The Board of Regents is pleased to present a KUDOS award to Diane Pickering, manager of the Human Genetics Laboratory at University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Munroe-Meyer Institute, where Diane oversees the quality management and safety programs in the clinical laboratory for nearly 60 individuals.
“Diane is a natural leader…and has been instrumental in implementing numerous quality improvement processes to ensure a compliant and safe work environment for our staff and the patients that we serve,” says her nominator, Dr. Jennifer Sanmann.
According to Dr. Sanmann, laboratory genetic medicine is continually evolving, and Diane is always ready to transform a challenge, process, or system to meet new demands. “She constantly approaches challenges from a ‘how can we’ perspective, which stimulates new ideas and encourages the team to think broadly and positively in pursuit of solutions.”
Diane has implemented mock internal safety drills and report error tracking spreadsheets in the realm of compliance and safety, and was instrumental in ensuring that the Human Genetics Laboratory passed its biennial credentialing inspection with no deficiencies.
In addition, Diane serves on the planning committee for Walk and Roll for Disabilities, which raises money to support adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Over her 30+ years at MMI, she has supported numerous MMI-related events, including Step Up for Down Syndrome, Light the Bob Blue for Autism, and WalkRite for RiteCare.
This past year, Diane made a particular commitment to an individual, facilitating his participation in Project Search, a workplace immersion training program that helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities learn the necessary job skills to become competitively employed. This effort identified ways that this individual could assist in the Human Genetics Laboratory, fulfilling his dream of working in genetics. Said Dr. Sanmann: “Without Diane's commitment and foresight, this connection might not have been made.”
Today, Diane is accompanied by Director Jennifer Sanmann and Michelle Hess, Manager of the lab. Please join me in thanking Diane for her leadership, contributions and dedicated service to the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Regent Phares; Michelle Hess, Lab Manager; Diane Pickering, recipient; Chancellor Gold; Interim President Fritz; Director Jennifer Sanmann;