>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE!
IT'S SO NICE TO SEE YOU ALL.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY.
WE'RE SO LUCKY THE SUN IS
SHINING.
I'M CAMILLE HOOVER FOR THOSE OF
YOU THAT DON'T KNOW ME, I AM THE
EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND HAPPY TO
WELCOME YOU TO THE 2024 NIDDK
EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION AWARDS
CEREMONY.
SO I AM ALSO VERY PROUD TO
ANNOUNCE IN SUPPORT OF NIDDK'S
GREEN INITIATIVE AND IN SERVICE
TO OUR GREEN TEAM, THIS YEAR'S
PROGRAM IS FULLY DIGITAL.
SO TO VIEW THE PROGRAM, YOU CAN
USE YOUR CELL PHONE TO SCAN THE
QR CODE THAT YOU SEE RIGHT ON
THE SCREEN.
WE ARE ALSO ENCOURAGING YOU TO
JOIN THE WIFI NETWORK LABELED
NIH GUEST NETWORK TO ENSURE THE
BEST EXPERIENCE HERE AT LIPSETT.
SO I HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED THE
WONDERFUL SLIDE SHOW OF OUR
LITTLE WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
OVER THE LAST YEAR AND I WANT TO
START BY EXPRESSING MY GRATITUDE
TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR
NIDDK AWARDEES.
YOUR DEDICATION AND OUTSTANDING
PERFORMANCE NEVER FAILED TO
INSPIRE ME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNWAVERING
COMMITMENT, PERSEVERANCE AND THE
EXCEPTIONAL WORK YOU HAVE DONE
OVER THE PAST YEAR.
YOU KNOW, THE WORK WE DO IS
NOTHING SHORT OF EXTRAORDINARY.
I SAY THIS EVERY YEAR.
EVERY DAY, OUR DEDICATED STAFF
MAKE A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE IN
THE LIVES AND HEALTH OF MILLIONS
OF NOT ONLY PEOPLE IN THE UNITED
STATES BUT ACROSS THE GLOBE.
AND WHAT SETS US APART IS OUR
UNITY AND OUR SHARED PURPOSE.
IT IS THE COMMITMENT, THE
PASSION AND THE HARD WORK OF
EVERY MEMBER OF OUR WORKFORCE,
WHETHER YOU'RE PART OF OUR
EXTRAMURAL, OUR INTRAMURAL, OUR
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OR OUR
ADMINISTRATIVE TEAMS, YOU DRIVE
OUR SUCCESS.
TOGETHER, WE BRING OUR MISSION
TO LIFE, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO
CREATING A WORK ENVIRONMENT THAT
CELEBRATES CREATIVITY, VALUES
INNOVATION, EMBRACES DIVERSITY
AND INCLUSION, AND FOSTERS
MUTUAL RESPECT.
NO MATTER WHAT ROLE OR WHERE YOU
SIT IN NIDDK, THESE VALUES ARE
AT THE CORE OF EVERYTHING WE DO
EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU
FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT IN OUR
FEEDBACK INITIATIVES.
I KNOW IT CAN REALLY BE TAXING,
ALL THESE SURVEYS YOU GET,
RIGHT?
SO WE HAVE LISTENING CIRCLES,
THE FEVS, WE HAVE PULSE SURVEYS.
YOUR PARTICIPATION, THOUGH,
ENSURES THAT YOUR VOICE IS
HEARD, THAT ALL OF YOUR VOICES
ARE HEARD.
WE PORE OVER THOSE RESPONSES, I
WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW SERIOUS WE
TAKE IT AND WE VALUE YOUR INPUT
VERY MUCH.
THE 2024 SURVEY RESULTS ARE
COMING OUT AND WE ARE LACKING
CLLOOKINGCLOSELY AT EVERY INSIGD
DIVISION.
WE COULDN'T MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT
YOU, AND I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD
ME SAY MANY TIMES OVER THE
YEARS, WHEN YOU SPEAK, WE
LISTEN, AND THINGS HAPPEN.
AND I COULDN'T SAY THAT MORE
AUTHENTICALLY.
TODAY WE COME TOGETHER NOT ONLY
TO CELEBRATE OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
AS AN INSTITUTE, BUT ALSO TO
RECOGNIZE THE EXCEPTIONAL KRKS
CONTRIBUTIONS OFF UR COLLEAGUES.
SO SIT BACK, RELAX AND ENJOY
THIS SPECIAL PROGRAM.
IT WAS DESIGNED WITH YOU IN
MIND.
SO, NOW WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I
WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE AND
WELCOME OUR DEAR DIRECTOR,
DR. GRIFFIN RODGERS, WHO WILL
SHARE SOME OF OUR OUTSTANDING
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND HIGHLIGHTS
FROM THE YEAR.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CAMILLE,
AND I, TOO, LOOK FORWARD TO
OPPORTUNITY EVERY YEAR.
A WARM WELCOME TO EVERYONE IN
THE AUDIENCE AND WELCOME TO OUR
PHOENIX STAFF WHO MAY BE TUNING
IN.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WANT TO TAKE
A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE OUR GRANTS
MAMANAGEMENT SPECIALIST BETH
GUTIERREZ, WHO WON THE EMPLOYEE
APPRECIATION AWARD POSTER
CONTEST THIS YEAR.
HER CREATIVE DESIGN BEAUTIFULLY
CAPTURES WHAT NIDDK IS ALL
ABOUT.
ITS MISSION OF ADVANCING
BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH, AND THE
FIRST AND FOREMOST, AS YOU'VE
HEARD ALREADY, ITS PEOPLE.
WHETHER YOU'RE WITH US IN PERSON
OR VIRTUALLY, YOU ARE THE REASON
THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY, AND WHY I
LOOK SO FORWARD TO THIS EVENT
EVERY YEAR.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE
NIDDK'S MOST VALUABLE ASSET, ALL
OF YOU.
THIS PAST YEAR WAS ONCE AGAIN
MARKED BY PERIODS OF UNCERTAIN,
FROM DEALING WITH BUDGET CUTS,
HIRING FREEZES, TO POTENTIAL
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, AND A
VOLATILE POLITICAL CLIMATE.
NOT TO MENTION THE UNPREDICTABLE
TEMPERATURES, EXTREME LOWS IN
JANUARY, TO RECORD HIGHS IN THE
SUMMER.
AND THAT WAS JUST IN BUILDING
31.
[LAUGHTER]
AND WHATEVER WAS THROWN OUR WAY
TIME AND TIME AGAIN, YOU DEM
STATED THAT YOUR COMMITMENT TO
FULFILLING NIDDK'S MISSIONARY
MAINS UNCHALLENGED.
OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS, NIDDK
CONTINUES TO ADVANCE IMPORTANT
RESEARCH.
OUR INNOVATION ALSO SHONE
THROUGH IN INTERNAL PROGRAMS,
NEWLY CREATED TO SUPPORT NIDDK
STAFF AT ALL LEVELS.
EXAMPLES INCLUDE THE NIDDK BUDDY
SYSTEM, TO FOSTER NEW EMPLOYEE
SENSE OF BELONGING, AND OUR
FIRST EVER LEADERSHIP RETREAT,
WHERE 56 SENIOR LEADERS, BOTH
INTRAMURAL AND EXTRAMURAL AND
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF ACROSS THE
INSTITUTE MET IN PERSON TO
AFFIRM THE COMMITMENT TO
PURSUING EQUITY AND INCLUSIVE
EXCELLENCE.
OUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IS
WHY WE TAKE THE ANNUAL FEDERAL
EMPLOYMENT VIEWPOINT SURVEY, OR
FEVS, SO SERIOUSLY.
YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS HEAR THAT
NASA IS EARNING THE TOP SPOT IN
THE BEST PLACES TO WORK IN THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
BUT WHEN WE LOOK MORE CLOSELY AT
THE FEVS RESULTS OVER THE PAST
NINE YEARS, AND DISAGGREGATE THE
NUMBERS FOR NIH TO ITS COMPONENT
INSTITUTES, IT'S CLEAR THAT
NIDDK ACTUALLY OUTPERFORMS NASA
IN SEVERAL AREAS EVERY YEAR.
[LAUGHTER]
IN 2023, NIDDK ACHIEVED AN
IMPRESSIVE EMPLOYMENT
ACHIEVEMENT SCORE OF 86%,
SURPASSING NASA'S 84%.
ALONG WITH THE GLOBAL
SATISFACTION SCORE OF 82%
COMPARED TO NASA'S 79%.
SERIOUSLY, NIDDK ALSO RANKS
NUMBER ONE AMONG NIH'S LARGE
ICs IN BOTH OF THESE
CATEGORIES, AS WELL AS IN
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION,
AND ACCESSIBILITY.
I'M PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE
RECENTLY RECEIVED THE 2024
RESULTS, AS YOU'VE HEARD, AND IF
YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY SEEN THEM,
PLEASE CLICK ON YOUR EMAIL.
IN THE MEANTIME, I'D LIKE TO
ANNOUNCE TWO RELATED RESULTS.
FIRST, THE WINNER OF THE NIDDK'S
FIRST EVER MEME CONTEST, FEVS
MEME CONTEST.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER CARLOS
HARLEM WHOSE WINNING MEME
PROVIDED A GREAT AND
LIGHT-HEARTED WAY TO REMINE
PEOPLE TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY,
AND YOU KNOW WHAT, IT WORKED.
NEARLY 67% OF YOU RESPONDED THIS
YEAR, UP FROM 3% -- UP 3% FROME
PREVIOUS YEAR.
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF HAVING
LUNCH WITH THREE WINNERS OF THE
NIDDK'S DIRECTOR LUNCH CONTEST.
LISA, SOU SUSAN AND JEAN.
AS WE LOOK AHEAD FOR NEXT YEAR,
PLEASE KNOW YOUR VOICE IS
ESSENTIAL TO OUR EFFORTS OF
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.
REMEMBER, YOU SPEAK, WE LISTEN,
THINGS HAPPEN.
BY COMPLETING THE FEVS, YOU'LL
TAKE PART IN SHAPING NIDDK'S
FUTURE.
NOW SPEAKING OF FUTURE, THIS
PAST YEAR NIDDK CONTINUED TO
INVEST IN NURTURING THE NEXT
GENERATION OF BIOMEDICAL
RESEARCHERS.
AFTER A FOUR-YEAR HIATUS BECAUSE
OF THE PANDEMIC, OUR SCIENTIFIC
DIRECTOR OFFICE BROUGHT BACK THE
NIDDK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOUR
PROGRAM, WELCOMING FIFTH GRADERS
TO THE NIH CAMPUS TO MEET THE
NIDDK STAFF, TOUR OUR LABS AND
EXPERIENCE THE EXCITEMENT OF
SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY.
WE ALSO HOSTED A SUCCESSFUL TAKE
YOUR CHILD TO WORK DAY, WITH THE
INTERACTIVE FUN STATIONS FOR
KIDS.
SOME OF THE ADULTS HAD FUN TOO.
[LAUGHTER]
LET'S JUST SAY IT WAS A SLIMY
EVENT.
OUR NIDDK FELLOWS ALSO
DEMONSTRATED THE FUTURE MEDICAL
RESEARCH IS IN GOOD HANDS.
IN 2024, NIDDK'S ANNUAL
SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ORGANIZED
BY THE FELLOWS ADVISORY BOARD,
FELLOWS AND SCIENTISTS FROM 18
LABS AND BRANCHES SHARED THEIR
RESEARCH THROUGH ORAL
PRESENTATIONS, THREE-MINUTE
TALKS, POSTER PRESENTATIONS, AND
THIS YEAR'S CONFERENCE
INTRODUCED TWO NEW EVENTS: A
CAREER SEMINAR AND A SCIENTIFIC
DEBATE.
GIVING ATTENDEES ADDITIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL
GROWTH.
OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS, WE ALSO
AGAIN DEMONSTRATED OUR
ENTHUSIASM FOR GIVING TO THE
COMMUNITY.
IN 2023, NIDDK EXCEEDED ITS GOAL
OF 6 $60,000 AND CONTRIBUTED MOE
THAN $85,000 TO THE COMBINED
FEDERAL CAMPAIGN SHAIRTS.
CHARITIES,
HELPING NIH RAISE AN OVERALL
$2.16 MILLION.
NIDDCARES ALSO STEPPED UP TO
RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT MINORITY
HEALTH AT THE ANNUAL WALK, RUN
AND ROLL 5K EVENT, AND MEN OF
YOU ROLL -- MANY OF YOU ROLLED P
YOUR SLEEVES DURING THE NIDDK'S
BLOOD DRIVE, DONATING PLATELETS
AND BLOOD TO PATIENTS VISITING
NIH FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO
SEEK LIFE CHANGING TREATMENTS.
THIS YEAR'S BLOOD DRIVE, BY THE
WAY, WILL TAKE PLACE FROM AUGUSH
NOVEMBER 1ST.
SO WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.
THIS GENEROUS SPIRIT IS WHAT
CONTINUES TO MAKE NIDDK SUCH A
SPECIAL PLACE TO WORK.
EVERY DAY YOU SHOW UP, READY TO
GIVE 100%.
WHETHER YOU'RE DIRECTLY INVOLVED
WITH COMPELLING RESEARCH OR
WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES,
YOU'RE ALL INTEGRAL TO NIDDK'S
MISSION OF IMPROVING HEALTH FOR
ALL PEOPLE.
AND I HOPE YOU'LL FEEL AS PROUD
AS I DO AS I SHARE HIGHLIGHTS OF
YOUR EXCEPTIONAL WORK ACROSS THE
INSTITUTE.
NIDDK'S DIVISION OF INTRAMURAL
RESEARCH, DESPITE FACING
SIGNIFICANT BUDGETARY CHALLENGES
AND COPING WITH FLAT FUNDING FOR
THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE,
INVESTIGATORS CONTINUE TO MAKE
ADVANCES WITH TANGIBLE CLINICAL
BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY
DISEASES WITHIN OUR MISSION.
THANKS TO NEW RESEARCH FROM THE
LABORATORY OF BIOORGANIC
CHEMISTRY, WE LEARNED G
RECEPTORS PRESENT IN CERTAIN
TYPES OF PANCREATIC ISLETS
REPRESENT POTENTIAL TARGETS FOR
GLUCAGON RELEASE FOR THERAPEUTIC
PURPOSES.
OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE LABORATORY
OF CELLULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL
BIOLOGY DISCOVERED A NOVEL
MECHANISM OF GENE REGULATION
DURING ERYTHROPOIESIS WHICH IS
SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT'S ANOTHER
APPROACH TO AMELIORATE CAUSES OF
SICKLE CELL DISEASE AND BETA
THALASSEMIA.
THESE AND OTHER IMPORTANT
ADVANCES DEMONSTRATE OUR
INTRAMURAL RESEARCH TEAM'S
UNMITIGATED DEDICATION TO
DISCOVERY, EVEN WHEN BUDGETS ARE
INCREASINGLY CHALLENGING.
OUR DIVISION OF DIABETES,
ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLIC
DISEASES ORGANIZED AND
IMPLEMENTED A DIVISION-WIDE
SCIENTIFIC RETREAT IN APRIL.
FOCUSING IN ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY
AND INCLUSION, ADDRESSING FOUR
CROSS-CUTTING THEMES: THE
HETEROGENEITY OF DIABETES, HUMAN
SYSTEM PHYSIOLOGY, DATA, A.I.,
MACHINE LEARNING, AND
TRANSLATION OF RESEARCH TO HUMAN
PRACTICE.
AND SINCE APRIL, DEM STAFF
CONTINUES TO ADDRESS ACTION
ITEMS FROM THESE DISCUSSIONS.
THE SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM STAFF OF
DEM ALSO ORGANIZED TWO NIDDK
SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIA, FEATURING
YOUNG, DIVERSE INVESTIGATORS AT
THE NATIONAL ANNUAL MEETINGS OF
THE ENDOCRINE SOCIETY AND THE
AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION.
OUR DIVISION OF DIGESTIVE
DISEASES AND NUTRITION LAUNCH
IMPORTANT NEW INITIATIVES
INCLUDING FUNDING RESEARCH TO
CHARACTERIZE BIOACTIVE MICROBIAL
METABOLITEs AND DIETARY
BIOMARKERS.
UNDERSTAND WHY BIOLOGIC THERAPY
SUCCEEDS OR FAILS IN CHILDREN
WITH CROHN'S DISEASE.
EXPLORE THE DRIVERS OF OBESITY
IN EARLY CHILDHOOD.
AND CONTINUE TO STUDY
DEVASTATING LIVER DISEASE
CONDITIONS IN CHILDREN, SUCH AS
BILIARY ATRESIA AND SCLEROSING
CHOLANGITIS.
OUR DIVISION OF KIDNEY, UROLOGIC
AND HEMATOLOGIC DISEASE FOCUSED
ON SUPPORTING THE BEST SCIENCE
AND MAINTAINING A DYNAMIC
RESEARCH WORKFORCE IN THE FACE
OF CHALLENGING BUDGET CLIMATE.
THE DIVISION'S HIGHEST PRIORITY
HAS BEEN ENSURING RECRUITMENT OF
TALENTED STAFF MEMBERS AND
PROVIDING ROBUST PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT FOR THESE TALENTS.
SINCE OUR OFFICE OF OBESITY
RESEARCH OFTEN DEPENDS ON THE
VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATION OF
EXTRAMURAL STAFF FROM ALL THREE
SCIENTIFIC DIVISIONS, THE
OBESITY OFFICE IS ESPECIALLY
GRATEFUL TO THE MANY STAFF WHO
INVITED AND HOSTED SPEAKERS FOR
THE POPULAR MONTHLY NICHD
OBESITY SCIENTIFIC SPEAKER
SERIES.
WIDE PARTICIPATION ACROSS NIDDK
STAFF RESULTED IN A BROAD RANGE
OF EMERGING AND INFORMATIVE
TOPICS.
THE HARD WORK OF THE STAFF ALSO
RESULTED IN SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL
WORKSHOPS THAT FOSTERED OUTREACH
AND FUTURE INNOVATIVE NIDDK
SPONSORED RESEARCH, INCLUDING
INROW ACCEPTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO
OBESITY AND DISORDERS OF THE
GUT-BRAIN AXIS OR INTERACTION,
AND THE PHARMACOTHERAPY FOR
OBESITY IN CHILDREN AND
ADOLESCENTS.
IN OUR DIVISION OF EXTRAMURAL
ACTIVITY, STAFF WORKED
DILIGENTLY AND COORDINATED WITH
PROGRAM PARTNERS FOR A
SIMPLIFIED REVIEW FRAMEWORK
IMPLEMENTATION.
THE FIRST MAJOR CHANGE TO
RESEARCH PROJECT GRANT REVIEW
CRITERIA IN DECADES.
AND IT GOES INTO EFFECT FOR
APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER
JANUARY OF 2025.
IN ADDITION, THE DIVISION IS
PROUD OF ITS COMMITTEE
MANAGEMENT SERVICE CENTERS,
WHICH BLOSSOMED THIS YEAR FROM
SERVING NIDDK AND ONE OTHER I.C.
TO SERVING FOUR I.C.s WITH AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ADD A FIFTH.
IN OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICE, THIS
YEAR MARKED THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH
OF OUR BRAND NEW INTRANET SITE,
THE NIDDK INSIDER.
CRAFTED BY THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
THIS COMPREHENSIVE HUB HAS
SWIFTLY BECOME THE GO-TO SOURCE
IN NIDDK NEWS AND RESOURCES.
AND SPEAKING OF RESOURCES, SINCE
WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR PEOPLE
ARE OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE,
THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE INTRODUCED
THE NIDDK JUNIOR CAREER
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM COHORT THIS
YEAR.
WITH 20 STAFF PARTICIPATING,
THIS INNOVATIVE PROGRAM FEATURED
INTERACTIVE SESSIONS IN
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, CAREER
MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS,
LEADERSHIP, AND EFFECTIVE
DECISION-MAKING.
IN THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR,
OUR OFFICE OF CLINICAL RESEARCH
SUPPORT LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT
OF NIDDK'S DATA SHARING POLICY,
AND UPDATE THE NIDDK CENTRAL
REPOSITORY DATA SHARING AND
ARCHIVAL POLICY TO ALIGN WITH
NIH'S POLICY.
IN ADDITION, THE NIDDK'S CENTRAL
REPOSITORY IS IMPLEMENTING THE
FIRST NIDDK USE OF GLOBAL UNIQUE
IDENTIFIERS OR GUIs, TO
SUPPORT NIDDK'S CONSORTIUM FOR
GUT-BRAIN COMMUNICATIONS IN
PARKINSON'S DISEASE.
THIS TECHNOLOGY PROVIDES A
SECURE MECHANISM TO LINK
RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS WITHIN AND
ACROSS RESEARCH PROJECT DATASETS
IN NIDDK AND OTHER NIH STUDIES
THAT USE THESE GUIDs.
OUR OFFICE OF MINORITY HEALTH
RESEARCH COORDINATION MADE
SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN EXPANDING
OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW THE BAY
OWE MEDICAL RESEARCH WORKFORCE.
OMHRC LAUNCHED A NEW INITIATIVE
WITH LATINO STUDENT MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION, CULMINATING IN 25
ASPIRING PHYSICIAN SCIENTISTS
AND RESEARCHERS PARTICIPATING IN
AN INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP IN SAN
JUAN, PUERTO RICO.
ADDITIONALLY, THE NETWORK OF
MINORITY RESEARCH INVESTIGATORS
HOSTED ONE OF ITS LARGEST ANNUAL
WORKSHOPS TO DATE, SHOWING IT
CONTINUES TO BE A VITAL AND
SIGNIFICANT MEETING PLACE FOR
MENTORING, COORDINATION, AND
COLLABORATION.
AS WE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED, NIDDK
IS ESTABLISHING A NEW OFFICE OF
HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH OR OHER,
BECAUSE, OF COURSE, WE LOVE OUR
ACRONYMS.
THIS WILL SUBSUME AND EXPAND THE
OHMRC PROGRAMS.
THE OFFICE WILL FOCUS ON
SUPPORTING AND GROWING OUR
HEALTH EQUITY AND HEALTH
DISPARITY RESEARCH PORTFOLIO,
PROMOTING A DIVERSE
MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
WORKFORCE, AND EMBEDDING
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACROSS THE
FULL SPECTRUM OF RESEARCH
EFFORTS.
OUR TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENT
OFFICE CONTINUES TO EXPAND ITS
EXPERTISE IN ADVANCING DATA
SCIENCE AND ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGIES FOR
IMPROVING HUMAN HEALTH.
THIS YEAR, THE NIH'S OFFICE OF
THE DIRECTOR APPROACHED OUR TAO
OFFICE TO ADVISE ON STRATEGIES
TO PROTECT AND ADVANCE NEW DATA
DISCOVERIES ARISING FROM THE
NIH'S OFFICE OF PORTFOLIO
ANALYSIS, AND THE ALL-OF-US
PROGRAM.
OUR OFFICE OF SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM
AND POLICY ANALYSIS PRODUCED OUR
ANNUAL REPORT.
NIDDK'S RECENT ADVANCES IN
EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES, TO
PRESENT RESEARCH ACTIVITY AND
TELL THE PERSONAL STORY OF
PARTICIPANTS IN OUR FUNDED
CLINICAL RESEARCH.
LIKE TODAY'S EVENT, THIS
PUBLICATION HIGHLIGHTS A RANGE
OF NIDDK'S ACHIEVEMENTS TOWARDS
IMPROVING HEALTH.
AND TO FOSTER INTRANIDDK
CONNECTIONS, OSPPA TEAM MEMBERS
ALSO ENGAGED WITH TRAINEES
INSIDE AND OUT SAID THE
INSTITUTE ABOUT CAREERS IN
SCIENCE POLICY, CULTIVATING NEW
RELATIONSHIPS AND ADVANCING
INCLUSIVITY THROUGH OUTREACH.
OUR OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND
PUBLIC LIAISON STAFF PROVIDED
CURRENT ONLINE HEALTH
INFORMATION, INCLUDING UPDATING
THE EGFR CALCULATORS FOR ADULTS
AND CHILDREN, ADDING POPULAR
VIDEOS DURING HEALTH AWARENESS
MONTHS, AND FACILITATING UPLOADS
OF NIDDK'S EPIDEMIOLOGIC REPORTS
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL
LIBRARY OF MEDICINE.
WHEN THE NEWS MEDIA CAME
CALLING, MORE THAN 70 TIMES THIS
YEAR, OCPL FACILITATED THOSE
INTERVIEWS WITH NIDDK SCIENTISTS
AND OUTLETS, SUCH AS "THE NEW
YORK TIMES," CNN, BBC, CBS NEWS,
JUST TO NAME A FEW.
WELL, THESE IMPRESSIVE
HIGHLIGHTS ARE JUST THE TIP OF
THE PROVERBIAL ICEBERG AT
NIDDK'S IMPRESSIVE RANGE OF
ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THIS PAST
YEAR.
NONE OF WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN
POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOUR HARD WORK,
COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT, AND
TENACITY.
AND ON THAT NOTE, I CAN'T THINK
OF MANY PEOPLE WHO EMBODY THOSE
QUALITY MORE THAN OUR LENGTH OF
SERVICE HONOREES, WHO HAVE
COLLECTIVELY CONTRIBUTED 37
DECADES, 37 DECADES.
JUST THINK ABOUT THAT NUMBER FOR
A WHILE, OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN COMMEMORATING
THE OUTSTANDING FEDERAL TENURE
OF 10 NIDDK STAFF MEMBERS.
AS I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME
TO THE STAGE FOR A PHOTO.
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF FEDERAL
TENURE ARE TWO MEMBERS OF OUR
INTRAMURAL PROGRAM.
DR. RAFAEL CAMERINI-OTERO.
[APPLAUSE]
AND ALICE FRANK IN THE DIABETES,
ENDOCRINOLOGY AND OBESITY
BRANCH.
[APPLAUSE]
OKAY.
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF FEDERAL
SERVICE ARE CRAIG COCHRAN IN THE
METABOLIC DISEASE BRANCH.
IS CRAIG HERE?
THERE HE IS.
[APPLAUSE]
JOHN HANOVER IN THE LABORATORY
OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY.
[APPLAUSE]
AND WINNIE MARTINEZ IN OUR
OFFICE OF MINORITY HEALTH
RESEARCH COORDINATION.
WINNIE IS NOT HERE TODAY.
ACCEPTING THE AWARD -- THAT'S A
JOKE.
THAT FELL PRETTY FLAT.
ALL RIGHT.
FINALLY, THERE ARE FIVE STAFF
MEMBERS WHO ARE CELEBRATING 30
YEARS OF FEDERAL SERVICE.
KEVIN ABBOTT.
[APPLAUSE]
I WOULD JUST MENTION THE OTHER
CANDIDATES WHO ARE NOT HERE ARE
ROBERT TYCKO, IN OUR LABORATORY
OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS, WHO'S ALSO
CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF FEDERAL
SERVICE, AND THEN WE HAVE THREE
MEMBERS OF OUR PHOENIX
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CLINICAL
RESEARCH BRANCH: LESLIE BAIER,
LOIS JONES AND JEFF SUTHERLAND,
WHO ARE ALL CELEBRATING 30 YEARS
WITH NIDDK.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR
EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE.
[APPLAUSE]
NOW, WHILE WE'RE ON THE TOPIC OF
ANNIVERSARY, IN 2025, WE'LL BE
CELEBRATING A VERY SPECIAL ONE.
NIDDK TURNS 75.
IN REFLECTING UPON THIS LANDMARK
ACHIEVEMENT, I CANNOT HELP BUT
FEEL INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL,
DECADES AFTER DECADES, WE AT
NIDDK HAVE NEVER WAVERED FROM
TACKLING SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S
MOST CHRONIC, COSTLY AND
CONSEQUENTIAL HEALTH PROBLEMS.
OUR HARD WORK AND INNOVATIVE
RESEARCH HAVE HELPED IMPROVE THE
QUALITY OF LIFE AND SAVED THE
LIVES OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
LIVING WITH THE DISEASE AND
CONDITIONS WITHIN OUR MISSION.
TO HONOR THIS EXTRAORDINARY
MILESTONE, NIDDK STAFF AND
GRANTEES WILL PARTICIPATE IN
ANNIVERSARY-RELATED EVENTS
THROUGH 2025, INCLUDING KEYNOTE
ADDRESSES, PANEL DISCUSSIONS,
SYMPOSIA, MEETING AND CONFERENCE
NATIONWIDE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT OUR
RECENTLY LAUNCHED 75TH
ANNIVERSARY WEBPAGE WHERE YOU
CAN DO -- OR YOU CAN CLICK ON
THE QR CODE THAT WAS SHOAP ON SN
THE SCREEN.
THERE WE WILL SHARE
ANNIVERSARY-RELATED UPDATES
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AS WELL AS
VIDEOS AND CONTENT THAT TELL THE
STORY THAT DEMONSTRATES NIDDK'S
CONTRIBUTIONS AND COMMITMENTS TO
ADVANCING RESEARCH AT NIDDK.
LET'S WATCH THE FIRST VIDEO,
WHICH IS NOW PRESENT.
SO IF WE CAN TURN THE VIDEO ON?
>> NIDDK IS POWERED BY ITS
PEOPLE.
WE'RE ADVANCING RESEARCH AND
HEALTH FOR ALL.
>> NIDDK IS POWERED BY ITS
PEOPLE.
WE'RE ADVANCING RESEARCH AND
HEALTH FOR ALL.
I'M DR. GRIFFIN RODGERS,
DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTE OF DIABETES AND
DIGESTIVE AND KIDNEY DISEASES AT
NIH.
NIDDK RESEARCH HELPS PEOPLE LIVE
LONGER, HEALTHIER LIVES, AND GET
BETTER CARE.
AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHERE
WE'RE GOING NEXT.
NIDDK RESEARCH PEERS INTO THE
BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS OF OUR
BODIES.
WE TRY OUT NEW APPROACHES AND
MEDICINE WITH THE SUPPORT OF
PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATE IN
CLINICAL TRIALS.
TOGETHER, WE IDENTIFY NEW WAYS
TO PREVENT AND TREAT DISEASES
AND CONDITIONS LIKE DIABETES,
OBESITY, LIVER OR KIDNEY
DISEASE, AND MORE.
PEOPLE ARE AT THE HEART OF OUR
RESEARCH.
WE'RE TEAMING UP WITH COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS, PATIENTS AND
CAREGIVERS.
WE WANT THEIR VOICES HEARD RIGHT
FROM THE START, PLANNING
RESEARCH TOGETHER THATTA KELS
THE SPECIFIC CHALLENGES THAT
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND
INDIVIDUALS FACE.
WE'RE HIRING AND TRAINING THE
NEXT GENERATION OF RESEARCH
PROFESSIONALS, CLEVER, CURIOUS
AND CREATIVE PEOPLE WHO COME
FROM EVERY WALK OF LIFE, THAT
BRING A WIDE RANGE OF
EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES.
PERSPECTIVES THAT HELP NIDDK
RESEARCH DEVELOP AN ARTIFICIAL
PANCREAS FOR PEOPLE WITH
DIABETES, LAID THE FOUNDATION
FOR WEIGHT LOSS MEDICATIONS NOW
HELPING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
AND PUT US ON THE CUSP OF
UNDERSTANDING HOW THE KIDNEYS
AND MANY OTHER TISSUES CAN BE
REPAIRED ONCE DAMAGED.
NEW PERSPECTIVES, AND A HIGHER
LEVEL OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
WILL HELP US DEVELOP TREATMENTS
TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH PERSON
NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE.
TOGETHER, WE'RE ADVANCING
RESEARCH AND HELP FOR ALL.
>> OKAY.
YOU CAN ALSO KEEP ON TOP OF OUR
LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS BY
FOLLOWING US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT
NIDDK.GOV OR SEARCH US ON
LINKEDIN.
IN CLOSING, I WANT TO THANK,
AGAIN, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU
FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO
NIDDK AND NIH, AND THE PUBLIC.
I'M BEYOND PROUD TO BE AMONG
SUCH A TE -- A DEDICATED AND
TALENTED TEAM OF PEOPLE AND AS
WE APPROACH THE 75TH
ANNIVERSARY, I LOOK AHEAD WITH
CONFIDENCE TO ALL WE CONTINUE TO
DO TOGETHER.
AND WITH THAT, LET ME TURN IT
BACK TO CAMILLE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANKS.
THANK YOU, DR. RODGERS.
IT HAS INDEED BEEN A YEAR LIKE
NO OTHER, AND I WANT TO TAKE A
MOMENT TO EXPRESS MY IMMENSE
GRATITUDE TO OUR INCREDIBLE TEAM
OF EMPLOYEES.
WE HAVE ACHIEVED SO MUCH AND
HAVE SO MUCH TO BE PROUD AND
THANKFUL FOR.
SO NOW WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'D
LIKE TO PASS THE BATON TO OUR
DEPUTY DIRECTOR, GREG GERMINO.
>> IT'S MY HONOR TO BE ABLE TO
DO THE SHOUT OUT FOR ALL OUR
AWARDEES THIS YEAR AS IN YEARS
PAST.
TODAY WE ARE RECOGNIZING THOSE
IN THE INSTITUTE FOR THEIR
EXEMPLARY WORK.
I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY THANKING
THOSE ON THE COMMITTEE FOR
TAKING THEIR TIME TO SERVE AND
ASSIST WITH THIS PROCESS ON THE
AWARDS COMMITTEE.
I ALSO WANT TO PERSONALLY
CONGRATULATE ALL OF THE AWARDEES
FOR YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS
YEAR.
NOW WE WILL PRESENT THE ON
RATHER AWARDS FOR NIDDK.
WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE M
COULD FORWARD TO HAVE YOUR PHOTO
TAKEN WITH DR. RODGERS.
READ THE CUE CARDS.
PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL
ALL NAMES HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED.
SO WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE
RECIPIENTS OF THE NANCY NOSSAL
MENTORSHIP AWARD.
THIS AWARD IS DESIGNED TO
SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE THE
CONTINUATION OF MENTORING
ACTIVITIES, AND TO ESTABLISH
MENTORING AS A CORE VALUE AT
NIDDK.
THE AWARD IS GIVEN TO EMPLOYEES
WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED
SIGNIFICANT LEADERSHIP, SKILL
AND ABILITY IN SERVING AS A
MENTOR TO INDIVIDUALS.
THERE ARE TWO EMPLOYEES HONORED
WITH THE NAZI NOSSAL MENTORSHIP
AWARD THIS YEAR.
THE FIRST IS BARBARA REHERMANN,
IN RECOGNITION OF HER
LONG-STANDING DEDICATION TO
TRAINING YOUNG SCIENTISTS IN
TRANSLATIONAL IMMUNOLOGY.
[APPLAUSE]
AND THE SECOND AWARDEE ISLY SHA
GANSHER
LISA GANSHEROFF,
IN RECOGNITION OF HER
EXTRAORDINARY DEDICATION TO
LONG-TERM MENTORING AND CAREER
DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE POLICY
PROFESSIONALS.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE TWO SPECIAL GUESTS
THAT I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE.
DR. BELINDA CETO AND HER
DAUGHTER ALISHA COLEMAN.
SHE WILL PRESENT THE NEXT AWARD
CATEGORY.
BELINDA IS THE WIFE OF THE LATE
WILLIAM G. COLEMAN, JR. AND
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
SCIENCE STRATEGY.
BELINDA.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, DR. GERMINO.
THIS IS AN EVENT I LACK FORWARD
LOOK FORWARDTO EVERY YEAR.
THANK YOU, DR. RODGERS, FOR
INVITING ME BACK EACH YEAR.
THIS AWARD IS TO RECOGNIZE
OUTSTANDING NIDDK EMPLOYEES WHO
HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT
CONTRIBUTIONS TO FURTHERING THE
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES IN THE AREA
OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, DIVERSITY
AND INCLUSION.
THERE IS ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THIS AWARD,
STEPHANIE CHUNG.
IN RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING
ACHIEVEMENTS IN MAKING
HEALTHCARE MORE INCLUSIVE AND
EQUITABLE WITHIN HISTORICALLY
MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES AND CREATING A
POSITIVE IMPACT ON DIVERSIFYING
THE BIOMEDICAL WORKFORCE
[APPLAUSE]
>> WE'RE NOT RECYCLING, BY THE
WAY.
[LAUGHTER]
>> THE SECOND IS A GROUP AWARD.
THE IDEA-C BUDDY PROGRAM
CO-CHAIRS, IN RECOGNITION OF THE
BUDDY
PROGRAM CO-LEADS’ DEDICATION TO
FOSTERING AN INCLUSIVE WORK
ENVIRONMENT AND ADVANCING THE
GOALS OF WORKPLACE DIVERSITY,
EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.
THE AWARDEES ARE KELLY BUGDEN
AND CAROLINE HRVOJ.
SHE'S NOT HERE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, I'LL TURN THE MIC
BACK TO YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THE NEXT AWARD THAT WILL BE
PRESENTED IS THE NIDDK
DIRECTOR'S AWARD IN THE
SCIENTIFIC CATEGORY.
THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES EMPLOYEES
WHO CONTRIBUTED AND MADE
SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS ON
MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE TO NIDDK,
THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY, AND/OR
THE STAKE HOLD COMMUNITY.
THERE ARE FOUR INDIVIDUAL
RECIPIENTS OF THIS AWARD.
THE FIRST IS KAI GE, FOR
EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE
FIELD OF TRANSCRIPTIONAL
REGULATION AND EXTRAORDINARY
SERVICE TO THE NIH COMMUNITY.
[APPLAUSE]
THE NEXT IS TO ELLEN LESCHEK,
FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS,
COORDINATION AND LEADERSHIP OF
THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
INTERAGENCY COORDINATING
COMMITTEE ON HUMAN GROWTH
HORMONE AND CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB
DISEASE OR CJD.
ELLEN WILL NOT BE HERE TODAY.
THE NEXT PRIZE -- THE NEXT
PRIZE, YEAH, PRIZES TOO!
SALVATORE SECHI,
IN RECOGNITION OF THE EXPERTISE
AND INNOVATION IN EMPOWERING THE
APPLICATION OF MASS
SPECTROMETRY-BASED ASSAYS TO
ENHANCE DIABETES CLINICAL
RESEARCH.
[APPLAUSE]
AND LASTLY,
PAMELA THORNTON,
IN RECOGNITION OF HER LEADERSHIP
IN BUILDING AND PROMOTING THE
INSTITUTE’S HEALTH DISPARITY AND
HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH PROGRAMS
AND A WORKFORCE TO SUPPORT IT.
[APPLAUSE]
THERE ARE FIVE GROUPS THAT ARE
BEING HONORED WITH THE NIDDK
DIRECTOR'S AWARD IN THE
SCIENTIFIC CATEGORY.
PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL
ALL NAMES HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED.
THE FIRST IS TO THE NIDDK
REFERRAL GUIDELINES TEAM, IN
RECOGNITION OF SUBSTANTIAL AND
SUSTAINED EFFORTS IN WORKING
TOGETHER AND WITH PARTNERS TO
REVISE THE NIDDK REFERRAL
GUIDELINES AND SHARED INTEREST
STATEMENTS.
THE AWARDEES ARE:
CAROL HAFT
CHRIS KETCHUM
JARON LOCKETT
SREENIVASAN RAJAMONI NADAR
TRACY RANKIN
AND DAVID SASLOWSKY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THE SECOND GROUP IS THE NIDDK
WOMEN'S HEALTH WORKING GROUP.
IN RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING
EFFORTS TO COORDINATE WOMEN’S
HEALTH RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
ACROSS THE INSTITUTE.
AND THE AWARDEES ARE:
MICHELE BARNARD
ERICA BIZZELL JONES
BONNIE BURGESS-BEUSSE
MERYLL GRACE CASTRO
MAUREEN MONAGHAN-CENTER
LESLIE CURTIS
TEREZ SHEA-DONOHUE
SHEILA KUMAR
JEAN LAWRENCE
CHRISTINE MARIC-BILKAN
PADMA MARUVADA
JENNA NORTON
KATRINA SERRANO
JAIME SMITH
TORI STONE
MERYL WALDMAN
VANESSA WHITE
AND SUSAN YANOVSKI
[APPLAUSE]
WE'RE GOING TO DO A LINE DANCE
SOON.
[APPLAUSE]
THE NEXT GROUP IS THE POST
DIALYSIS FATIGUE WORKING GROUP.
IN RECOGNITION OF SUPERB EFFORTS
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
POST-DIALYSIS FATIGUE
AND THE AWARDEES ARE:
KEVIN ABBOTT
KEVIN CHAN
DEBBIE GIPSON
DANIEL GOSSETT
PAUL KIMMEL
SUSAN MENDLEY
CHRIS MULLINS
JENNA NORTON
AFSHIN PARSA
AND IVONNE HERNANDEZ SCHULMAN
[APPLAUSE]
>> THE NEXT AWARD IS TO THE
INDO-U.S. DIABETES PARTNERSHIP
GROUP.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE LEADERSHIP
OF THE BILATERAL COLLABORATIVE
PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIA IN
DIABETES RESEARCH.
THE AWARDEES ARE:
BEENA AKOLKAR
WILLIAM CEFALU
RANJAN GUPTA
SOPHIA JEON
KATE TAPLEY
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND LASTLY, THE HEMODIALYSIS
OPIOID PRESCRIPTION EFFORT STUDY
TEAM.
IN RECOGNITION OF EXCEPTIONAL
EFFORTS THAT IMPACT PAIN
MANAGEMENT RESEARCH FOR
HEMODIALYSIS.
THE AWARDEES ARE:
KEVIN ABBOTT
JANE ATKINSON
KEVIN CHAN
NORMA DEGUZMAN
PAUL KIMMEL
JENNA NORTON
LINDA PORTER
AND TRACY RANKIN
[APPLAUSE]
>> THE NEXT AWARD THAT WILL BE
PRESENTED IS THE NIDDK
DIRECTOR'S AWARD IN THE CLINICAL
CATEGORY.
THIS AWARD IS INTENDED TO
RECOGNIZE EMPLOYEES WHO
CONTRIBUTED SUBSTANTIVELY TO
WORK IN THE CLINICAL SETTING,
HELPING TO MAKE ADVANCES TOWARDS
HEALING VARIOUS DISEASE, AND
FURTHERING THE MISSION AND
VISION OF NIDDK.
THERE ARE TWO INDIVIDUAL
RECIPIENTS OF THIS AWARD.
THE FIRST IS TO RACHEL
CABALLERO,
FOR DEMONSTRATING OUTSTANDING
COMMITMENT TOWARDS PATIENT
ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH IN
COMMUNITY-BASED EPIDEMIOLOGICAL
RESEARCH IN VULNERABLE MINORITY
POPULATION GROUPS.
[APPLAUSE]
AND THE SECOND AWARDEE IS
MARISSA LIGHTBOURNE
IN RECOGNITION OF HER DEDICATION
TO QUALITY ASSURANCE AND
PROTOCOL INTEGRITY, AND SERVING
AS A MODEL FOR ALL INVESTIGATORS
IN RESEARCH PROTOCOLS.
[APPLAUSE]
THE NEXT AWARD IS THE NIDDK
DIRECTOR'S AWARD IN THE
ADMINISTRATIVE CATEGORY.
THIS AWARD IS TO RECOGNIZE STAFF
WHO HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT
CONTRIBUTIONS TO IMPROVE THE
ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT OR
MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS OF NIDDK.
THERE ARE FIVE INDIVIDUAL
RECIPIENTS OF THIS AWARD.
THE FIRST IS ROBERT BORIE,
IN RECOGNITION FOR TAKING
EXTRAORDINARY INITIATIVE AND
SHOWING EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP
TO SUPPORT AND EXPAND THE NIDDK
COMMITTEE MANAGEMENT SERVICE.
ROBERT WILL NOT BE HERE WITH US
TODAY.
THE SECOND IS TO MAURIO CARTER.
IN RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING
CONTRIBUTIONS AND
RESOURCEFULNESS IN
REENGINEERING NIDDK'S NETWORK
INFRASTRUCTURE TO ENHANCE WIDE-
AREA-NETWORK CIRCUIT STABILITY.
[APPLAUSE]
THE NEXT IS TO ORLENA CHENG.
>> WOO!
>> A LITTLE FAN BASE THERE.
IN RECOGNITION OF HER TIRELESS
DEDICATION AND OUTSTANDING
CONTRIBUTION TO OVERSEEING
BUDGETS AND COMPLICATED HIRING
PROCEDURES.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT IS TO SABRINA INTORANAT,
IN RECOGNITION FOR EXEMPLIFYING
EXCEPTIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICE AND INNOVATIVE
LEADERSHIP AND FOR STREAMLINING
OPERATIONS, FOSTERING COHESIVE
TEAMS, AND ENHANCING INSTITUTE
EFFICIENCY AND SUPPORTING THE
NIH MISSION
[APPLAUSE]
SHE'S NOT -- SABRINA IS NOT
GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE WITH US
TODAY AS WELL.
LASTLY, TO CAITLIN O'DONNELL.
FOR EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP,
INNOVATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND
OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO
ADVANCING NIDDKS MISSION
THROUGH AUTOMATION AND RESOURCE
OPTIMIZATION.
[APPLAUSE]
THERE ARE FOUR GROUPS BEING
HONORED WITH THE NIDDK
DIRECTOR'S AWARD IN THE
ADMINISTRATIVE CATEGORY.
AGAIN, PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE
UNTIL ALL NAMES HAVE BEEN
ANNOUNCED.
THE FIRST IS TO THE NIDDK
COMMITTEE MANAGEMENT TEAM, FOR
SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE IN NIDDK
COMMITTEE MANAGEMENT SERVICE
CENTER WORK DURING SEVERE
STAFFING SHORTAGES.
THE AWARDEES ARE:
ROBERT BORIE
DEVON DREW
ALICIA GIBBS
AND JANICE STEELE.
UNFORTUNATELY NONE OF THE
AWARDEES CAN BE WITH US TODAY.
[APPLAUSE]
THE SECOND GROUP AWARD IS TO THE
NIDDK HEALTH INFORMATION PILOT
WITH ELECTRONIC HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM PARTNERS GROUP.
THIS IS IN RECOGNITION OF
PLACING NIDDK HEALTH TOPICS IN
THE PATIENT EDUCATION LIBRARIES
OF TWO NATIONAL ELECTRONIC
HEALTH RECORD SYSTEMS, COVERING
MORE THAN 250 MILLION PATIENT
LIVES.
THE AWARDEES ARE:
EMILY BACK
WILLIAM BENNETT
ANDREW BOJANOWSKI
LESLIE CURTIS
TONI DOVE
LUCY KIM
REAGAN PHILIP
HUDSON PLUMB
GREGORY SEIDEN
DANA SHEETS
AND ROSEMARY WALSH.
[APPLAUSE]
THE NEXT GROUP AWARD IS TO THE
DIABETES IN AMERICA REPORT TEAM,
FOR THE CREATIVITY AND
INNOVATION TO DEVELOP A NEW
DIABETES IN AMERICA PUBLISHING
MODEL TO MAKE TIMELY
EPIDEMIOLOGIC AND CLINICAL
RESEARCH DATA AVAILABLE TO THE
RESEARCH COMMUNITY, POLICY
MAKERS, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH
DIABETES WITH GREATER FREQUENCY
THE AWARDEES ARE,
DANITA BYRD-CLARK
SARAH CASAGRANDE
WILLIAM CEFALU
MICHELLE CISSEL
SUSAN DOUGLAS
TONI DOVE
LAURA ZHONGYU FANG
LISANDRO GONZALEZ
WAYMON HARROLD
STACY LATHROP
JEAN LAWRENCE
SALLY LEE
MICHELLE PATTEN
JOSH REITNAUER
NOELLE ROUSSEAU
DANA SHEETS
HILARY SHUTAK
CLAYTON TOMPKINS
ALYSSA VOSS
AND PATRICIA WALKER.
[APPLAUSE]
AND THE LAST GROUP AWARD IN THIS
CATEGORY IS TO THE JUNIOR CAREER
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WORKING
GROUP.
IN RECOGNITION OF FILLING A
CRITICAL GAP IN OUR TRAINING
INITIATIVES BY SPECIFICALLY
ADDRESSING THE CAREER
DEVELOPMENT NEEDS OF EMPLOYEES
AT THE GS 10 AND BELOW LEVELS.
THE AWARDEES ARE:
ELISE DISCIULLO
AND SHENIKQUA DURHAM
-- PAGE 2!
ASWAN FADHL
ROCHELLE KITHCART
LYNN OUNDO
ARNITA PATTERSON
JAZMINE RICHISON
AND MELISSA WILSON.
[APPLAUSE]
THE NEXT AWARD THAT WILL BE
PRESENTED IS THE INNOVATION
AWARD.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO
RECOGNIZE NIDDK EMPLOYEES WHO
DEVELOP AND/OR IMPLEMENT
CREATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE
SOLUTIONS WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN
PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS, COST
SAVINGS, IMPROVED WORK
ENVIRONMENT, AND/OR SCIENTIFIC
DISCOVERIES IN SUPPORT OF THE
NIDDK MISSION.
THERE ARE TWO GROUPS BEING
HONORED WITH THE INNOVATION
AWARD, AND AGAIN, PLEASE HOLD
YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL ALL NAMES
HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR EACH
GROUP.
THE FIRST GROUP AWARD IS TO THE
RECEIPT AND REFERRAL AUTOMATION
TEAM, IN RECOGNITION OF THE
DEVELOPMENT, DESANE AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NIDDK
RECEIPT AND REFERRAL AUTOMATION
PROJECT.
AT THE AWARDEES ARE:
KRISHNA COLLIE
YUBA DHAKAL
FANG FANG
PATTI GAINES
CHRIS KETCHUM
RYAN LANDY
XUE LIAN LI
JARON LOCKETT
SREENIVASAN RAJAMONI NADAR
HARJINDER SANDHU
NEHA SHAH
VIJAY VALETI.
[APPLAUSE]
AND THE SECOND GROUP AWARD IS
THE NIDDK RESEARCH NURSES
SCIENTIFIC REVIEW TEAM.
IN RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING
PERFORMANCE, EFFORT AND
INNOVATION OUTSIDE OF ASSIGNED
DUTIES TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT
NIDDK'S ANNUAL AND Q
QUADRENNIAL SCIENTIFIC REVIEW
PROCESS
NANCY ALEXANDER
JEANNETTE KIM
JOYCE LINDERMAN
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR
AWARDEES.
NOW I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
NIDDK WINNERS OF THE NIH
DIRECTOR'S AWARD ON THE SCREEN,
WHICH WERE PRESENTED ON
OCTOBER 23RD.
THE NIH DIRECTOR'S AWARDS
RECOGNIZE EXCEPTIONAL
PERFORMANCE AND SPECIAL EFFORTS
BEYOND REGULAR JOB ASSIGNMENTS
THAT DIRECTLY RELATE TO
FULFILLING THE NIH MISSION.
IN ADDITION TO THESE, I'D LIKE
ALSO TO COMMEND MANY OF OUR
STAFF WHO WON AWARDS FROM
OUTSIDE OF NIDDK.
LONG LIST!
JUST AN ATTEST TO THE
OUTSTANDING STAFF WE HAVE.
NEXT WE'D LIKE TO GIVE A ROUND
OF APPLAUSE --
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE'D LIKE TO GIVE A ROUND
OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OF THE
TALENTED NIDDK FELLOWS WHO HAVE
RECEIVED AWARDS THIS YEAR.
ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THEM.
[APPLAUSE]
AND NEXT, FROM THE KIDNEY
DISEASE BRANCH AND DIRECTOR OF
OUR CONSUL ANALYSIS SERVICE HAS
BEEN SELECTED AS ONE OF THE FOUR
2024 STAFF CLINICIANS OF THE
YEAR.
TH.UNWAVERING COMPASSION IN PATT
CARE AT THE NIH CLINICAL CENTER.
HER DEDICATION AND EXEMPLARY
SERVICE EMBODY THE HIGHEST
STANDARDS OF MEDICAL PRACTICE
AND PATIENT-CENTERED CARE.
[APPLAUSE]
AT THIS TIME, WE'D ALSO LIKE TO
RECOGNIZE THE MANY EMPLOYEES
CELEBRATING HONORABLE MILESTONES
FOR THEIR NUMBER OF YEARS OF
SERVICE TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
DR. RODGERS HAS ALREADY
MENTIONED OUR 50, 40 AND 30-YEAR
RECIPIENTS, AND WE'D NOW ALSO
LIKE TO RECOGNIZE EMPLOYEES WITH
20 AND 10 YEARS OF SERVICE.
FOR THOSE BEING HONORED, I'D
LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO COME
FORWARD TO HAVE YOUR PHOTO TAKEN
WITH DR. RODGERS.
AND I WILL CALL THE 20 AND
10-YEAR RECIPIENTS FOR A GROUP
PICTURE.
IT'S THE EXERCISE INSTITUTE,
CORRECT?
AGAIN, PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE
UNTIL ALL THE NAMES HAVE BEEN
ANNOUNCED.
SO UNDER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE,
WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE:
BONNIE BURGESS BEUSSE
SHAVON ARTIS DICKERSON
AGNIESZKA ELEY
LISA ESTES
DOUGLAS FORREST
IRINA GOPICH
THOMAS GUNTER
PETER KOZEL
MIN LI
JOYCE LINDERMAN
DARIN MAHKEE
RANGANATH MUNIYAPPA
JOAN NETHERCUTT
LILY NG
TIBOR ROBERTS
CHRISTINA RODRIGUEZ
LAYLA SAIDI
BROOKE SELTZER
LISA SPAIN
JANICE STEELE
HUBERT WALTERS
AND JINFA YING.
[APPLAUSE]
AND NOW FOR OUR 10-YEAR
RECIPIENTS.
FOR 10 YEARS OF SERVICE,
SHELLILENE BILEEN
YINGHONG CUI
AARON CYPESS
IFECHUKWUDE EBENUWA
ALSO AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS
IFE,
DANIEL GOSSETT
SHERRY HALL
JOANNA KLUBO
SHEILA KUMAR
YAN LIU
CHRISTINE MARIC-BILKAN
FLORENCIA PRATTO
JAKE PRITCHARD
DAVID ROBINSON
CINDY ROY
SHANI SCOTT
MADHUMITA SINHA
AYNUR UNALP-ARIDA
WAI MING YAU
AND FANG ZHOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF
YOU FOR THESE MILESTONES.
WE'RE TRULY LOOKING FORWARD TO
MANY MORE YEARS OF YOUR
DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE NIDDK
AND NIH.
THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION
OF THE 2024 NIDDK HONORARY
AWARDS, AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE
TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO CAMILLE
HOOVER TO DO SOME CLOSING
REMARKS.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE HAVE GOT TO GIVE THIS MAN AN
AWARD.
HE PRONOUNCED EVERY NAME
CORRECT.
THAT IS HEROIC!
ALL RIGHT.
I DO NOT ENVY THAT ROLE.
AND CONGRATULATIONS ONE MORE
TIME, EVERYONE, FOR OUR 2024
AWARD RECIPIENTS.
YAY!
SO, I KNOW THE ONLY THING
KEEPING US FROM REFRESHMENTS,
BUT -- AND I KNOW WE'RE ALL
FATIGUED ABOUT SURVEY, BUT THERE
IS A SURVEY COMING OUT TOMORROW,
AND WE HAVE THIS COMMITTEE THAT
PUT TOGETHER THIS INCREDIBLE
CEREMONY.
WE NEED TO HEAR YOUR VOICE, SO
WHEN THE SURVEY COMES OUT,
PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
AND HOW WE DID, OKAY?
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND NOW BEFORE WE CONCLUDE, I
ALSO WANT TO EXTEND A SPECIAL
ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO THE DEDICATED
STAFF WHO MADE TODAY'S EVENT
POSSIBLE.
SO A BIG THANK YOU TO THE FOLKS
FROM THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING, AND
THAT IS BECCA THURMAN WHO IS
PROBABLY UP THERE MANNING THE
SLIDES, KATIE TUCKER WHO'S
ALREADY UP THERE, CAMILLA AND
KELLY.
YAY!
YOU GUYS ARE GREAT!
AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO THANK
LISA FROM THE OFFICE OF
COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC
LIAISON.
SHE IS ALSO A BIG HELP, SO THANK
YOU, LISA, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
AND ALSO JUST A HEARTFELT THANK
YOU TO ALL THE OTHER VOLUNTEERS,
BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF
VOLUNTEERS HERE TODAY MAKING
TODAY POSSIBLE FOR US.
SO WHEN YOU LEAVE THE
AMPHITHEATER, OUR VOLUNTEERS
WILL PRESENT YOU WITH A SMALL
TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR YOUR
HARD WORK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
WE DO HAVE LIGHT REFRESHMENTS.
IT'S THE ONE TIME IN THE WHOLE
YEAR THAT WE GET TO USE FEDERAL
FUNDS TO CELEBRATE YOU.
SO THEY HAVE WORKED HARD TO
INCREASE THE PORTIONS THIS YEAR,
SO THERE SHOULD BE A LOT OF
DELICIOUS FOOD.
AND BEFORE WE GO, ONE THING
BEFORE THE FOOD, WE WANT TO GET
A GROUP PHOTO.
SO WE WANT EVERYONE TO COME TOOR
THE CENTER, SO WE CAN TAKE OUR
TRADITIONAL GROUP PHOTO AND THEN
TIME TO CELEBRATE WITH THE
RECEPTION.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
[APPLAUSE]