Congratulations to Mary Beth Lamon, University of Maryland pediatrics division administrator; Deborah G. Badawi, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and behavioral-developmental pediatrician at the University of Maryland Children's Hospital; and Adam Spanier, MD, professor of pediatrics at UMSOM and division head of general pediatrics at the UM Children's Hospital.
These three leaders were recognized with the prestigious Patriot Award by the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), which serves to promote cooperation and understanding among service members and civilian employers. They were nominated by a citizen Navy reservist and former University of Maryland nurse practitioner for providing support and flexibility to her and her family so that she could participate in service duties while working at the UM Children's Hospital.
The Patriot Award reflects the efforts made to support citizen warriors through a wide range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families, and granting leaves of absence if needed. Michael Comeau, JD, a representative from the State of Maryland ESGR, presented these awards Oct. 14 to Lamon and Steven J. Czinn, MD, director of the UM Children's Hospital, who accepted on behalf of Badawi and Spanier.