Team assists coworker
June 7, 2023
A team of employees from across UVA came together to help a coworker in need
In early May, a team of UVA employees, including Facilities Management's Lester Jackson, assisted an employee in medical distress.
“[The incident] just confirms that I work around the best people in the world,” said Alice Mooney, project manager with the Department of Anesthesiology, now back at work and recovered from an incident where her blood pressure dropped dangerously low.
Jackson, elevator maintenance technician with the Elevator team, was walking down the hallway in the West Complex when he came across a group of staff members assisting Mooney, who had collapsed in her coworker Angie Powell's office.
Powell had frantically searched the unusually quiet hallways and happened upon a nurse, Lauren Woodberry, who was assisting Mooney when Department of Anesthesiology administrator John Gonnella arrived and Jackson happened to walk by the office.
“Seeing me laying on the ground and sensing the urgency, Lester searched the hallways for additional help and encountered Dr. Timothy Scialla, a doctor with the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, quickly directing him to the office to provide additional assistance,” said Mooney, who expressed her sincere appreciation to all of the team members who helped her that day.
“There were all these little angels in the hallway that day,” she said. “I've been here 30 years and I always say what keeps me here is the people.”
“Lester went out of his way on that day and subsequent days to check on me with my coworker and administrator. He is a gem!” said Mooney, who treated the Elevator team to donuts and shared a heartfelt card with Jackson.
“Ultimately, everybody is just trying to make it home each day,” said Jackson. “She was in a bad way and I wanted to do my part to make sure she would be OK.”
Do you know a Facilities Management coworker who went above and beyond at work? Nominate them for a Reward & Recognition award — a quick and easy way to professionally recognize your co-workers whose contributions make UVA a better place for students, faculty, researchers, patients and staff.
Jane Centofante
Communications senior generalist
UVA Facilities Management
(434) 982-5846
janecentofante@virginia.edu