For administrative professionals, keeping a department or office running smoothly during routine days and stressful weeks may seem like simply a part of the job. But three City of Hope staff members recently were recognized for administrative efforts that proved especially vital to the institution’s work.

Peggy Diller, left, congratulates award-winner Irene Samudio, right, to the delight of Debbie Gac of the Department of Human Resources. (Photo by p.cunningham)

Irene Samudio, Maren Spolum and Debbie Millstine were the top three honorees in the 2009 “Excellence in Action” awards program, cosponsored by the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) and City of Hope. The awards, announced at the IAAP annual luncheon April 23, recognize and honor administrative professionals who excel at supporting City of Hope’s mission and values.

“Our first awards program was a huge success,” said Becky Andrews, president of City of Hope’s IAAP chapter, who led the project with Amy Stillings-Farris, the group’s vice president. “The large number of nominations we received shows how important administrative professionals are to our organization.”

Samudio, secretary in the Quality, Risk and Regulatory Management Department, received the top award as Administrative Professional of the Year. Samudio garnered praise for organizing and staffing a command center during a critical accreditation survey by the Joint Commission in November 2008. Co-workers also noted her resourcefulness, professional manner, powerful communication skills and excellent customer service. Samudio also was honored for her initiative in improving her skills and sharing learning with others in her department.

Spolum, meanwhile, earned second place in the program. She coordinates the Advocating for Clinical Excellence Project within the Division of Nursing Research and Education, including handling details for 75 course attendees from across the nation. Spolum first joined City of Hope through the Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy and regularly mentors high school students in the division.

The program’s third-place winner, Debbie Millstine, was honored for her initiative and leadership. Millstine, at the time a senior secretary for the Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Program Quality Management Council, conducted research to improve the timeliness of protocol submissions for her department, and was praised for helping her department win accreditation from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy, among other contributions.

Five judges determined the administrative professional of the year based on demonstrated achievements in desired City of Hope competencies and values, such as the ability to communicate clearly and constructively, pursuit of ways to improve quality and safety, contributions to patient care and research and leadership qualities.

The three winners split a monetary prize; Samudio also will receive a dedicated parking spot for a year.