UCSF Celebrates Milestone Service
Dolores Cannon-Andrews, a lab assistant in clinical pharmacology at the Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute with 35 years of service at UCSF, poses with UCSF Chancellor Sue Desmond-Hellmann at the reception celebrating milestone service.
When Susan Adams, Marcia Grumme and Mary Anne Koda-Kimble started working at UCSF in 1970, the cost of a gallon of gas averaged 36 cents, the nation celebrated its first Earth Day and the Beatles released the hit song “Let it Be.”
Adams, Grumme and Koda-Kimble, PharmD, dean of the UCSF School of Pharmacy, were recognized for their longtime dedication to UCSF during the eighth annual milestone reception “Celebrating Service” on April 8. Although none of them were able to attend the event due to their busy schedules, each received gifts of appreciation and their names were announced and emblazoned in large type on the program.
Koda-Kimble, who came to UCSF as a doctor of pharmacy student and climbed the academic ranks to become dean of the top-rated school, describes her years at UCSF as “an adventure.”
Among those recognized by UCSF Chancellor Sue Desmond-Hellmann, second from right, for 35 years of service at UCSF are, from left, Rose Gee, a supervisor in ophthalmology; Lydia Miguel, a clinical lab specialist in hematology; and Regina Villanueva, a clinical lab scientist in microbiology.
“There has been a sea change in what a pharmacist is—from dispenser of medications to direct patient care provider and therapeutics expert,” Koda-Kimble said via email. “The science expertise in our school has blossomed out from chemistry to fields such computational biology and pharmacogenomics. Our expanding clinical research is now a top priority. We have a joint department with the medical school. We work in close partnership with the medical center. These were pipe dreams 40 years ago. UCSF was open to these changes; it’s why I never left. I knew I could dream big dreams here, and they could come true.”
Enjoying the reception with UCSF Chancellor Sue Desmond-Hellmann, center, are Amy Levine, executive director of the Center for Gender Equity who has 30 years of service at UCSF, and Lisa Cisneros, an assistant director for Public Affairs with a 15-year career at UCSF.
UCSF Chancellor Sue Desmond-Hellmann, MD, MPH, congratulated the senior staff members who were among 547 campus employees invited to attend the celebration to recognize milestones of 10 years of service or more achieved in 2009 in five year increments.
For Desmond-Hellmann, it was an opportunity to show her appreciation to the many people – one of her top priorities – who contribute to the University’s mission. She presented flowers and plaques to those who have achieved 35 years of service and made the rounds greeting many others who attended the afternoon festivities.
Georgianne Meade, director of the research office at the UCSF School of Medicine, is among the dozen employees who have invested 35 years of their life working at the health sciences university.
UCSF Chancellor Sue Desmond-Hellmann presents Georgianne Meade with a plaque to recognize her 35 years of service at UCSF during a reception on April 8.
“It’s been a wild ride,” Meade told hundreds of members of the UCSF family gathered in the Millberry Union.
For Meade, achieving this milestone is a tribute to her tenacity and her ability to build a solid network of supporters who have helped her through multiple career changes.
“One of the most memorable experiences has been my involvement as a mentor with ABOG [Academic Business Officers Group] Mentorship program for 18 years,” Meade said via email. “I also have been a member of the ABOG Mentorship Steering Committee for 17 years. That special relationship with people is rewarding. The people that I have mentored are a part of my extended family. I was honored to have them there to be part of the celebration of my 35 years of service at UCSF.
As one colleague at the ceremony said to me: ‘If we did a six degrees of separation, Georgianne would be one of the most connected people on campus!’”
Among those celebrating three decades of service at the reception were: Kathleen Dracup, RN, dean of the UCSF School of Nursing; Eric Koenig, director of the Office of Student Live; Amy Levine, executive director of the Center for Gender Equity; and Eric Vermillion, associate vice chancellor of finance.
Photos by Susan Merrell