May 4, 2007

Pamela J. Ellis Award honors administrative excellence

"Choosing a winner among winners" is how George Baker, MD, of the Bulfinch Medical Group, described the selection process for the 2007 Pamela J. Ellis Memorial Secretarial Award presented at a special luncheon held April 25 to honor and thank MGH administrative assistants. Baker joined Peter L. Slavin, MD, MGH president; Jeff Davis, senior vice president for Human Resources; and 2006 winner Marie Doland of the Department of Surgery, to present the 10th annual award to Margaret "Margo" Johnson, administrative assistant for the Adolescent and Pediatric Medicine Unit of the MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center.

Given annually to a member of the MGH support staff in recognition of National Administrative Professionals' Day, the award was named in honor of Pamela J. Ellis, an executive secretary at the MGH who died in October 1996 at the age of 31. The $1,000 award was established in 1997 to honor employees who exhibit the same dedication, strong work ethic and commitment to excellence demonstrated by Ellis.

Described by those who nominated her as "a pleasure to work with" and "a dedicated professional," Johnson's contributions to the MGH community extend beyond her job performance. For 11 years, she has volunteered with MGH Chelsea's Reach Out and Read program, which promotes early literacy by giving books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading with their children. Johnson also is involved with other literacy programs in her community. When asked if she is ever overwhelmed by these commitments in addition to her administrative duties at the MGH, she replies, "I really don"t mind the extra work
if it means helping someone else. The most rewarding part is seeing the smile on a child's face when they receive a book."

Johnson was selected as this year's winner from a list of 67 nominees whose names will be included on a framed honor roll, displayed along with the Pamela J. Ellis Award plaque on the Employee Wall of Recognition on the first floor of the Ellison Building.

Slavin presents the award to Johnson.