Celebrating 35 Years of Service

Catherine Carswell-Crumpton

Department: Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine

For 35 years, Cathy has been an integral part of the Stanford community. Throughout this time, from bench Research Assistant, to her current Operations Manager position, flow cytometry instrumentation support has been her hallmark. In the early days of cytometry, Cathy managed the Stanford Biological Science Department Cytometry Facility. As the technology grew and matured, fueled by the advances in the Herzenberg lab, Cathy eventually transitioned to an operations management position within the growing Shared FACS facility that grew out of that lab. For the past 11 years, she has been a mainstay in this shared resource facility, overseeing operation and technical supervision of a wide assortment of flow cytometry analyzers and instruments.  Currently, in addition to assisting in grant application and facility administrative support, and providing oversight for facility Biosafety, she oversees operation of 14+ instruments.  Arguably, however, her most important role is the guidance and training she provides for hundreds of clinicians, researchers, and students who utilize the FACS facility instrumentation. Throughout more than three decades of teaching instrument hardware, software, experimental design, troubleshooting, and analysis, Cathy has maintained a hands-on, student-first approach. She provides users with 1-on-1 instruction, and constantly seeks to learn the nuances of the broad research applications that come through the facility. Congratulations on your 35 years - the Stanford flow community is so fortunate to have you!

Lisa Joo

Department: Office of Academic Affairs

"Lisa Joo is an institutional treasure and has been an indispensable resource for whomever she has served throughout her career -- no fewer than four Senior Associate and Vice Deans over the years. As faculty leaders, we have come and gone -- but she has not -- remaining unassuming, self-effacing, and loyal, with a comprehensive knowledge of the School of Medicine, its faculty and staff. She is quite simply the best!" -David Stevenson

Lisa Joo’s first position in the School of Medicine was as a secretary for Dr. Robert Cutler, then Associate Dean for Medical Education and later Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs under Deans Dominick Purpura and David Korn. She participated in the creation of the Stanford Medical Student Research Symposium, now in its 35^th year, and in the administration of the Alwin C. Rambar-James B.D. Mark faculty award, which she still administers.

Over the past 35 years, Lisa has worked in many different locations, moving mostly between Alway, MSOB and LKSC, but has always supported Faculty Affairs. Dr. Richard Popp succeeded Dr. Cutler as Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and was also president of the American College of Cardiology during that time, affording Lisa the opportunity to support that role as well.

“Lisa Joo is a true professional who is always effective at finding solutions for even the most complex and difficult problems. Her integrity and reliability have been evident over her long career dealing with so many faculty issues and advising the Deans on delicate matters. Lisa’s kindness, positive attitude and genuine caring for everyone she interacts with go beyond her professional side. She is a lovely role model integrating the personal and professional parts of her life. It is truly my pleasure to have worked with Lisa during my years in the Dean’s office and to continue to be her friend.” –Richard Popp

Then followed Dr. David Stevenson, and five years ago, Vice Dean Linda Boxer.

“Lisa is an incredibly valuable member of the both the OAA and the Dean’s suite teams.  She always has a positive outlook and can-do attitude, and she is readily available to help others. It has been my pleasure to work with Lisa over the past five years, and she has made my job much easier with all that she does for me.” –Linda Boxer

Students have become faculty: Jim Brooks, one of the early participants in the Medical Student Research Symposium, is now an Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs. Lisa says the time has gone by so fast and has been so much fun. She loves reading about “these people doing such amazing things for medicine” and is proud to be part of it. We in OAA are proud and grateful that she is a part of it also!

Elizabeth Pope

Department: Cardiothoracic Surgery

Liz Pope has grown up in the Stanford University family. Her Father was an initial employee at SLAC, and at his retirement in 1989, was then the longest active employee at the facility. Liz was born at Stanford Hospital, and graduated from the University. She began working at Stanford Medical School in 1981. She first came to work in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery in 1985. She has now provided administrative support for a series of Cardiac Surgeons, all of whom have had busy clinical, research and teaching responsibilities, including support for Dr. Reitz, Departmental Chair from 1992 to 2005. She brightened the day’s work through the many years from Dr. Shumway’s leadership to that currently of Dr. Woo.

Throughout these many years, through innumerable changes in medical practice, and increasing complexity in administrative processes, she has been outstanding in everything she does. She is always poised, proficient, and with exceptional attention to detail. She is especially kind to patients and families, and the others in the Department. She is loyal and dedicated to making the Department as good as it can be.

Thank you, Liz, for everything you have done, and will do, to enhance the lives of all you come in contact with in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Janina Saryusz-Romiszewski

Department: Radiation Oncology

Janina Saryusz-Romiszewski is an essential member of our Radiation Oncology team. As the sole glassware washer for our department, Janina is always very punctual and mindful of the lab members’ needs. Janina arrives every day with a smile and ready to work. She is reliable, and we all know we can count on Janina to go above and beyond the needs of service. Janina joined the University in 1982 and has provided exemplary service since her start. She learned new techniques to grow in her role, accommodates to changes well, and is always willing to help others within the glassware facility. It has been a pleasure to have her on our team for all of these years.

Rosario Villacorta

Department: Medicine

Rosario Villacorta is an exceptional member of the Stanford Staff, and this marks her 35th year at Stanford University. Rosario grew up in Mexico, received undergraduate and graduate training as an educator, moved to the United States in the early 1980s, and began working at Stanford University in 1982. She initially worked as an account assistant in the Controller’s office. In 1990, she transferred to the School of Medicine, where she transitioned from accounting to the support of medical investigation and research. She was able to utilize her bilingual skills, prior training as a teacher, and knowledge of malaria surveillance to assist Dr. Julie Parsonnet and the late Dr. Paul Basch in their investigations of infectious diseases.

In 2004, she moved to the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology where she has been instrumental in supporting the clinical research program of Dr. Mark Genovese, overseeing both NIH and Industry sponsored clinical studies, working directly with patients and supporting regulatory aspects of these studies. In her role in our research group, Rosario has run the daily operations of multiple, simultaneous clinical trials. This complex operation requires her to be efficient with her time, organized, proactive, independent, detail-oriented, and thorough. As important as these qualities are, it is her ability to problem solve, and to negotiate with a number of organizations which have seemingly disparate agendas - including the FDA, the NIH, biomedical industry sponsors and pharmaceutical companies, clinical research organizations, and patients – that have made her so valuable in her role. The mere fact that she is able to effectively interact with various members of the Stanford Hospital, Medical School, and University are a testament to her perseverance and her adaptability.

She has further utilized her unique skill sets to increase Hispanic participation in clinical research into new therapeutics in arthritis. She has also served as a preceptor/mentor in the School of Medicine and the UCSC-extension Clinical trials certificate preceptor program. Her unique abilities have made the difference in the delivery of cutting edge treatment to hundreds of patients, and it has been an absolute pleasure to have her as part of the team.

Rosario is a poised, mature, unassuming individual, with a strong work ethic and the ability not only to thrive, but to excel in time-intensive, stressful situations. Her dedication to her family, community, and work have made her an outstanding individual, and an indispensable colleague.

Valerie Williams

Department: Medicine

Valerie (Val) Williams has been part of the Stanford community for thirty-five years. Val began her Stanford career in 1982 as a Unit Secretary in the Orthopedic Unit at Stanford Hospital. She later transferred to the School of Medicine. In 2001, Val was hired as an administrative associate in the Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. During her time with the division, Val was nominated and awarded the 2003 Spirit award. As she progressed in her career, Val was promoted to Associate Facilities Manager for the Department of Medicine. She has been in this role for the past 11 years. Her duties include managing day-to-day facilities issues in 180,000 square feet of space, manages the space certification process, continuously working on renovation projects and oversees one of the largest capital equipment inventories at Stanford. (With 100% accuracy found.)

When tackling any problems or issues, her positive attitude stands out and quickly helps to ease the situation. Valerie does whatever it takes to get the job done! And does it with a smile!

Congratulations Valerie (Val) on 35 years of outstanding Service! The Department of Medicine and I are lucky to have such a dedicated and thoughtful employee.

Reese Zasio

Department: Veterinary Service Center

Reese Zasio joined Stanford in October 1982 with the Department of Comparative Medicine led by Dr. Linda Cork. He started in the Division of Lab Animal Medicine as an Animal Caretaker.  Six months later, he was promoted and began providing direct daily husbandry for research animals as an Animal Care Technician. In 1985, Reese became an acting Animal Care Supervisor, overseeing about 10 animal care assistants. In 1986, he was named an Animal Care Supervisor and also took responsibility for a new centralized vivarium known as the Research Animal Facility (RAF).

Over the decades, he has helped over 500 different Principal Investigators. As the animal research program grew in size and reputation, Reese’s career ascended and he became the Operations Manager from 1990 through 2013. In 1998, Reese helped the VSC and research community adopt a sophisticated activity-based cost methodology to ensure federal and regulatory standards of cost-recovery were equitably conventionalized. His accomplishments are many, in 2003 he received the School of Medicine Spirit Award for outstanding dedication, initiative, motivation, positive attitude and customer service.  He was also named the 29^th winner of the 2009 Marsh O'Neill Award, which honors staff members who have made outstanding contributions to Stanford's research mission.

As the animal research program grew from 11 vivariums to 21 facilities, Reese’s career grew, as well. He was again promoted by Department Chair, Dr. Sherril Green, as the VSC’s first Associate Director of Facilities Planning in 2014. He was and has been absolutely instrumental for all new and existing facility planning and design of Stanford’s research vivariums. Reese’s leadership and approach has woven the highest quality, standards, and regulatory requirements of animal care through intelligent design within each project, clearly demonstrating that the facility planning also assured affordable ongoing total-cost-of-ownership and efficient facility layout for effective vivarium operations.

Because of his wealth of knowledge, logic, historical memory, and collaborative nature, Reese is known as the VSC’s very own “oracle” or “go to” person because he is always able to help solve the various challenges of management, equipment, space design and animal welfare – all with the goal of delivering the highest quality service to the research community of Stanford. As commented by a nominator in his Marsh O’Neil award, Reese “routinely finds creative solutions to complicated problems when no one else seems able to find a way."

With our gratitude and congratulations, Reese brings great credit upon himself, the Department of Comparative Medicine, and Stanford University in general.