Inaugural Genn Prize Rewards Excellence among Einstein Administrators

On Friday, October 19, 2012, a luncheon was held to honor the first-ever winners of the Genn Prize for Professional Development. Nancy Garcia, grant administrator for anatomy & structural biology; Najam Hayat, director of interactive media; and Hector Jimenez, unified administrator of epidemiology & population health each were awarded $2,000 toward their attendance at or participation in conferences or educational programs that can further their professional growth. The trio was selected from among 18 individuals who were nominated for the prize.

Through a generous endowment gift of $100,000, Emanuel "Manny" Genn, former associate dean for finance and administration, established the prize with his wife Myra, with the goal of aiding in developing skills, knowledge and other qualities that prepare administrative staff for career growth within the College of Medicine.

"I had thought about doing this for a long time," said Mr. Genn, who shared that he was a lifelong student who still enrolls in courses to further his own learning. "With the complexities of today's world, it's important to further your knowledge and capabilities. And, it's also important to recognize administrative staff members and have them be partners in the medical school's growth."

Using their prizes, Mr. Jimenez and Ms. Garcia will represent Einstein at the National Council of University Research Administrators, while Mr. Hayat will complete a certificate program focused on online content production. Each award recipient offered thanks to Mr. Genn and the award selection committee, comprised of Dr. Edward Burns, executive dean; Jed Shivers, associate dean for finance and administration and Yvonne Ramirez , chief human resources officer at Yeshiva University and Einstein. Each also spoke briefly about how the award will help them advance their knowledge and skills.

Ms. Ramirez noted, "Manny spent more than 36 years working tirelessly for the overall improvement and success of Einstein. The establishment of the Genn Prize is a wonderful idea that represents his commitment to Einstein, assuring its excellence going forward."

She added, "It's thanks to Manny's vision and hard work that Einstein is an exciting place to come to everyday. We're grateful to him and Myra for their ongoing support of Einstein."

The Genn Prize will be awarded annually to one or more management staff employees who demonstrate outstanding performance and commitment in improving the College of Medicine. To learn more about the prize, the level of support it will provide for professional development and how to apply, please visit the human resources website.