By Jill Pease
University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions staff members Taylor Atkins, Amanda DiTrapani and Tabitha Johns are among this year’s recipients of the Superior Accomplishment Award in the UF Health Science Center division.
The award program recognizes employees who contribute outstanding service, efficiency and/or economy to the university, or play a role in the quality of life provided to students and employees. Health Science Center division winners are submitted as nominees to compete for university-level Superior Accomplishment Awards. DiTrapani and Johns were recognized in the Individual Employee Performance category and Atkins was recognized in the Sustained Excellence category. They will be honored at a division celebration on March 3.
Taylor Atkins is an academic program specialist II in the Department of Occupational Therapy. In this role, she supports the department’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy fieldwork and capstone experiences, and the driving rehabilitation therapy certificate and continuing education programs. In addition, she has been instrumental in the planning and execution of the department’s booth at the American Occupational Therapy Association conference and expo.
“Ms. Atkins has demonstrated exceptional skill in aligning the diverse needs of our fieldwork locations with the educational objectives of our students,” a nominator wrote. “Her proactive approach in facilitating clear communication, addressing logistical challenges and ensuring cohesive experiences for both sites and students has significantly enhanced the quality and impact of our program.”
Co-workers report that one area in which Atkins particularly shines is as department manager and educator for the education software program Exxat, which the department uses for clinical experience management. Atkins has led a number of initiatives to improve efficiencies with the department’s use of the software platform. These include moving advising activities to Exxat to centralize information and creating training materials for both faculty and students to help them effectively use the program.
“Her ability to identify areas for improvement and implement effective solutions has made a significant impact on the OTD program,” a colleague wrote. “She is a dedicated professional who consistently strives to support both faculty and students, ensuring that they have the tools and resources they need to succeed.”
Amanda DiTrapani, an academic program specialist II in the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, earns praise from department faculty, students and staff for her unmatched dedication and care.
Her duties include managing multiple aspects of the Ph.D. program and clinical psychology internship program, from recruitment through graduation. She also serves as the department’s course coordinator and is responsible for class scheduling and assembling syllabi.
“Given the complexity, the work could be chaotic, but Ms. DiTrapani is singular in her ability to organize the work and keep everyone on task and calm,” a nominator wrote, “With respect to her duties and responsibilities, Ms. DiTrapani’s work ethic and innovation is remarkable. She fosters a relationship with those in our department in which questions and ideas for improvement are welcomed, and help is readily offered.”
Co-workers noted that DiTrapani had led numerous efforts to improve organization and efficiency for students and faculty. These include making improvements to the admissions schedule and interview process and introducing new tools that have resulted in better navigation of the applicant interview process and comprehensive tracking of current student milestones and other documentation.
“Ms. DiTrapani makes us all better by going above and beyond,” co-workers wrote. “She never shies away from a challenge and always rises to the occasion! Ms. DiTrapani makes sure everyone has just what they need to be successful whether it is a part of her duties or not. She is crucial to our department, and we are all fortunate to work alongside her!”
Tabitha Johns, a research administrator III in the college’s research core, is described by a colleague as “uber-dedicated, meticulous, innovative, quick on her feet, patient, one-in-a-million, unafraid to speak up, a team player, and a quiet leader.”
Johns manages pre- and post-award grant administration for a large grants portfolio led by researchers in the college’s Department of Epidemiology. This requires preparing budgets, being well-versed in regulations and application requirements, and managing numerous institutional contracts. Co-workers noted that her strong work ethic, extensive knowledge base and excellent working relationships with colleagues across the university have helped team members quickly and efficiently resolve issues that could have slowed their work.
“Tabitha always attends our grant related meetings with a smile on her face, and all the relevant information to resolve questions,” a co-worker said. “She is meticulous, thorough, reliable and above all, kind. Any sort of question you may have, she is an email, phone call or Teams message away. We are incredibly fortunate to have her as our dedicated research administrator. We couldn’t do what we do without her guidance and positive attitude.”
Colleagues noted that Johns’ calm and supportive nature makes her a highly valued team member.
“Tabitha is not just a colleague; she is a mentor and a role model, always ready to provide guidance and support to her peers,” a nominator wrote. “We can’t imagine day to day activities without her! She truly is a blessing to our team.”