SOM Staff Awards | Emory School of Medicine

The School of Medicine is committed to recognizing, appreciating, developing, and celebrating our talented and dedicated staff who play a crucial role in fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement in our school. To highlight exemplary practices and transformative initiatives in areas such as leadership, service, and innovation, the Staff Recognition and Engagement Committee hosted the annual SOM Staff Awards Ceremony in December 2025. This year, seven individuals and two teams were honored.

2025 Winners Spotlight

Excellence in Leadership Award Jasmah Hanna Department of Medicine

The Excellence in Leadership recognizes a staff member who contributes significantly to the success of the School of Medicine through leadership and service. Jasmah Hanna, associate director of research projects in the Division of Hospital Medicine, is described as a transformative and visionary leader whose strategic insight, operational excellence, and ability to empower others have elevated one of the nation’s largest academic hospital medicine programs.

During her tenure, Jasmah has built a robust research infrastructure from the ground up — developing systems, mentoring faculty, and implementing processes that have led to a tenfold increase in annual peer-reviewed publications. She has secured competitive grant funding, strengthened national research collaborations, and established innovative programs that support faculty scholarship, quality improvement, and academic growth. Her leadership has not only advanced the division’s research mission but has shaped a culture where collaboration, inclusion, and excellence thrive.

Jasmah is known for her calm, solutions-oriented approach, her ability to unite teams, and her commitment to helping faculty and staff reach their full potential. Her contributions have transformed workflows, expanded scholarly output, and positioned the Division of Hospital Medicine as a national leader in academic innovation.

Jasmah Hanna accepting her award with Dean Wong.

Excellence in Leadership Award Zirka Smith Department of Medicine

The Excellence in Leadership recognizes a staff member who contributes significantly to the success of the School of Medicine through leadership and service. Zirka Smith, executive administrator for the Department of Medicine, is a transformative, innovative, and inclusive leader whose impact spans multiple departments across the School of Medicine. She was nominated by leaders in the Department of Ophthalmology in recognition of the exceptional leadership she provided during her time supporting that department, in addition to the strong results she continues to achieve in her current role.

Her leadership has been instrumental in recruiting key faculty, building vibrant research programs, enhancing educational infrastructure, and improving clinical operations across multiple sites and disciplines. Colleagues consistently highlight her collaborative spirit, strategic vision, and ability to unite people around shared goals. She has created new administrative structures that improve trainee and faculty support, implemented operational changes that strengthened patient care, and fostered a culture where staff feel valued, included, and motivated to excel.

Her impact is measurable: engagement, belonging, and retention have all increased significantly under her leadership, reflecting the depth of trust and community she has built—both in the Department of Ophthalmology and now in the Department of Medicine.

Zirka Smith accepting her award with Dean Wong.

Service Champion Award Melba Willoughby- Newbern Department of Radiation Oncology

The Service Champion Award recognizes a staff member for excellence in service, collaboration with others, dedication to School of Medicine community values, and exceptional performance. Melba Willoughby-Newbern, administrative assistant in the Department of Radiation Oncology, is described as an exceptionally dedicated, highly reliable team member whose work is essential to the success of the Grady Radiation Oncology clinic. She oversees the onboarding and reappointment process for more than 30 radiation oncology physicians and nurse practitioners, ensuring that credentialing is accurate, timely, and seamless across both Emory and Grady systems.

Melba consistently goes above and beyond her responsibilities. As a Certified Professional Coder, she has strengthened departmental operations by improving billing workflows, identifying revenue discrepancies, and recovering significant lost charges. Her colleagues describe her as “the glue that holds the team together,” offering calm leadership, deep expertise, and unwavering support to faculty, staff, and patients. As an ovarian cancer survivor herself, Melba brings a unique empathy to her work and is a warm, uplifting presence in the clinic.

Melba Willoughby-Newbern accepting her award with Dean Wong.

Learner Impact Award Emily Generally Office of Medical Education and Student Affairs

The Learner Impact Award recognizes a staff member who contributes to learner success in a notable and measurable way through the personal, professional, or academic development of a learner or group of learners above and beyond the expectation of their position. Emily Generally, senior program coordinator for the Center for Holistic Student Success, is described as someone whose creativity, organization, and calming presence make her an essential part of the learner experience at the School of Medicine. Since joining Emory in 2023, she has played a key role in launching the Center and building its foundational programs, including the entire SOM tutoring program, which she manages from tutor matching to process automation. She also creates CHSS newsletters and websites, provides technical and administrative support, and consistently improves systems to help students and staff work smarter, not harder.

Beyond her operational excellence, Emily is a trusted presence for students. She is often the first person they seek out—whether for academic guidance, personal support, or simply a moment of connection. Students consistently describe Emily as kind, encouraging, and deeply invested in their success, noting the meaningful impact she has had on their well-being and confidence.

Emily Generally accepting her award with Dean Wong.

Innovation Award Callie Wigington Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology

The Innovation Award recognizes a staff member who has helped drive creativity and innovation in the areas of research, education, or clinical care, resulting in increased efficiency, decreased costs, or increased customer satisfaction in a department or for the School of Medicine. Callie Wigington, program director of the Center for New Medicines, is described as someone whose creativity, strategic vision, and innovative leadership have been essential in launching the Center and advancing its mission to translate scientific discoveries into life-changing therapeutics. She created a unique project review model that brings stakeholders together to evaluate potential therapies for novelty, clinical impact, and intellectual property potential, and she developed a high-impact pipeline that positions the School of Medicine for long-term success in drug discovery and development. Dr. Wigington also implemented a milestone-driven project management framework that accelerates high-value research and enhances efficiency across the translational ecosystem.

In addition to her work with the Center for New Medicines, she has strengthened innovation in education through creative programming that inspires and prepares the next generation of drug discovery scientists. Her leadership has established a new paradigm for translational research at Emory and has earned enthusiastic support from leaders across the institution.

Going the Extra Mile (G.E.M) Award Tracy Niedzielko Department of Emergency Medicine

The Going the Extra Mile (GEM) Award recognizes staff members who go above and beyond the routine call of duty and positively impact the School of Medicine, departments, programs, or committees from behind the scenes while exhibiting a commitment to excellence. Tracy Niedzielko, lab manager of the Translational Neurotrauma Lab, is known for her exceptional dedication, humility, and unwavering support of others. Tracy is described as someone who consistently elevates the entire team: staying late to help meet critical deadlines, volunteering for the hardest tasks, and fostering a culture of kindness, trust, and mutual respect. She leads by example, working with integrity and purpose, and her steady presence makes the workplace more productive and more enjoyable for everyone around her.

Tracy’s commitment to going the extra mile is evident in the many ways she quietly ensures the success of the team. During severe weather that closed the university, she came in on her own time, prepared to sleep on site so that post-surgical animals would never be left unattended. She has helped bridge divides between teams by facilitating communication, building shared goals, and modeling collaborative problem-solving. She also developed a new urinary catheter solution that has improved animal care, streamlined workflows, reduced complications, and strengthened the overall quality of the research.

Tracy Niedzielko accepting her award with Dean Wong.

Newcomer Award Abby Ison Office of Medical Education and Student Affairs

The Outstanding Newcomer Award recognizes a staff member who has provided exceptional support and had an immediate positive impact within his or her first year of employment within the School of Medicine. Abby Ison, educational specialist in the Office of Medical Education and Student Affairs who supports both the capstone course and the M2 electives program, is described as someone who stepped into an extremely challenging situation and made an immediate and transformative impact. After multiple staff transitions left key educational programs at risk, Abby quickly mastered complex logistics, modernized processes, coordinated with faculty and students, and stabilized two of the School’s most intricate curricular experiences. Her ability to anticipate needs, solve problems, and support both faculty and learners has earned unsolicited praise from students, who describe her as helpful, responsive, and deeply respectful of their time and anxieties.

In her first year, Abby successfully managed the four-week Capstone course involving over 200 faculty and staff, improved course evaluations and communication systems, and helped rebuild the structure necessary for the program’s continued success. She also seamlessly took on the M2 Electives program, coordinating more than 140 students and 30 faculty through an online lottery process — all with exceptional organization and calm professionalism.

Team Excellence Award: Research/Science Emory Children's Center Vaccine Research Clinic

The Team Excellence Award: Research/Science recognizes a basic science, laboratory, or clinical research team whose impact is demonstrated through scientific or health advancements, productive interdisciplinary partnerships, or the development of novel and effective approaches to research. The Emory Children's Center Vaccine Research Clinic team truly embodies these ideals. This team of more than 30 clinicians, coordinators, laboratory specialists, analysts, and investigators plays a pivotal role in advancing the development of safe, effective, and accessible vaccines and treatments.

Their work spans 18 active clinical trials funded by the NIH, CDC, Gates Foundation, and industry partners, with significant accomplishments including more than 1,700 participant visits and numerous publications and presentations just this year. The team’s impact is perhaps most evident in their leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. They conducted the first-in-human Phase I trial of Moderna’s mRNA vaccine and contributed to multiple large-scale studies in adults and children—research that directly informed FDA approvals and CDC recommendations, ultimately helping save millions of lives.

Their current projects include two first-in-human Phase 1 rotavirus vaccine trials, one featuring a novel inactivated formulation and another using cutting-edge dissolvable microneedle patch technology. The team has managed every aspect of these studies—from protocol development and statistical plans to AI-supported recruitment and regulatory oversight—demonstrating exceptional innovation, rigor, and collaboration. The Emory Children's Center Vaccine Research Clinic team includes Clair Emily Martin, Khalel De Castro, Alex Dreyer, Lauren Elizabeth Nolan, Kathy Stephens, Lisa Macoy, Theda Gibson, Lui Salazar, Ashley Tippett, Kathryn Zaks, Hui-Mien Hsiao, Gidget Kettle, Etza Ann Smith, Leisa Bower, Anna Siaw-Anim, Molly Tuggle, Wensheng Li, Simone Francois, Humerazehra Nasir Momin, Janelle Spencer-Ramirez, Langdon Smythe DiMaggio, Casiel Tey Gethers, Deanna West Tankoo, Komal Gopchandani, Brianna Rice, DeLisa Hardnick, Anna Katherine Mitchell, Peggy McGarity, Alison Grossman, Lasata Shrestha, Will Gansereit, Jesssica McCaffery, Sylvia Marie Tangney, Lidiya Girma Desta, and Caroline Rose Ciric.

Emory Children's Center Vaccine Research Clinic team members smile for a group photo with their award.

Team Excellence Award: Non-Research/Science Office of Faculty Academic Affairs and Professional Development

The Team Excellence Award: Non-Research/Science recognizes a non-research team whose work has made a significant impact on internal or external stakeholders. The Office of Faculty Academic Affairs and Professional Development faculty development team is described as a group whose strategic leadership, innovative programming, and deep commitment to faculty success have transformed the faculty experience across the School of Medicine. With a team of six staff supporting all 27 departments, they delivered 67 courses, workshops, and seminars this past year, engaging more than 1,600 faculty members in leadership development, mentorship, academic advancement, and recognition.

Their portfolio spans every stage of the faculty journey—from onboarding and mentoring to leadership preparation and ongoing career development. Signature programs such as Researcher Survival Skills, EM-ProLEAD, COMPASS, Pathways to Academic Leadership, and the Learning to be Better Teachers Conference have strengthened faculty skills and enhanced the culture of excellence across our institution. The team also leads major recognition events, honoring more than 650 faculty members for their contributions and achievements. Despite limited resources, the Professional Development Team consistently delivers high-impact programming and works collaboratively to meet the evolving needs of faculty. Their shared purpose, creativity, and unified approach have set a standard across Emory and beyond. The professional development team includes Katie Davis Cowley, Sarah McClellan, Dominique Thiers-Schmidt, Shanelle Camp-Redic, Monique Rainey, and Krista Ray.

Office of Faculty Academic Affairs and Professional Development team smiles for a group photo with their awards.