VCU news

By Linda Williams
VCU Communications and Public Relations

This year marks the 36^th year VCU and the VCU Health System will recognize its employees for their dedicated years of service. 

This annual program honors as many as 1,500 faculty and staff at receptions on both campuses. The first reception will be held for five, 10 and 15-year recipients on Oct. 30 from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Larrick Student Center on the MCV Campus. The gala reception will be held for award recipients with 20 or more years of service on Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. in the University Student Commons on the Monroe Park Campus. 

Recipients with five to 10 years of service receive service-award pins. Recipients with 15 or more years of service can select either a service-award pin or a gift. 

Recipients with 25 or more years of service can receive this year's limited-edition gift, a sculpture piece by Allen Jessee, who now pursues a lifelong love of sculpture.  Inspiration for "King of the James" was taken from his recently installed Bronze Screens in the Healing Gardens at VCU's Massey Cancer Center. The Screens, which represent Virginia wildlife and all bodies of water within the state, more specifically pay homage to wildlife on the James River and serve as a tribute to VCU's Inger and Walter Rice Center for Environmental Life Sciences.  For more information on the gift or the artist, please visit http://www.hr.vcu.edu/reward/2007ServiceAwards_MilestoneGift.html.

For a complete list of recipients, go to http://www.hr.vcu.edu/reward/2007_VCU-VCUHS_Service_Awards_Recipients.htm.

EDWARD R. BOWMAN, Pharmacology and Toxicology
50 Years

Fifty years ago, Edward Bowman began working as a research assistant in chemistry and animal research. He recalls the MCV Campus streetscape had a very different look at that time.  Buildings in the area were the actual houses that students lived in, whereas, today many of these homes are now academic buildings. 

In 1961, he became a research associate in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. Bowman believes his most significant work is the pioneering research he and Dr. Hubert McKennis conducted on nicotine and the metabolism. He currently works with Dr. Louis Harris in studying drugs of abuse. 

In his spare time, he enjoys gardening and wood working.

JOHN G. BROOKS, Statistical Sciences
50 Years

John Brooks began his career at VCU teaching a night course on intermediate algebra.

Brooks sees two major differences between then and now. Then, he taught only men students who worked during the day and studied math at night to advance their careers. At the time, VCU was the only school in Richmond offering night classes at the college level. Now he has been teaching during the day for the last 12 years and women make up approximately 70 percent of the students in his classes.

Brooks "always looks forward to working with the students."  As he says, "They help keep me young thinking."  As an adjunct faculty member in Statistical Sciences, Brooks also enjoys his interactions with fellow faculty members.

In his spare time, he plays golf, travels around the world, reads and, "surprisingly, loves doing yard work."

JAMES J. DWYER, Animal Resources
50 Years

James Dwyer came to VCU for the challenge of working with the late Dr. David Hume, then chief of surgery, who pioneered the organ transplant program. Dwyer began as Hume's research assistant and performed a variety of animal surgical procedures under his tutelage.

Dwyer has made many contributions to VCU and the community. He established a working unit for surgical research physicians specializing in renal transplantation. In the 1960s, he spearheaded a drive to procure a farm where proper facilities could be built for the long-term holding of post-operative transplant dogs. That facility exists today in Hanover. 

Dwyer still works in Animal Resources three days a month.  These days he also enjoys volunteering at St. Mary's Hospital and spending time with friends and family, including his wife, Alice, and their children and grandchildren.  He recently took a trip to back to his home in Thurles, Ireland.

JOHN DVORAK, Rehabilitation Medicine – Physical Therapy
45 years

Forty-five years ago, John Dvorak was hired on a temporary basis in Outpatient Physical Therapy. When he finished that assignment, he was asked to stay on as a full-time employee. 

Now a physical therapy technician, Dvorak most enjoys helping therapists treat patients. As he puts it, "I enjoy seeing the patients get better."  He can remember when patients had to be transported through underground tunnels.

He especially appreciates the changes in wheelchairs over the years: "They were heavy and wooden and now they are ultra light and some have full power." These and other huge advances in technology have really helped drive VCU's incredible growth.

Dvorak enjoys square dancing, traveling, reading and spending time with his wife.

JOHN W. JACKSON, PATHOLOGY (HEMATOLOGY)
45 Years

After graduating from college, John Jackson first worked as a teacher.  After one year, he realized that teaching was not the career for him. So he took a job as a lab technician. He has held many different positions within the Department of Pathology, including a stint as evening supervisor of the Hematology Lab. In 1995, he retired from VCU. In 1999, he responded to a request to "help out" in the lab for 90 days and continues to work as a part-time medical technologist.

In his time at VCU, Jackson witnessed the end of segregated policies and practices leading to equal opportunity of access to services, employment, and advancement. He also has observed notable progress in testing methodology and the advancement in medicine during this time.

He enjoys traveling, wood-crafting, working with stained glass and spending time with his two grandsons.

CAROLE C. JOHNSON, Health Information Management
45 Years

Carole Johnson started her career as the youngest clerk-typist in the Medical Reports Department. Now, she is the director of the Department of Health Information Management. 

What Johnson has enjoyed most over the years is working with others to improve systems and procedures, tackling tough issues and bringing them to resolution. "I have had an awesome career with the VCU Medical Center, which has been my second family for more than forty-five years," she said. "I appreciate the many opportunities I've been given, especially the opportunity to develop from an inexperienced clerk-typist to the director of a large and vital department. I am very proud to work for one of the top medical centers in the country.

In her free time, Johnson enjoys spending time with family, gardening, and traveling.

CLAUDETTE MCDANIEL, Therapeutic Recreation
45 Years

Claudette McDaniel first came here as a patient and remembers being visited by social workers every day. In college, McDaniel studied social work and sociology because she wanted to be like the social workers. She enjoys helping people lead more fruitful lives. 

Her first paid job here was as an activity therapist with TB patients. Her goal is to work at VCU for 50 years. 

McDaniel also is a certified mediator for the VCU Health System, the Virginia courts system, FEMA and other agencies. She has served on City Council and as its Vice Mayor.

In her free time, Claudette enjoys singing with the Harry Savage Chorale and the African-American Heritage Chorale. She also enjoys spending time with her daughter and grandchild.

AMY RICHARDSON, Anatomy
45 Years

Amy Richardson began working as a technician in the Pulmonary Lab doing pulmonary function tests. In those days, it took 30 minutes to get a reading. Now it takes less than a minute.

Richardson's current job is conducting research in head trauma, and she reports that "it is gratifying to contribute and help those in need." While she enjoys the work, she especially likes the interaction with colleagues and patients.

In her spare time, she enjoys church activities and bowling.

Below are names and photos of the 40-year recipients.  The recipients without photos are Iris Evans, Nuclear Medicine; Betty Rodgers, Pediatric Primary Care; Linda Sisk, VCUHS Accounts Payable; Richard Vacca, Educational Leadership-School of Education.