A pair of School of Medicine staff members received awards from the UC Riverside Staff Assembly at their annual end-of-year awards ceremony at the Barn on Monday, June 3, 2024.
Stephanie Sandoval of the School of Medicine's Department of Social Medicine, Population, and Public Health was presented with the People Helping People Award and retiree Kathy Barton was presented with the Mary Johnson Outstanding Retiree Award.
UCR Staff Assembly is a campus affinity group dedicated to promoting the interests and welfare of all UCR staff. The awards are nominated by individuals across campus and selected by members of the staff recognition committee.
The People Helping People Award is presented to staff who exemplify service to the surrounding community.
Sandoval, a public health educator in the UCR Center for Healthy Communities, was nominated by her colleagues Fara Aidul, Sarah Garibay, and Selina Hernandez. Sandoval oversees CHC's Unsheltered Outreach Program, which provides outreach and offers resources to the homeless community. Her nomination read, in part:
"In her short time managing this program, (Sandoval) has made a significant impact within the unsheltered population in Riverside. After partnering with other organizations. She was able to organize a monthly resource fair with the City of Riverside and offer services that included: MediCal sign up, CalFresh benefits, HIV screenings, clothing donations, haircuts, and more. In addition, she volunteers her Spanish translation services to Love & Nurture, a non‐profit organization that serves Latino/Hispanic communities on the weekends.”
"She also edits and hosts a podcast to spread health education to people all over the world. She is an exceptional person with a kind and empathetic heart. Her willingness to help and her compassionate nature make her a valued member of any community. Her actions demonstrate that one person can make a positive impact on the lives of those around them."
The Mary Johnson Outstanding Retiree Award is presented in conjunction with the UCR Retiree Association and recognizes a UCR retiree who has had an outstanding record of service to UCR.
Barton, who retired in 2018 as chief of staff and assistant dean for strategic initiatives, returned to the School of Medicine as a special assistant to the dean to provide support for the school's accreditation efforts with the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), which took place in January.
Her nomination, submitted by Undergraduate Medical Education Executive Administrative Specialist Mary Voss, read in part:
"Kathy played a pivotal role in navigating through the rigorous Liaison Committee of Medical Education (LCME) accreditation process over the past couple of years cannot be overstated. Her profound expertise and deep understanding of this intricate process have been indispensable to the success of the School of Medicine. Her dedication to ensuring the School of Medicine meets the highest standards set by the LCME is truly commendable. She has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence, working tirelessly to streamline procedures, address any challenges, and ensure compliance with accreditation requirements. Beyond her expertise, Kathy's passion for advancing medical education and her genuine investment in the success of our school shines through in every aspect of her work. Her guidance and leadership have not only facilitated our successful accreditation but have also contributed to the ongoing improvement and enhancement of our medical education programs. Kathy's contributions have been instrumental in strengthening the foundation of excellence upon which our School of Medicine stands. We are immensely grateful for her dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to our institution's success."
Also recognized at the event was SOM Manager of External Relations and Protocol Kate Dorff for her service on the Staff Assembly Board as co-director of events in 2023-24. Dorff will continue in the position in 2024-25.
