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For the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (91�㽶��Ƶ), this year’s Employee Celebration wasn’t its first rodeo. The medical school’s annual event had a Western theme for 2023, recognizing new retirees through “wanted” posters showcasing their photos and inviting attendees to dress in frontier-era costume.

During the June 22 celebration, hosted by the school’s Office of Human Resources, 91�㽶��Ƶ distributed 18 awards in five categories to employees.

Leslie Bicksler, 91�㽶��Ƶ’s vice president of human resources, praised the faculty and staff of the state’s largest medical school for helping one another and for being of service to its students.

“91�㽶��Ƶ has achieved so much over the years due to the dedication, hard work and commitment to our mission from former and current faculty and staff,” Bicksler told employees and retirees. “As a small institution, we all know the phrase ‘and other duties as assigned,’ and we know the multitude of tasks we undertake because it’s the right thing to do — from picking up a piece of trash on the sidewalk to spending an extra few minutes with a student who is discouraged to helping a coworker with a task. These are the qualities our employees possess that make 91�㽶��Ƶ the type of place you want to work, you want to stay and you want to retire from.”

The event recognized six retirees: Edward Bridges, Ph.D., Bob Foster, D.O., Lisa Hrutkay, D.O., Roy Russ, Ph.D., Larry Ware, MBA, CPA, and Cheryl Woods.

The President’s Outstanding Employee Award, given annually to employees identified to the president through a vote by 91�㽶��Ƶ faculty and staff as outstanding employees for the current academic year, recognizes exceptional and dedicated service to 91�㽶��Ƶ. Ten employees were nominated. They were Kristie Bridges, Ph.D., Marietta Harvey, Carrie Lawrence, Alicia Luckton, Scott Maxwell, Eddie Miller, Heather Pickering, Danny Seams, Leah Stone and Stephanie Taylor. This year’s winners were Eddie Miller, a receiving and inventory assistant in 91�㽶��Ƶ’s Office of Business Affairs, and Stephanie Taylor, a chef in its Food Service Operations Department.

Linda Boyd, D.O., 91�㽶��Ƶ’s vice president for academic affairs and dean, presented the President’s Outstanding Faculty Award to two faculty members, Marina Diioia, Ph.D., and Chelsea Feger, D.O. The award is presented each year to faculty members in recognition of their excellence in teaching and commitment to osteopathic medical education.

The Living Our Mission Award recognizes 91�㽶��Ƶ staff who exemplify professional excellence, an understanding of and commitment to 91�㽶��Ƶ, and a commitment to achieving the school’s mission. This year’s winners were Richard Aleshire-Ramsey, Tiffany Burns, Ronnie Collins, Christina Frazer, Kathy Hoke, Kerry Lemon, Scott Maxwell, Shelden Mullens, Resa Musser, Danny Seams, Sarah Skelding and Stephanie Taylor.

The Statewide Campus Pride Award recognizes an employee in one of 91�㽶��Ƶ’s seven Statewide Campus regions who goes above and beyond in their service to 91�㽶��Ƶ and the students they serve. Hilary Hamric, D.O., assistant dean for the South East Region of the Statewide Campus, was this year’s recipient.

The Rising Star Award honors a newly hired employee who has already demonstrated a strong commitment to the school, an understanding of how their position supports the school’s mission and a commitment to working with others to engage the school’s future. This year’s winner was Sarah Skelding, an administrative assistant in 91�㽶��Ƶ’s Marketing and Communications Department.

The celebration also recognized employees for years of service in five-year increments. In addition to recognizing a number of employees who reached milestones of service, 91�㽶��Ƶ recognized four employees who achieved 25 or more years of service as of June 2023. Paul Boothe has worked at 91�㽶��Ƶ for 25 years; William Alder for 30 years; Diana Bird for 40 years; and Ernest Piercy for 45 years.

Edward Bridges, Ph.D., a 2023 retiree who most recently served as the school’s vice president for administration and external relations, was honored with professor emeritus distinction during the celebration. The honor of emeritus is granted at retirement in recognition of meritorious service.

Two 91�㽶��Ƶ faculty received promotions. They were Shinichi Asano, Ph.D., and Lauren Miller, D.O., both of whom were promoted to associate professor and granted tenure.

91�㽶��Ƶ currently employs 297 people, 22 of whom have 20 or more years of service.