About UI Health

Class Act Awards

December 2025

Jennifer Stenger

I am pleased to nominate Jenn Stenger for the Class Act Award, recognizing her as an outstanding and deserving member of our team. Jenn consistently demonstrates inclusion, compassion, respect, accountability, and excellence in every aspect of her work.

Jenn’s work ethic is unparalleled. When staffing shortages arise, she immediately steps in to take on additional responsibilities without hesitation. Her professionalism, organization, and reliability are exceptional—she consistently meets deadlines and completes tasks to the highest standard.

Having transitioned from a staff role to leadership, Jenn skillfully balances listening to her team’s needs with effectively managing the department. She sets clear expectations, documents processes, and ensures each team member fully understands their responsibilities. Jenn holds herself to the same—if not higher—level of accountability she expects from others, thoughtfully evaluating decisions to serve patients, staff, and the department best.

Jenn has driven significant departmental improvements. She played a key role in developing a patient scheduling algorithm that enhances access and aligns with patient needs, and she created staff scheduling templates that improve efficiency. Her clear communication and strong accountability helped her team navigate these changes smoothly and embrace new processes with confidence.

In addition, Jenn mentors new leaders, ensuring they are supported as they grow into their roles. Her commitment to mentorship strengthens the department and fosters a collaborative, forward-moving team.

Jenn is also an invaluable partner to the leadership team. She approaches every task thoughtfully, provides honest and constructive feedback, and consistently seeks collaboration and common ground. Her deep care for others is evident in every interaction and extends beyond her work responsibilities.

Even with the demands of her role, Jenn ensures colleagues and staff feel valued. She dedicates personal time each year to celebrate Physical Therapy (PT) Month, recognizing and honoring the larger team. Her thoughtful gestures create a sense of belonging and camaraderie, making everyone feel like an integral part of the team.

Jenn Stenger’s dedication to her patients, team, and UI Health is exceptional. She consistently goes above and beyond, demonstrating tireless work, compassionate leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence. For these reasons, she is truly deserving of the Class Act Award.

November 2025

Alejandra Villanueva

Alejandra Villanueva has demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and dedication to safety in her role as Safe Patient Handling & Mobility (SPHM) Program Director at UI Health. Since joining the organization, she has been a driving force in advancing patient care and staff safety, ensuring best practices are not only followed but continuously elevated.

In this role, Alejandra has played a critical part in advancing UI Health’s Zero Harm initiative by leading efforts to reduce patient and staff injuries. She has introduced innovative mobility equipment and safety practices that are now standard across the institution, improving patient outcomes related to safe transfers, dignity, and overall safety.

Her impact extends well beyond equipment implementation. Alejandra is a key collaborator in fostering a strong culture of safety, working across departments and disciplines to develop effective, evidence-based solutions for diverse patient populations. This collaborative approach has supported widespread adoption of safer practices, reduced musculoskeletal injuries, and promoted safe, dignified mobility throughout UI Health.

One of Alejandra’s most impactful contributions is the creation and leadership of mock fall drills, which have significantly improved staff preparedness, confidence, and competency in responding to falls and mobilizing patients safely. These efforts have played a major role in reducing staff injuries related to falls. She also revitalized the Patient Mobility Program, providing ongoing education and support to ensure proper use of equipment and adherence to safety protocols.

Alejandra is a tireless advocate for staff education, regularly leading training sessions and volunteering her time at events such as Mobipalooza. Her willingness to go above and beyond her role has earned her widespread respect and trust.

Her leadership is defined by a solutions-oriented mindset, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to the well-being of patients and staff. Through her positive, non-punitive, and collaborative approach, Alejandra has empowered teams to engage in continuous learning and improvement. Her work has produced measurable reductions in injuries, strengthened UI Health’s safety culture, and positioned the organization as a leader in patient and staff safety.

Alejandra Villanueva truly embodies the qualities of a Class Act. Her dedication and collaborative leadership have created lasting, positive change at UI Health, setting a high standard for excellence in healthcare safety and benefiting patients, staff, and the broader community.

October 2025

Aaron Scroggins

Aaron embodies the core values that are central to our institution: Inclusion, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence.

Aaron’s positive attitude and infectious smile are a constant presence in the workplace, and he consistently brings energy and dedication to everything he does. He takes immense pride in his work, especially when performing Kidney biopsy assessments in the IR and OR. Even when faced with a heavy workload, Aaron consistently ensures that the quality of his work remains exceptional and never compromises patient care. Aaron consistently performs excellent immunofluorescence staining and ensures that slides are promptly and accurately delivered to the pathologists. His attention to detail in this critical aspect of the diagnostic process is a key part of the overall efficiency and accuracy of patient care.

Additionally, Aaron regularly volunteers to work overtime to assist other areas in the department when staffing shortages arise, demonstrating his selflessness and dedication to the success of the entire team. His willingness to go above and beyond his job duties is a testament to his collaborative spirit and commitment to ensuring the success of UI Health.

Moreover, Aaron has been an invaluable asset to the Kidney Precision Medicine Project (KPMP) here at UIC. The KPMP is a critical, multi-year initiative funded by the NIDDK, focused on advancing our understanding and treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury (AKI). Aaron’s role in this project, alongside patient representatives, researchers, and clinicians, has been vital to meeting the goals of the study and addressing the needs of the kidney disease community. His contributions to this important work are an example of his dedication to improving patient outcomes and advancing medical research.

In summary, Aaron is a dedicated and hardworking employee who not only excels in his role but also contributes significantly to the greater mission of UI Health. His commitment to excellence, collaborative nature, and willingness to support his colleagues make him an outstanding candidate for the Class Act.

I wholeheartedly recommend Aaron Scroggins for this well-deserved recognition. His contributions to both patient care and medical research have made a lasting impact, and he truly exemplifies the values and mission of UI Health.

Dr. Amy Napleton

I’m writing to commend, to the highest degree, Dr. Amy Napleton for her extraordinary and very possibly life-saving efforts on one afternoon. My partner and I were descending the stairs to a subway platform in Chicago when my partner suddenly lost consciousness and suffered a serious fall. Dr. Napleton, who was descending the stairs not far behind, immediately came to our aid. She provided crucial assistance and remained with us until emergency medical services arrived.

Dr. Napleton stayed with us to ensure my partner was safely transported to an ambulance waiting nearby, all while managing the situation with medical expertise, calmness, and care. I cannot express enough how grateful I am for her presence and quick, thoughtful response in such a critical moment. Her actions were a true demonstration of medical knowledge, compassion, and human generosity, which I will never forget.

Though my partner was not in a condition to appreciate Dr. Napleton's efforts at the time, he, too, is forever grateful for her assistance. We feel that words are inadequate to convey the depth of our gratitude. Dr. Napleton exemplifies the best qualities of her profession, and what she may consider a simple act of kindness, we view as an act of heroism.

I must also note that it took some persuasion, and perhaps even insistence, for Dr. Napleton to allow me to share this recognition with others, as she is notably humble. But it’s important to acknowledge her. There simply aren’t enough people like Dr. Napleton in the world, and taking the time to properly recognize her actions feels absolutely necessary.

Jesse Anderson

Jesse exemplifies the very definition of a class act, and this recognition is long overdue. Throughout his tenure at UI Health, he has consistently demonstrated professionalism, reliability, and excellence in numerous ways.

First, Jesse is an exceptionally dependable presence in the clinic. His contributions extend far beyond high productivity, accuracy, and technical competence. During a recent staffing challenge—when several clinicians were scheduled or unexpectedly out—two physical therapy interns were left without a clinical supervisor. Jesse was already supervising one intern, yet he willingly assumed responsibility for two additional interns while managing his full patient caseload. That same day, he skillfully handled a highly complex case brought to the clinic by ambulance. Despite the intensity of the situation, Jesse remained calm, composed, and fully effective, guiding interns and caring for patients without visible strain. His steady leadership transformed a potentially chaotic day into one that ran smoothly, and his support was invaluable.

Equally important, Jesse is a kind, compassionate, and highly skilled clinician. He consistently advocates for his patients by pursuing specialty consultations, collaborating with providers to discuss and refine plans of care, and connecting patients with social work resources when needed. As a clinician with post-professional residency and fellowship training in orthopedic physical therapy, he delivers exceptional, evidence-based care. These qualities were clearly demonstrated in the aforementioned emergency case, where he thoughtfully navigated a complex and emotionally challenging situation through an interpreter, uncovered significant gaps in the patient’s care, and followed up directly with the patient’s external primary care provider to ensure continuity and advocacy.

Finally, Jesse is rapidly establishing himself as an outstanding educator both in the clinic and academic settings. He regularly mentors interns, serves as a lab assistant in the UIC DPT program, and teaches within physical therapy residencies and fellowship programs. A recent example of his excellence in teaching was his co-instruction of a continuing education course on temporomandibular disorders this August for clinicians from UI Health and external organizations. Jesse masterfully translated complex concepts in pain science, neuroanatomy, and neurophysiology into engaging, accessible content. His presentation was exceptionally well-paced, inclusive, and impactful, showcasing his ability to educate and inspire clinicians at all levels.

Jesse consistently embodies inclusion, compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence, frequently exceeding expectations in each area. His clinical expertise, calm leadership, and commitment to education make him an invaluable asset to UI Health and a model professional in every sense.

Lynn Terrile

Every successful team has someone they can always rely on to step up, support others, and deliver results. For this team, that person is Lynn.

Across nearly forty years at UIC—first in Microbiology and later as Supervisor in Molecular Pathology—Lynn has set the standard for dedication, excellence, and compassion. She leads with purpose, serves with empathy, and consistently brings out the best in those around her. Her impact extends far beyond laboratory operations, transforming workspaces, workflows, and, most importantly, the people she leads.

When the Microbiology Bacteriology Supervisor position remained vacant for several months, Lynn stepped in without hesitation while continuing to manage her full responsibilities in Molecular Pathology. She began by listening—meeting individually with staff to understand challenges and gather ideas—then acted decisively. She replaced broken instrumentation, implemented new maintenance logs and visual aids, and modernized outdated manual processes through efficient, paperless solutions.

Lynn also addressed fairness and balance by improving scheduling practices, overtime management, and weekend coverage. She introduced cross-training, restructured workspace layouts to enhance flow and comfort, and created systems that recognized each technologist’s contributions. These changes rebuilt trust, strengthened teamwork, and improved patient prioritization and quality assurance.

Her leadership combined structure with approachability. Lynn standardized timekeeping and scheduling, trained section supervisors to ensure consistency and accountability, and developed CAP-required competencies to support compliance and documentation. She aligned workflows, elevated safety practices, and organized required documentation with precision. Even while supporting Microbiology, she maintained excellence in Molecular Pathology, demonstrating accountability and grace under pressure. Her positive and approachable presence lifted morale and inspired confidence throughout the department.

Lynn also led a profound cultural and emotional transformation. Recognizing a team affected by fatigue and low morale, she focused not only on systems, but on people. Small but meaningful changes—such as improving the physical workspace—had an immediate impact on staff morale. By encouraging open communication, listening deeply, and working alongside the team, she restored pride, purpose, and a sense of belonging.

Across every initiative, Lynn leads with humility, collaboration, and compassion. She approaches challenges with questions rather than mandates and models the ICARE values—Inclusion, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence—every day. She does not position herself above her team, but alongside them, building trust, unity, and resilience. Her leadership elevates patient care, strengthens every department she touches, and exemplifies what it truly means to lead As One.

September 2025

Mary Hauser

I am honored to submit this nomination in recognition of exceptional partnership, creativity, and commitment in recruiting for the launch of a new Critical Care Outreach Team.

From the outset, this effort was approached with innovative and strategic thinking. Unique recruitment strategies were developed, including attendance at a regional nursing conference to connect with top talent and the organization of an online recruitment fair that clearly showcased the team’s vision. A dynamic video interview was also recorded and produced for interested candidates, effectively outlining expectations, team mission, and the passion behind this pioneering initiative in an engaging and accessible way.

This work consistently reflects UI Health’s ICARE values:

• Inclusion: The recruitment process was designed to be welcoming and equitable, intentionally attracting a diverse pool of candidates.
• Compassion: Time and genuine care were invested in understanding the needs of both candidates and the team, creating a positive and supportive experience.
• Accountability: Commitments were consistently met, with frequent efforts extending beyond role expectations to ensure deadlines and goals were achieved.
• Respect: Input from all stakeholders was actively valued, fostering collaboration and trust.
• Excellence: Creative, polished recruitment efforts set a high standard for quality and effectiveness.

This partnership was instrumental in building the team from the ground up. The generosity of time, innovative ideas, and genuine enthusiasm made a lasting impact—not only on the hiring process, but also on the culture and future success of the Critical Care Outreach Team. These contributions exemplify the spirit and values of UI Health.

Significant praise was received from leadership regarding collaboration in recruiting six new positions for the newly formed Critical Care Outreach Unit. These efforts meaningfully strengthened the talent acquisition strategy and enabled the efficient onboarding of high-quality candidates.

As a supervisor, I can confidently attest to a strong work ethic rooted in Inclusion, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence. Multiple colleagues have shared feedback highlighting how approachable, resourceful, patient, and welcoming this individual has been. There is a consistent commitment to delivering high-quality service, taking full accountability when challenges arise, resolving issues promptly, and respecting others’ time and effort. Reliability, presence, and dedication reflect a high level of professionalism and integrity.

Lester Vicencio

On a particularly urgent and complex day, Lester demonstrated the highest standards of nursing excellence while caring for a patient with metastatic ER+/HER2- breast cancer and worsening hepatic function who required immediate administration of Gemcitabine—potentially her last opportunity for life-prolonging therapy.

At the time, the oncology unit faced significant barriers, including limited chemotherapy-certified staff, no private bed availability, and a policy requiring 24-hour notice for chemotherapy administration outside the unit. When the urgency of the situation was explained, Lester’s response was immediate, calm, and resolute.

Although Gemcitabine is a 30-minute infusion, chemotherapy administration requires extensive coordination, including verifying lab results, ensuring appropriate IV access, confirming signed consent, coordinating medication preparation, and communicating with the attending physician. Lester navigated all of these critical steps swiftly and efficiently, ensuring the patient’s safety and readiness for treatment.

Without hesitation, Lester took full ownership of the case. His clinical expertise, decisive action, and steady focus ensured the patient received essential therapy in a timely and safe manner—bringing not only treatment, but hope, to the patient and care team.

Lester’s actions went beyond clinical responsibility and exemplified true nurse leadership. His ability to remain composed under pressure, prioritize patient well-being, and mobilize resources in a moment of great need reflects deep empathy, moral clarity, and the mission and values of UI Health. His contribution that day made a meaningful difference, preserving not only clinical outcomes but the patient’s dignity and humanity.

Beyond this moment, Lester consistently demonstrates exceptional character and leadership as the AN1 and charge nurse on the unit. He knows every patient and treatment, anticipates challenges, and creates a calm, supportive environment for staff. He actively encourages excellence, is highly resourceful, and continually looks for ways to improve unit workflow and staff morale. Lester also leads efforts to recognize and celebrate others, including staff recognition initiatives, employee awards, patient and staff birthdays, and expressions of condolence for families. He is deeply respected by colleagues and consistently demonstrates all ICARE values in his daily practice.

July 2025

Stacy Gilmer

Her daily contributions embody the values that define UI Health: inclusion, compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence—especially in how she fosters a culture of engagement across our organization.

Stacy’s leadership in creating inclusive events and activities where all voices are encouraged and heard has had a profound impact. Staff consistently express feeling seen and valued due to her intentional efforts to ensure everyone, regardless of role or background, can meaningfully engage at UI Health. Her active role on the Cultural & Heritage Month Committee exemplifies this commitment to inclusion.

Stacy leads with compassion, fostering an environment that prioritizes empathy and well-being. Whether checking in on colleagues after challenging engagement survey results or listening closely to employee feedback, she maintains a thoughtful, people-centered approach.

Her accountability is evident in her ownership of major engagement initiatives, including leading the engagement survey from start to finish, facilitating quarterly Engagement Ambassador calls, following up on staff feedback, and collaborating cross-functionally with the Patient Experience team. She consistently takes responsibility, offers solutions, and recognizes others—hallmarks of a dependable and trusted professional.

Stacy’s daily interactions reflect deep respect. She listens patiently, communicates clearly, and advocates for staff in ways that build trust and teamwork. Her pursuit of excellence is evident in everything she does, from developing innovative peer engagement tools to supporting new recognition and wellness initiatives. Her energy and drive to continuously improve UI Health are both inspiring and instrumental to our success.

Key accomplishments over the past year in support of our strategic goal to “Elevate Staff Engagement and Wellbeing” include:

• Led the planning, design, execution, and follow-up of the Employee and Physician Engagement Survey, managing hundreds of hours of preparation and extensive data analysis with precision and ease.
• Facilitated over 50 (and growing) team debrief meetings annually with leaders at all levels, from the Executive Team to individual departments.
• Oversaw the completion of more than 250 action plans based on survey feedback.
• Launched UI Health’s inaugural Engagement Palooza in August 2024, engaging over 800 employees in conversations about survey results and upcoming improvements.
• Continued to grow the Engagement Ambassador Program by creating a Teams site, bi-monthly newsletter, and quarterly calls to strengthen communication between frontline staff and leadership.
• Led or supported major engagement events such as Hospital Week, Holiday Events, and the Summer Party, coordinating the distribution of gifts to over 8,500 physicians and employees and serving more than 3,000 employees per live event.
• Supported all UI Health Recognition and Wellness programs, both in person and virtually, consistently offering ideas to enhance participation and impact.

Stacy is not only a steady and compassionate professional, but also a true connector—bridging departments, teams, and priorities in ways that strengthen our culture and keep people at the center of our work. Her contributions to DEI are equally impactful through her active involvement with the Committee for Anti-Racism and Equity (CARE), support of cultural and heritage month programming, distribution of Inclusion Calendars, and collaboration on refining DEI survey questions and helping leaders interpret and act on results.

Over the years, Stacy has brought insight, follow-through, and a genuine spirit of collaboration to every initiative we’ve shared. Her influence is evident in the many efforts that ensure our staff feel valued, supported, and heard.

January 2025

Jenae Sledge

Congratulations! You are a Class Act Award recipient!

The Class pct Award is presented to an employee who continuously contributes to the delivery of world class patient care, regularly shows good judgment and initiative, goes above and beyond performance expectations; is a role model, demonstrates a willingness to become more efficient and effective when providing patient care and consistently acts as a Role Model for UI CARE.

Here is a little of what your nomination said:

“Jenae Sledge plays a crucial role in facilitating timely approvals for diagnostic radiology services while ensuring compliance and efficient communication between providers, departments, and health insurance companies. Jenae acts as a primary point of contact whenever pending cases require additional attention or resolution due to complexity, denials or other issues.

Janae has been supporting Patient Access prior authorization team by demonstrating strong proficiency in navigating insurance and prior-authorization guidelines. Her commitment to continued improvement is evident in her proactive approach to staying updated with payer policy and departmental and hospital regulations.

Jenae always makes patients a priority and advocates for their needs. She treats patients the way she would want to be treated and acknowledges everyone's privacy at all times. Jenae knows that showing gratitude to our patients who entrust us with their care is our top priority here at UI Health.

While collaborating with Jenae, I noticed a strong sense of teamwork, as well as an awareness that for a team to function well, everyone is expected to be accountable for their work and stay on top of clearly defined goals. Janae has strong ties with existing practices and displays a capability to independently solve time sensitive and complex problems.

I reached out to Jenae to escalate two MRI cases that needed a peer-to-peer review. Jenae without hesitation assisted with patient’s prior-authorization concerns by arranging a case escalation review. She ensured that during a peer-to-peer discussion the provider presented clinical evidence and rationale supporting the necessity of the exam while also considering the cost-effectiveness and medical guidelines established by the insurance company.

I have supervised Jenae for the past 2 years, but before becoming her supervisor I worked with her when I was in Patient Access for over 5 years and during that time, she was my go-to person for all pending radiology exams that needed pre-authorizations. This could consist of having to file an appeal, schedule a peer to peer, contact patients to confirm their insurance. Jenae consistently goes above and beyond to assist the UIC demographic population in getting their exams approved.

Jenae has been with UIC for just over 8 years, and during those years Jenae is thrown different tasks throughout her day: emails, secure chats, referral messages, staff messages, and yes even text messages sometimes—and she handles it all like a champion. Jenae has also covered front desk operations, as well as other areas in Imaging and Diagnostic.

Whenever or whatever we ask of Jenae, she’s willing to assist the Radiology Department. Jenae respects her coworkers and is a team player. She is always professional, respectful, and willing to go above and beyond to help others. Jenae is stellar at what she does, and she does it with a smile on her face. I consider Jenae a true GEM and with no hesitation and with her soft-spoken voice she asks, “Is there anything I can help you with?”

Thank you, Jenae, for being an outstanding example of dedication, compassion, and excellence!