2020 Employee Service Awards — The Honorees
| Every year, UAMS recognizes employees with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 years of service. This year, UAMS honors 1,220 employees. Because of COVID-19, this year’s celebration will be a virtual one, held Oct. 27 on Zoom.
This year, one employee earns her 50-year pin, while three employees hit the 45-year mark. Keep reading to learn more about these dedicated Team UAMS members.
Click here for the full list of employees who are being honored at this year’s awards.
50 Years of Service
Catherine Warren
Catherine Warren has experienced UAMS as a student, staff and faculty. She started working at UAMS in 1968 as a research assistant in the College of Medicine’s Department of Anatomy and then worked part-time in the Department of Ophthalmology while she attended the School of Dental Hygiene, which later became part of the College of Health Professions. In 1972, she was hired as a part-time dental instructor before becoming a full-time faculty member in the early 80s.
As chairman of the UAMS Alumni Advisory Council Program Committee in 1993, Warren and others successfully proposed the “Senior Wall” plaques with the names of UAMS graduates. The plaques are located on the ground floor of the Education II building.
Warren said she never expected to work here so long. “I can’t believe that the time has passed so quickly, but I will have to say that I have enjoyed working here because every day is different. It is gratifying to think that I have been a part of so many student’s lives.”
45 Years of Service
Diana Johnson
Diana Johnson is well known in Nutritional Services for her big smile and cheerful demeanor. While still a student at Central High School in Little Rock, Johnson joined UAMS in January 1975 as a patient food service worker. In 1999, she transferred to the Cafeteria, where she was promoted to retail supervisor, a position she holds today.
While working at UAMS, Johnson went back to school and graduated from Pulaski Technical College, a personal achievement she’s proud of. As a manager, she’s proud the Cafeteria no longer has a high employee turnover rate.
In 2019, the Arkansas Hospitality Association recognized her as its 2019 Manager of the Year, making her the first hospital employee to win one of the association’s awards.
Michael Morris
Michael A. Morris started at UAMS in March 1975 as a medical photographer after moving from Dallas to Little Rock to be closer to his new bride. While in Creative Services, he managed photography, web design and television services before taking a position in Radiology, where he manages the Outreach Imaging program and provides administrative support to the department.
During his 45 years at UAMS, Morris won numerous photographic awards, lectured and wrote about surgical photography, and co-edited and wrote chapters for a book, “Medical Photography for Physicians.”
Morris said he had many memorable experiences at UAMS, including the opportunity to photograph Mary Leakey, Dionne Warwick, Burt Bacharach, Charlie Pride, George Benson, Kenny Rodgers, Paul Anka, Johnny Mathis and many others.
“I never thought I would stand at the head of an operating room table photographing the inside of the human heart. It was an incredible experience! I was 20 years old. It was just the beginning.”
Sue Wilson
Sue Wilson started at UAMS as a secretary in the Division of Endocrinology before moving to the newly developed Business Office of the then-Department of Medicine, where she worked in billing. She then worked in the Division on Aging for several years before it became the Department of Geriatrics doing several jobs, including administrative assistant, neuropsychology testing and then back to billing. She is now a billing manager.
Wilson is proud of her involvement in establishing the first dementia clinic at UAMS.
“I have had many great experiences just getting to know all of the excellent doctors and wonderful people that I have come in contact with over the past 45 years,” she said, adding that she credits UAMS with saving her mother’s life following a massive heart attack.
“We were told that she wouldn’t make it through the night. She was airlifted to UAMS, where she had heart surgery. They basically performed a miracle, and we had my mother for another unforgettable 10 years.”
40 Years of Service
- Teresita Angtuaco, M.D.
- Robert Bradsher, M.D.
- Terry Brown
- Lawrence Cornett, Ph.D.
- Kenneth Easter
- Jacqueline Love-Ryan
- Tressa Manuel
- Dwana McKay Yarberry
- Shelia Moore
- Wyvonne Ora
- James Pearce
- Alicia Quinn
- Cynthia Racy
- Robert Reis, Ph.D.
- Debbie Riddling
- Mary Spann
- Nancie Watts