The director of Central Materials Services is honored for her leadership in supporting clinical operations and her efforts to recognize and raise the profile of her team.
Louis DePaola, DDS, MS, has a nickname for April Daniel, MBA, MS, director of Central Materials Services (CMS) at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD).
“I call her Wonder Woman because when I or my colleagues need something done, we ask April to do it,” said DePaola, professor and associate dean of clinical affairs at UMSOD and Daniel’s supervisor. “And that’s the last we have to hear about it because we know it will get done, and it will get done properly.”
DePaola was speaking Nov. 17 during a hybrid celebration in which Daniel was surprised with news that she had been named the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) Employee of the Month of October. Several UMSOD colleagues gathered in a conference room at the school and others joined virtually — all to sing Daniel’s praises.
UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, led the ceremony via Zoom and commended Daniel for playing a critical role in support of UMSOD’s 11 dental clinics.
“I’ve read a lot about how you make CMS work well and that you carry that dental school on your back,” Jarrell said with a smile. “Your strength, leadership, and ability have come through really strongly. I want to compliment you on that and say it’s my pleasure to call you Employee of the Month.”
Mark A. Reynolds, DDS, PhD, MA, dean of UMSOD who was among the group in the conference room, said Daniel embodies UMB’s core values.
“The School of Dentistry is incredibly proud of April for her leadership and the respect that she garners from everyone she works with,” Reynolds said. “We thank April for all she does to make our school successful.”
Daniel supervises nearly 40 employees with CMS, which is responsible for five areas at UMSOD: the business office, clinical prep dispensary (dental instruments and medical supplies), preclinical prep dispensary (for the simulation lab), central sterilization of dental instruments, and the school store.
The latter is not a bookstore but a place for students to buy items they will need for their preclinical studies such as practice teeth and dental supplies. The store also supports the clinics with personal protective equipment and small consumables, which are single-use items used and disposed of during a procedure. It also sells items such as toothbrushes (to clinics, patients, and students) and toothpaste, floss, and Listerine (to clinics).
“April’s team handles the stocking of supplies across multiple floors, which requires a detailed understanding of clinic schedules and needs,” DePaola said in the Employee of the Month award nomination. “Before April’s leadership, dental assistants were responsible for stocking. Through her innovative and accountable approach, she restructured the process, improving reliability and freeing up clinical staff to focus on patient care.
“April leads a large and diverse team,” he added. “Her leadership is grounded in respect and compassion, and her team consistently reflects the trust and admiration they have for her. She fosters a culture of integrity and support where people feel heard and valued.”
Robert Windsor, DDS, FICD, director of clinical operations, UMSOD, also works closely with Daniel and said what resonates the most with him is how much she cares for her co-workers.
“April understands that fine line between being a friend and being a supervisor, which is a hard line sometimes,” Windsor said. “In talking to a lot of people who work with April, I can tell that their opinion of her is very high.”
Courtney Resnick, EdD, special assistant to the dean, said when a UMSOD group was looking for ways to recognize staff and thought about nominating a candidate for the UMB Employee of the Month honor, “April literally was the first person that came to everybody’s mind.”
“We are so appreciative of everything that April does,” Resnick added. “Some of us are new to the school, and she’s given all of us a tour of her space. She makes sure that all of her people are seen.”
In that vein, during UMSOD’s CMS Appreciation Week, Daniel had sweatshirts made up for her staff to wear that displayed the statement “CMS: Cultivating Mindful Synergy: Where Teamwork, Unity, Diversity, and Inclusion Thrive Together!” She also has started a CMS Employee of the Month honor to raise the profile of her team within the school.
“We take pictures of the winners and put them up on a board so that when people are walking by, they can see our faces and names and recognize who we are,” Daniel said.
Daniel was grateful for the UMB award and said she was “floating on Cloud 9” after receiving the news. She said she comes to work every day aiming to make UMSOD the best dental school it can be.
“My dedication is to my staff and definitely to the students — I’m here for them, and I aim to serve them and please them,” said Daniel, who will receive a certificate, letter of commendation, and an extra $250 in her next paycheck as rewards for the UMB honor. “I don’t do it for self-praise or recognition, but I definitely appreciate this honor.”