The Munroe-Meyer Institute announced its 2021 Phoenix Award winners on Feb. 15.
The winners were chosen by the MMI Quality Council from nominations submitted by members of the MMI community. The council received 49 nominations for 43 people in 2021, the most nominations since the awards were instituted.
“Although we could not gather to celebrate our amazing staff, the large number of nominations illustrate the phenomenal work being done at MMI and the commitment that so many have, going well beyond what is required of them in their assigned duties,” said Karoly Mirnics, MD, PhD, director of the Munroe-Meyer Institute. “The nominees as well as the winners deserve our thanks for the efforts they put in during this challenging year.”
The awardees were:
Education Phoenix Award: Brandy Clarke, PhD, psychology
“Dr. Clarke is able to break down complex federal grant requirements and share what she has learned from her years of experience in easy-to-understand ways,” a nominator said. “She makes sure everyone is part of a discussion. She clearly enjoys teaching others. Her success as an educator shows in the number of people attending her presentations and the positive impact she has had on the people around her.”
Research Phoenix Award: Jessica Gormley, PhD, speech-language pathology
In two-and-a-half years at MMI, Dr. Gormley has had three grants funded to further her research line related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). She also has developed additional interdisciplinary research relationships at MMI and UNMC. She is a member of the TIPS research group, a design thinking research collaboration with UNMC College of Medicine, and is involved in early research collaborations with the College of Nursing.
Spirit Phoenix Award: Beth Hughes, speech-language pathology
A nominator called Hughes “a constant ambassador of MMI in the community. She is always willing to provide support at community events. At community RiteCare events, such as this year’s RiteCare Golf Classic, she interacts with every person who attends and shares success of the program and makes sure she thanks all the Scottish Rite Masons and other participants for their support of the clinic.”
Support Staff Phoenix Award: Latrice Bond, speech-language pathology
Nominators praised Bond for her work to support MMI’s move toward centralized scheduling, as well as her efforts to support her department, including being a welcoming presence for clients. “Latrice always exudes positivity,” a nominator said. “She cares deeply for others and is a welcome face to all at MMI. We send people to her for support frequently as we know they are in good hands.”
Faculty Clinical Services Award: Nancy Foster, PhD, psychology
Keith Allen, PhD, director of the MMI Department of Psychology, called Dr. Foster “critical to building capacity to meet mental health needs in central Nebraska. Thanks to her help in support and development, we have established successful clinics with mid-level MMI providers in Kearney and York and have established a brand-new behavioral health provider at Great Plains Hospital in North Platte."
Staff Clinical Services Award: Carol Gaebler, speech-language pathology
Gaebler, who has provided SLP services for 31 years at MMI, is known for her expertise in swallowing, cognition, and head and neck cancer evaluation and treatment, a nominator said, calling her “highly skilled and is highly sought after from patients and providers” as the “leading expert in modified barium swallow studies and fiberoptic evaluation of the swallow (FEES) studies” in the department.
Community Engagement Phoenix Award: Liz Konapasek, DPT, physical therapy
A nominator called Dr. Konapasek “our ‘go-to’ person for resources and information on inclusion activities in the community for the families we serve. She is the first to notify our staff of inclusive community events through Special Olympics as well as how to access materials and equipment for our children we serve. She makes it her mission to stay abreast of these opportunities and how to get access for our families.”
Diversity and Inclusion Phoenix Award: Amanda Barton, speech-language pathology
A nominator noted that Barton, who frequently evaluates and treats individuals from diverse backgrounds whose first language is not English, always ensures an interpreter is present in-person or via phone at appointments. She also updated SmartPhrases in EPIC to include patient’s preferred name, gender identity and preferred pronouns, identifying common SmartLinks that can be used to auto-populate this information.
See more information on the awardees and the other nominees.