Staff members from the College of Pharmacy and Michigan Medicine have been named recipients of the 2024 Candace J. Johnson Award for Staff Excellence, given in recognition of their excellence, generosity and compassion in the workplace.
The honorees are:
- Holly Jablonski, associate director of administrative operations, College of Pharmacy.
- Janet Santos, occupational therapist and clinical specialist, Michigan Medicine.
Each will receive $1,500 and a plaque from the Office of the Provost, presented at private receptions later this semester.
The award was established in memory of Johnson, a dedicated, longtime U-M staff member, to honor exceptional staffers who perform their duties with diligence, inspire those around them, foster a nurturing and collaborative work environment, and approach others with respect and kindness.
The Office of the Provost presents the award annually with support from Johnson’s family members and friends.
Holly Jablonski
Jablonski has worked for the College of Pharmacy for nine years, beginning as an executive secretary and quickly rising through the ranks. Her current role is associate director for administrative services.
In nominating her, Jablonski’s colleagues noted her duties include overseeing high-priority projects, major events and training for new college and department staff. She also has been the project manager for the college’s new building and has played a part in ensuring the new facility will be inclusive to all.
Regina McClinton, assistant dean for dedicated programs and assessments, wrote that Jablonski had gone above and beyond to help McClinton adapt to U-M upon arriving in 2017.
“Holly’s support was invaluable. From ‘little’ things, such as which form to use, and how the office works, to ‘big’ things, such as making flight reservations for students in the summer program I run,” McClinton wrote. “I can truly say that I would have been lost and flustered without her.”
Numerous colleagues shared stories of her compassion, dedication and tireless work ethic.
“One of Holly’s yearly assignments is organizing our research forum, attended by everyone in our college,” wrote Vicki Ellingrod, the college’s dean and the John Gideon Searle Professor of Pharmacy.
“For months she works with students to help them prepare their presentations, sends multiple reminders to faculty and staff regarding their responsibilities, and on that day finds a way to fill event gaps, as those always show up. She does all of this with a smile and makes the event great for everyone.”
Janet Santos
Santos has been a pediatric occupational therapist at Michigan Medicine for 15 years, and the clinical specialist at the Briarwood Pediatric Rehabilitation Center for the past five years.
Santos’ colleagues wrote that she excels as both a therapist and mentor, and they commended her leadership in their Constrained Hand and Arm Movement Program, which helps people with hemiplegia, a neurological condition that causes paralysis or weakness on one side of the body.
They also dubbed Santos the “Queen of Casting,” because she has helped many patients gain more symmetrical use of both arms via casting, a type of therapy that utilizes an arm constraint.
Finally, they credited her with bringing innovation to the occupational therapy program, while maintaining compassion for children who express frustration when faced with difficult treatment tasks.
“She has the wonderful ability to create a safe, fun, and exciting therapy environment in which to thrive,” they wrote in her nomination.
The parents of Santos’ young patients also sing her praises, with one mother writing, “The compassion Janet shows is immeasurable. She allows my family to ask endless questions, shed tears if needed, and then always answers with optimistic honesty.”
Fellow occupation therapist Laura Opie said she was happy to have Santos as a mentor.
“This mentorship has had an exponential impact on my ability to provide the best care I can to my patients. Janet’s time is truly a gift, and she gives it so freely and willingly; our whole clinic is a better place for it,” Opie wrote.
