Congratulations to Sarah Lochiavo, nursing director for Nursing Director Supportive Care, Palliative Care and Hospice Services., our 2022 Dr. Peter J. Deckers Employee Appreciation Award winner!

Nomination Period and Process

UConn Health invites all employees to participate in a nomination process aimed at recognizing and celebrating the outstanding contributions of their colleagues. This inclusive initiative encourages submissions from across the organization, fostering a diverse and comprehensive acknowledgment of excellence. Nominations, reflecting the remarkable work of peers, undergo a thorough review by senior leadership. Subsequently, a finalist is selected from each division, advancing to the final selection phase.

Eligibility

Any UConn Health employee who consistently demonstrates the stated criteria is eligible. Prior award nominees are eligible for nomination. Previous award recipients are not eligible to receive the award.

Ceremony

The Dr. Peter J. Deckers Award is celebrated annually at a ceremony. The 2023 event will be on Tuesday, December 19, at noon, in the Academic Rotunda. 

Award

Through the generosity of Dr. Deckers via the UConn Foundation, the awardee receives four lower field-level box seat tickets to a Red Sox game and a framed award certificate.

Selection Process

Nominations are reviewed based on the award criteria and the corresponding examples. A Likert 1-5 scale with 1 indicating that the response does not address the bar to 5 indicating exceeds the standard is used. The average is calculated from each nomination. If there is a tie, additional consideration is given to a PAW or Husky Hero Award recipient.

Guidelines

Use the information below to help write a persuasive nomination. The goal of the nomination is quality, not quantity.

• Be specific. Provide the selection committee with detailed information on how the individual's achievements have positively impacted the UConn Health mission. Ensure that the nominee's contributions match the specific award criteria. Address all parts of each question entirely for a comprehensive review.
• Show measurable results. Monetary savings, a new service, patients receiving care/services in a timelier and professional manner, staff morale increasing, and students being better prepared. Paint the picture of why someone deserves to be recognized.
• Keep it brief. Avoid giving work history or job descriptions unless directly relating to the award criteria.
• Say it like it is. Feel free to use bulleted lists when appropriate. Be sure to explain the technical details so that non-experts will understand and spell out/define any unfamiliar acronyms.
• Get support. Share the writing of the nomination with individuals/colleagues from your division. Ask co-workers, supervisors, students, and faculty who know or work with the nominee to submit a detailed statement supporting your nomination.
• Cite multiple, specific examples. Use descriptive language and then give a situation or example that shows the attribute. Include more than one example of how the individual went above and beyond the daily responsibilities of the job.
• Communicate sincerity and personal commitment. Show how you value the contributions of your nominee.