Employee Appreciation Day, 2025

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In a department as large as Internal Medicine, getting as many people together for one big celebration is a challenge, but one worth taking on every year.  Earlier this week more than half of the department’s nearly 1,500 members passed through the MERF Atrium to fill a plate with picnic-style burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, and watermelon. For dessert, attendees could build an ice cream sundae in a branded keepsake cup. (Shout-out to the hard-working ice-cream scoopers, Sherry Mattison, Hilary Humphrey, and Taryn Owens!) Surplus T-shirts from last year’s celebration were also available.

In addition, in a quieter reversal from last year’s performance by the College Street Brass Band, the silent antics of University of Iowa mascot Herky and UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital mascot Perky were on display. The athletic duo worked the room, posing for photos, stacking cups, and giving each other rides in carts.

Even if they did not take advantage of the Photo Booth, attendees still got a chance in their midday break to catch up with people they might not have seen in a while.

Over the course of a couple hours, nearly 750 people got to take a moment out of their work day to connect with colleagues, celebrate, and be celebrated by a department that is deeply appreciative for both the hard work they provide every day but also the friendship that comes with achieving shared goals. Thank you to everyone who attended and to those who were unable to make it because they were still deeply engaged with meeting the needs of Iowans.

Special thanks as well to this year’s planning committee for making Employee Appreciation Day a success.
Kaila Boothroy
Alyssa Conrad
Michaela Davis
Eileen Fürstenberg
Kristin Goedken
Hilary Humphrey
Trevor Jackson
Barb Jaeger
Sherry Mattison
Jack Oller
Jamie Paul
Nicole Strand