Celebrating Long-term employees for their commitment

By: Nacuya Lewis

Every day, thousands of patients walk through our doors at UF Health Shands. We each play a vital role to ensure they receive the care and service they deserve. Hundreds of our colleagues have spent a decade or more of their careers at UF Health living our mission. Some have been here for 40 years or longer! These long-term employees have evolved along with our organization and our leaders recognize them annually at the Milestone Service Awards banquet.

“It’s a chance for staff to have fun with their colleagues and reflect on their careers here,” said Kristi Gaver, UF Health Shands Employee Relations event planner and project coordinator. “It is an opportunity for us to show how much their commitment to our patients and families means to us.”

Honorees are invited to the March ceremony following their 10th year of service, and every five years thereafter. With the number of employees reaching these milestones jumping from 702 in 2015 to 797 this year, the event outgrew the smaller venues used in the past. This year it was held in UF’s Stephen C. O’Connell Center, which was transformed into a beautiful banquet hall for the celebration. With a rock star theme, attendees were treated to a laser light show, a cocktail reception in a VIP lounge area, a special appearance from UF President Kent Fuchs and guest appearances from staff members dressed as some of their favorite musical artists.

Milestone Service Awards: Annette Spradley — 45 years

0Milestones1

Annette Spradley (with flowers), celebrated 45 years of service with (from left) James J. Kelly Jr., UF Health Shands senior vice president and chief financial officer; Janet Christie, UF Health Shands Human Resources senior vice president; and Ed Jimenez, UF Health Shands CEO.

Our shining star this year is Annette Spradley, a UF Health Shands Information Management outpatient coder for the Emergency Room Department. She is one of our longest-serving employees, having recently
celebrated 45 years at UF Health Shands!

“I never thought I would see this day, but here I am … and as long as I can work, I’m going to work,” she said.

Spradley has experienced some of UF Health Shands’ most significant transformations — becoming a health system, building new hospitals and rebranding. She has also had first-hand experience in the new technologies that transformed the health care industry. She describes going from paper to electronic records as “a miraculous difference.” Coders average about 25-30 patient charts per day, documenting patient visits and charging for services. Spradley is known for her commitment.

“She is very dedicated to UF Health Shands and her work,” said Wendi Godshall, UF Health Information Management coding supervisor. “She takes it to heart and treats every case personally. She wants to do nothing but the best for her patients. She just loves her job and that reflects in her work.”

40-Year Honorees

Gussie Boatwright
UF Health Shands Hospital Security operations manager

Gloria Irving
UF Health Shands Hospital Mother/Baby Unit support technician

Margaret Lynn, R.N.
UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital NICU nurse

Michael Wallick
UF Health Shands Hospital Patient Transportation attendant

Patricia Wright
UF Health Shands Finance and Accounting clerk

0Milestones2

Long-term UF Health Shands Psychiatric Hospital and UF Health Shands Rehab Hospital employees were honored in April during a ceremony held at Embers Wood Grill. (Center) Diana Oliver, L.P.N., psychiatric nurse, was honored for more than 40 years of service with an award presented by (left) Daryl Cummings, M.S.N., RN-BC, psychiatric nurse manager, and (right) Marina Cecchini, M.B.A., administrator for the specialty hospitals.