2025 Mini-Grant Awardees

Grant Recipients:

Juliet McKenzie, Coordinator of Special Event
Sur Crounse, Event Planning Specialist II

Area:

Institute for Innovative Education

Summary:

These workshops will increase connections and boost creative thinking. Participants will return to their workdays with renewed energy and focus.

Grant Recipients:

Lisa Fowler, RN, MS, CCRN, CMC, CSC, Advanced Heart Failure Program Educator
Kerry Estes, MPA BSN, Nurse Manager

Area:

Advanced Heart Failure Clinic

Summary:

This wellness-focused library of books, podcasts, and digital resources will support mental health, leadership, resilience, and personal growth. It will create a shared space for reflection and learning.

Grant Recipient:

Kimberly Dehon, Certified Mindfulness Meditation and Self-Compassion Teacher, Department Coordinator

Area:

Chaplaincy Services

Summary:

This project will offer chaplains and social workers a 12-week course on grounding and calming mindful practices. This will increase wellbeing by emphasizing self-compassion and providing tools to manage the emotional impact of work.

Grant Recipients:

Veronica Leva, MS, Program Specialist II
Annabelle Kleist, PhD, Department Program Manager

Area:

Center for Community Health & Prevention (CCHP)

Summary:

This career panel and four-month, one-on-one mentorship program will increase collaboration and foster relationships among colleagues. It will improve wellbeing by encouraging reflection, growth, and connection.

Grant Recipient:

Becki Vincent, MS, RN, CPAN
Assistant Director of Perianesthesia Nursing & Leadership Co-Chair of the Strategic Nursing Wellness Council

Area:

Nursing Practice

Summary:

Friday Night at the ER will simulate real-world challenges, improving how our teams think, communicate, and collaborate. It will support wellbeing by encouraging open communication and mutual understanding.

Grant Recipients:

Janine Rowe, MSEd, LMHC, CASAC, CEAP, Director, UR Medicine Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Jaclyn Wilmarth, MS, RN, CPPS, Associate Healthcare Safety Officer

Area:

Psychiatry, Division of Collaborative Care and Wellness and YoUR Support Volunteer Team

Summary:

This project will provide evidence-based guidance and a community of mutual support to help leaders and those who facilitate debriefings after critical events. This will enhance resilience and wellbeing as well as team cohesion.

Grant Recipients:

Meghan Hilligus, MSW, Senior Crisis Specialist
April Blaise, BA, Peer Advocate

Area:

Emergency Psychiatry-Mobile Crisis Team

Summary:

This funding will make our Fun Committee more sustainable, allowing it to continue and expand its monthly meetings, inclusive activities and designated stress-free zone. This will help provide team members with the needed tools for self care, enhancing cohesion and emotional resilience.

Grant Recipient:

Lynn T. Brown, Staff Administrator

Area:

School of Nursing

Summary:

This project will provide the book “Crucial Conversations” to all staff managers and faculty program directors, thus providing tips and fostering discussion on effectively navigating conversations and reducing misunderstandings.

Grant Recipient:

Syd White, MT-BC, Board Certified Music Therapist, Creative Arts Counselor

Area:

Adult Inpatient Psychiatry

Summary:

This project will help staff to improve their wellbeing by listening to, engaging with, and creating music. This healthy coping strategy will help reduce stress and enhance wellbeing.

Grant Recipients:

Kimberly Smith, MSN, APRN, NNP-BC, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Karen Paul, BSN, RN
Susanne Lewis, BSN, RNC-NIC, CPST-I

Area:

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Summary:

This project will help recognize staff through personalized awards, unit decorations, and items for patients. Crafting and providing these materials will improve team morale and staff retention

Grant Recipients:

Elisabeth McDonald, MS, RNC-OB, NPD-BC
Nursing Professional Development Specialist for OBGYN Nursing and Chairperson, OB Service Council

Area:

Department of OBGYN at Strong memorial Hospital & OB Service Council consisting of representatives from Units 312, 314/316 and 336

Summary:

The Jolly Trolley snack service will offer more frequent rounds on OB, boosting morale, strengthening team culture and showing faculty and staff their work is valued.

Grant Recipients:

Sarah Collins-McGowan, MD, Medical Director, Golisano Children's Hospital Pediatric Practice

Area:

Golisano Children's Hospital Pediatric Practice – ambulatory general pediatric practice located on AC6

Summary:

By purchasing tablets to easily enter rooming information, this project will improve efficiency and speed the process of getting information into patient charts. This will improve job satisfaction by addressing known area of staff concern.

Grant Recipients:

Stephen Artim, MD, Attending Physician

Area:

Emergency Medicine

Summary:

This project will increase the use and improve the restorative nature of hospital-based lactation room with a new space that will provide needed privacy and convenience.

Grant Recipients:

Leah Kramer, MD

Area:

Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Grant Recipients:

Ann Benedetto

Area:

Learning & Development, Career Pathways

Grant Recipients:

Jennifer Glen

Area:

Food Service

Grant Recipients:

Yasmine Ghattas

Area:

Orthopaedic Residency