Congratulations to URI Associate Director, Ellen Reynolds
Chosen for ACHA's 2004 New Professional Award

As Associate Director of the Pauline B. Wood Health Services at the University of Rhode Island, you have distinguished yourself through exceptional professional knowledge, management acumen, and superb leadership since joining the staff in January 2003. You brought a wealth of knowledge and management acumen to the position of Associate Director. You have quickly developed a sound grasp of the issues and opportunities for improvement that exist. Your positive nature and total dedication to meeting the needs of our patients and incorporating staff in the process are keys to your success. You are eager, willing, and complete tasks promptly and with superb accuracy. You are incredibly diligent in assessing an issue, developing a plan, and then executing the plan with aplomb.

You can shift gears and handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Your analytical skills are remarkable; you question existing processes and readily identify opportunities for improvement. You listen, then filter, sort, and evaluate developments before acting in a timely manner. Your communication skills are unsurpassed. Whether dealing with a student in need or helping a staff member with a difficult task, you coach and mentor, while remaining on-point and straight forward in addressing any situation.

The Health Services have been without a Nursing Supervisor and Medical Director since May. You have stepped up and worked to ensure that patient and staff needs are met. Your insight, profound knowledge, and willingness to assist in any situation have made you a most valuable member of the Health Service Team.

You have earned a reputation on campus as a valuable resource over a broad spectrum of issues. You have developed a network across campus and earned a reputation of a caring, enthusiastic, and willing participant in a broad spectrum of campus issues. With the campus-wide implementation of PeopleSoft, the University's new software system, you volunteered to become a trainer to assist in the implementation of the human resources modules; and have devoted many hours to teaching and mentoring staff across the campus during this challenging process.

You have assisted the Medical Records Supervisor in reviewing policies and procedures, implementing HIPAA, and working through staffing and personnel issues. You have involved the business office staff in a self-review of insurance, billing, and procurement processes which have resulted in improved customer service and increased revenue.

You have worked closely with other managers on a broad spectrum of processes and issues, applying your keen analytical skills and positive pro-active approach to process improvement. Your knowledge of the health care system and resources available within Rhode Island and New England have assisted both patients and staff in obtaining quality care in a timely manner. You are always positive and very tactful, yet firm, in dealing with others. You apply a compassionate business approach to issue resolution.

You are an outstanding addition to the Health Services team, the University family, and the college health profession. You are always positive in your approach, eager, and dedicated to the students and the mission of both Health Services and the University. You are an absolute delight to work with and your contributions have only begun.

Your professionalism, ability to take an idea from concept to completion, to work collaboratively as a team, and to manage and lead with aplomb make you a deserving recipient of the ACHA Affiliate New Professional Award representing the New England College Health Association.