University of California San Francisco
UCSF School of Medicine UCSF Medical Center

Award for Exceptional Service in Medical Education

The Award for Exceptional Service in Medical Education honors and recognizes exemplary service by staff in the Office of Medical Education (OME), School of Medicine. All OME staff are eligible for nomination.

2026 Recipients

Mid-Career Award:

  • Wenia Lee, Clinical Enrollments Specialist, Assessment, Curriculum, Evaluations (ACE)

Team Award:

Kanbar Center for Simulation and Clinical Skills Team:

  • Emilie Chu, Finance, Operations Officer
  • Anna O’Boyle, Administrative Officer
  • JP Cariola, Simulation Technician
  • Jessica Yepez Rangel, Simulation Technician
  • Brandon Mears, Standardized Patient Supervisor
  • Ron Chapman, Standardized Patient Trainer
  • Sam Cohen, Standardized Patient Trainer

Office of Continuing Medical Education (CME)

  • Tymothi Peters, Administrative Director
  • Kristy Hanstad, Finance Manager
  • Callie McGonagle, Senior Financial Analyst
  • Joey Bernal, Learner Experience and MOC Manager
  • Christopher Conway, Registrar
  • Nanette Pico, Operations Coordinator
  • Tiffany R. Geraldizo, Digital Media Specialist
  • Stacey Samuels, Accreditation Manager
  • Jerome Borjal, Accreditation Analyst
  • Crystal Mask-Caraway, Accreditation Analyst
  • Rachel Lupole, Portfolio Manager
  • Gaelen Lombard, Lead Conference Manager
  • Dawn Bohlmann, Senior Conference Manager
  • Philina Lim, Senior Conference Manager
  • Sari Ogden, Senior Conference Manager
  • Niharika Patel, Conference Manager

The 2026 Award recipients will be presented at the Academy's annual Celebration of New Members on Tuesday, September 29, 3 - 5 pm. Recipients, their nominators, and their special guests are invited to attend.

Please be sure to read the guidelines below, before submitting your nomination online. For questions or concerns, contact [email protected]. 

UCSF does not use race, gender, sex, or other protected categories or proxies for protected categories in the selection process.

Nomination Guidelines (Individual and Team)

Criteria for Nominators
  • All OME staff and faculty are eligible to nominate (from departments and branches under the umbrella of the OME). Any staff person can nominate a colleague or peer!
  • Nominators do not have to work in the same unit as the nominee.
  • One nomination per nominator.
Submission Requirements

Primary and Secondary Nominators complete an online submission form about the nominee’s performance and how they exhibit the following characteristics in support of medical education over the past year:

  1. Contributes to their job description by leading job activities, programs, or events, resulting in increased educational value for learners.
  2. Serves as a role model for teamwork and service to others.
  3. Makes the unit a better place to work and to learn by consistently demonstrating an open and helpful attitude and by communicating and working cooperatively with learners, trainees, colleagues, and/or faculty.
  4. Demonstrates a commitment to excellence and inspires others to excel.
  5. Demonstrates and provides examples of how the nominee exemplifies UCSF Mission and Values (PRIDE Values)

The primary nominator will receive an emailed confirmation once the form is successfully submitted.

Past Recipients
  • 2025
    • Mid-Level: Joey Bernal, Program Manager, Office of Continuing Medical Education and Center for Faculty Educators
  • 2024
    • Early-Level: Kelly O'Brien, Curriculum Coordinator, Assessment, Curriculum, Evaluations (ACE)
    • Mid-Level: Jennifer Vogt, Director, Graduate Medical Education (GME)
  • 2023
    • Individual Award Recipients
      • Betsy Norton, Lead Coordinator: F1 OEQ Assessments, Ground School, BMB
      • Craig Gawlick, Administrative Director, Kanbar Center
    • Team Award: Clinical Microsystems Clerkship (CMC)
      • Kristin Casey Callaghan, MA, CMC, Manager
      • Anna Kozas,, MA, CMC, Manager, Direct Patient Care
      • Therese Denoga, MPH, CMC Site Specialist
      • Jocelyn Faye, MS, CMC, Curriculum Coordinator
      • Patience Kriedt, CMC Curriculum Coordinator
      • Patricia Runquist MPA, CMC Site Specialist
  • 2022: Christina Cicoletti, MA, Executive Director for Assessment, Curriculum, Evaluations (ACE)
  • 2021: Sara Clemons, MEd, Manager, Foundations 2 and Career Launch/Assessment, Curriculum, Evaluations (ACE)
  • 2020: Allison Savage, Manager, Special Projects and Staff Engagement, Office of Medical Education
  • 2019: Valerie Margol, MA, Associate Director, UCSF Post Baccalaureate Program and Outreach
  • 2018: Victoria Ruddick, Faculty Development Manager, Center for Faculty Educators

Questions or concerns, please contact Karen Brent, [email protected].

Other Staff Recognition for Medical Education

To recognize medical education staff outside of the Office of Medical Education, submit a nomination for the Boyden Staff Award.