Spirits were high in Stern Auditorium as colleagues, family, and friends cheered on 36 individuals and 10 teams of employees who received the 2011 Recognition of Excellence Awards during The Mount Sinai Medical Center Employee Recognition Program ceremony on June 13.
Kenneth L. Davis, MD, president and chief executive officer of The Mount Sinai Medical Center, presented the 2011 Mount Sinai Presidential Service Award to Jaime Rodriguez, an associate researcher in the Department of Neuroscience. The award is given to an individual who exemplifies the highest level of dedication to the institution, compassion toward patients, and leadership among staff.
“Just about everybody in Neuroscience agrees that Jaime Rodriguez is the glue that holds the department together,” said Dr. Davis. “In addition to being a gifted research assistant, Jaime is always ready and eager to provide logistical support of any kind—essentially, he’s knowledgeable about every domain of departmental maintenance.” Dr. Davis noted, “In the words of one of his legions of admirers in the Department of Neuroscience, ‘We would be completely lost without him.’”
Said Rodriguez, after being congratulated by Dr. Davis, “I am honored to be part of the Department of Neuroscience, and I’m always looking for ways to help improve it.”
The recent two-day awards event kicked off seven days of activities that also honored individuals who celebrated milestone anniversaries of 10 to 45 years of service to Mount Sinai. The recipients were nominated by their peers as standard-bearers of excellence. And, excellence took many forms.
Video testimonials from colleagues and superiors spotlighted upbeat, dependable, and energetic employees who made significant contributions to Mount Sinai—by delivering extraordinary patient care, developing innovative solutions to common problems, and unparalleled professionalism.