Employee Celebration honors nation’s 250th birthday
Flags, patriotic pinwheels and all manner of red, white and blue served as decor for the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine’s (WVSOM) Employee Celebration, which paid tribute to the United States’ upcoming 250th birthday. The event’s theme for 2026 was “Celebrating Service, Honoring America,” with school administrators praising faculty and staff for contributing to something larger than themselves in the same spirit that built the nation.
During the June 12 celebration, hosted by the school’s Office of Human Resources, WVSOM distributed 17 awards in six categories and recognized new retirees.
James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., WVSOM’s president, commended employees and retirees for their service to medical students and for a consistent willingness to exceed expectations to help their colleagues.
“We’re in the business of producing quality osteopathic physicians, and we do it at a very high level. Each of you is a part of that. I hope you feel how important that work is,” Nemitz said. “We all know that medical education is not an easy road. You help us by not only taking care of our students but also taking care of each other. This is what makes WVSOM such a great place.”
The event recognized seven retirees: Jimmy Adams, D.O., Druann Dalton, Debra Hanson, Kim LaBrie, Art Rubin, D.O., Kevin Williams and Betty Wingler.
The President’s Outstanding Employee Award, given annually to employees identified by WVSOM faculty and staff as outstanding employees for the current academic year, recognizes exceptional and dedicated service to WVSOM. Ten employees were nominated. They were Chad Burns, Tiffany Burns, Marina Diioia, Ph.D., Brian Griffith, Ph.D., Marietta Harvey, Kathy Hoke, Shelden Mullens, Jake Neumann, Ph.D., Jason Thomas and Katie Williams, Ph.D. This year’s winners were Brian Griffith, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, and Katie Williams, Ph.D., WVSOM’s senior director of academic technology and faculty development.
Gail Swarm, D.O., WVSOM’s chief academic officer, presented the President’s Award of Excellence for Faculty Achievement to two faculty members, Cameron Felty, D.O., and Matthew Williams, Ph.D. The award is presented each year to faculty members in recognition of excellence in teaching and commitment to osteopathic medical education.
The Living Our Mission Award recognizes WVSOM staff who exemplify professional excellence, an understanding of and commitment to WVSOM, and a commitment to achieving the school’s mission. This year’s winners were Jennifer Freeman, Joel Hayes, Mark Hinson, Jesse Jones, Jonathan Mabry, Donette Mizia, Jaina Perry, Amber Reed, Charity Richmond and Dawn Thomas.
The Statewide Campus Pride Award recognizes employees in WVSOM’s seven Statewide Campus regions who go above and beyond in their service to the school and its students. Michael Rader, an administrative assistant in the South Central Region of the Statewide Campus, was this year’s recipient.
The Gwen Clingman Heart of Gold Award celebrates the life and legacy of the late community member Gwen Clingman, who supported students by providing meals from her Lewisburg restaurant and offering mentorship and emotional encouragement. Honorees are recognized for their unwavering dedication, professionalism and ability to foster connection across the institution. This year’s winner was Brian Griffith, Ph.D.
The Rising Star Award honors a newly hired employee who has already demonstrated a strong commitment to WVSOM, an understanding of how their position supports the school’s mission and a commitment to working with others to engage the school’s future. This year’s winner was Gregory Perry, WVSOM’s director of facilities and construction services.
The celebration also recognized employees for years of service in five-year increments. WVSOM recognized nine employees who achieved 15 years of service as of June 2026 and 12 employees who achieved 20 years of service. Amber Cobb, assistant manager of the Campus Store, andShannon Warren, executive director of alumni relations, have worked at WVSOM for 30 years. Deborah Montgomery, associate director of financial aid, has completed 35 years.
Additionally, WVSOM recognized Drema Hill, Ph.D., for providing 30 years of service to the state of West Virginia, including WVSOM and other state agencies, and Evonne Richards and Wes Ward, each with 20 years of state service.
Three faculty members received tenure. They were Mark Waddell, D.O., Matthew Williams, Ph.D., and Christopher Wood, D.O.
WVSOM currently employs 312 people.