the jurisdiction of the Medical Examiner’s Office, and initiated certification of all deaths for UW Medicine physicians to ensure timely completion so as to not interfere with burial practices. This team’s unity, resilience, compassion, and hard work are to be lauded. Working with grieving families to identify funeral homes and cremation services while respecting families' cultural and religious needs requires a unique set of skills that this team exemplifies. Pictured L-R: Raphael Lam, Brian McGing, Leah Lay, Charity Davis, Jenna Grillo.

Cindy Sayre, Chief Nursing Officer, retired in early January 2024 with over 39 years of nursing experience as a clinical oncology nurse, critical care nurse, and nurse practitioner. For over twenty-two years, she worked in various roles at UWMC including Staff Development Specialist, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Director of Professional Practice and Magnet Program Director. Cindy used her many years of experience in leading a Magnet Organization to guide us to our 6th and 7th Magnet designations.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cindy served as the Incident Commander for UWMC. She showed her authentic and transparent style by holding Town Halls, and producing first daily, then a weekly CNO update. Her transformational leadership style fostered an environment of safe communication.

Prior to taking on the duties of CNO, she served for five years as Associate Administrator for Patient Care Services. She championed the expansion of the Patient and Family Advisory Councils, which provide valuable input to the Patient and Family Centered Care programs. She has been a strong proponent of nursing education, helping to lead the increase of nurses prepared at the BSN and higher level at UWMC to over 80 percent.

Cindy started as a diploma nurse in southern California, then earned her BSN from UW Bothell in 1995, a Master’s in 1999 and a PhD in 2015 both at UW School of Nursing. In January 2024, she was the recipient of the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award.

We are extraordinarily grateful for her service and leadership. For her decades of dedication to nursing, patients, and families!

Pat Berg, RN3 4NE, retired in November after a 40+ year career at UWMC. She was a trusted colleague, who kept her cool in the most stressful situations. Pat was an RN3 on 4NE as well as a Patient Flow Supervisor. Nurses all over the medical center relied on Pat’s experience, knowledge and practical problem-solving.

Sue Theiler, Assistant Administrator for the Emergency Departments retired at the end of November 2023. Sue started at UWMC as a traveler in 1989. During her tenure, she served as an RN3 on 6NE and 7SE for about 16 years. She was then promoted to the Nurse Manager role for 6SE and served there for 13 years. She became Assistant Administrator for the Emergency Department in 2014 and has worked tirelessly to promote excellent care for patients and a safe environment for the healthcare team. In 2020, Sue assumed leadership for the Emergency Department for the NW campus and has successfully shared best practices across the teams.

Sue shared that she was most proud of the teams that have been built in both Emergency Departments. She provided key leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and is leaving a legacy of highly collaborative teams that are focused on providing excellent care for the communities they serve. She is an avid golfer and plans to spend lots of time on the golf course and travelling.

Dorthea McMahon, Assistant Administrator for the Admission and Bed Coordination Center, Central Resource Groups and Workforce Operations has also retired in late December. She started her UWMC career as a New Grad RN on 5E in 1981 and later served as the 5E Nurse Manager from 1989-1996. During her time on 5E, she launched the STAT and PICC programs. She transitioned to the Resource Team in 1996 assuming the roles of PICC RN, STAT RN, and ICU float in an RN3 capacity. In 2002 she became the Nurse Manager of the Resource Team and STAT and Vascular Access programs. Since 2015, she has take on senior nursing leadership roles as both a Director and Assistant Administrator.

Dorthea has provided steadfast guidance as UWMC-ML has expanded patient volumes over the last several years and has been instrumental in identifying and operationalizing boarding spaces across the medical center. She has served as a key partner for the Capacity Management Physicians and is known for her commitment to ensuring that all patients receive safe care. She is also an avid golfer (and she and Sue often golf together. Dorthea is an outdoor enthusiast and enjoys spending time with her children and granddaughter.

Liz Bridges, Nurse Researcher, retired in December as well. Liz joined UWMC as the Nurse Researcher in 2004. She brought nursing research to life at UWMC and mentored countless RNs through important projects that impacted patient care and nursing practice for the better. Liz served with distinction at the national, regional, and local level. She served as an Air Force critical care nurse researcher for 22 years in active service. Liz served as President for the American Association of Critical Care Nurses in 2020 where she led the organization through the most chaotic days of the pandemic. During this time, she was a key contributor to the Crisis Standards of Care work at UWMC. She also worked at the UW School of Nursing throughout her tenure at UWMC, balancing the two roles with aplomb. Liz collaborated on submitting UWMC’s Magnet application which ultimately resulted in an unprecedented 7th designation with no deficiencies. We thank Liz for her enduring impact at UWMC!