Smith, Hiserote and Harshbarger announced as Neurology Staff Employees of the Quarter

Jill Smith has exemplified the Department of Neurology’s vision to transform and improve the lives of people affected by neurological conditions through her exceptional dedication to patient care and program leadership. Over this quarter, Jill worked diligently to help many patients with movement disorders navigate complex challenges related to medications, disease progression, and the technology used in deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy. Her compassion and persistence ensured that patients received timely, coordinated support even in the face of logistical and clinical barriers. Beyond her direct patient care, Jill played a crucial role in advancing our subcutaneous levodopa program. She took the initiative to create a patient tracking database, preventing patients from being lost to follow-up during a period of staffing transition. Her advocacy helped patients access this important therapy when institutional continuity was at risk. Jill has been a steady presence and a leader within our program — embodying our departmental missions by fostering a community of belonging, delivering outstanding and compassionate care, and helping our team innovate in how we support patients living with complex neurological diseases.

Alyssa has been a valued and dedicated member of the Stroke Team for over two years, and during that time, she has consistently demonstrated the qualities that make her an outstanding colleague and team player. Alyssa is hard-working, reliable, and efficient—qualities that make a significant difference in a clinical research environment. She has a remarkable ability to anticipate needs and frequently completes tasks before I (her manager) even have the chance to ask. Her proactive approach and attention to detail are truly invaluable to the team. In her role, Alyssa has built meaningful rapport with her study patients, showing empathy, professionalism, and a personal touch that doesn’t go unnoticed. Over the past year, she has grown tremendously in her responsibilities and continues to make impressive strides in her professional development. Beyond her work performance, Alyssa contributes to our team culture in wonderful ways. She is an excellent chef and regularly brings delicious meals to our stroke section parties—something everyone looks forward to. Her sense of humor and positive attitude bring joy to our workdays, and she is often the first person to share a laugh or lift someone’s spirits when needed. Alyssa embodies the spirit of teamwork, initiative, and compassion. For all these reasons and more, she is incredibly deserving of this recognition.

A.J. is a fantastic pre-award grant specialist. He makes the complicated process of submitting grants so much easier. He is well organized, understands and can explain the details of funding announcements, and keeps all the documents and deadlines on track. The best part about A.J. is that while he is being really helpful with the grant process, he does it with a positive, upbeat attitude. I have personally seen A.J. go the extra mile to work out a complicated budget for us and he takes extra efforts to ensure we meet grant deadlines. He’s dedicated to helping us submit the best possible proposals. We have great trust in his guidance and we really appreciate all of his efforts.