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This year’s recipient of the Employee Forum Community Award, also known as the Three Legged Stool Award, is Jackson Szeto from the Clinical Skills and Patient Simulation Center within the Office of Medical Education.


The Office of Medical Education is proud to announce the recipient of this year’s Three Legged Stool Award (also known as the Employee Forum Community Award) is Jackson Szeto from the Clinical Skills and Patient Simulation Center. This award “is designed to recognize distinguished contributions by individuals who work to promote cooperation and collaboration among faculty, staff, and students,” according to the UNC Employee Forum website.

The site goes on to note that “nominees should be individuals who inspired creativity; promote harmony and partnerships within the University community; inspire teamwork, cooperation and participation; demonstrate new approaches to current processes; encourage, mentor and build bridges; form alliances to work collectively; or any other significant community building activities.”

Staff in the Clinical Skills and Patient Simulation Center and the faculty who work with the Center to provide learning and assessment opportunities for a number of professional and graduate schools across UNC, were not at all surprised to learn of Jackson, who has been with the team for 8 years, winning this award earlier this summer.

“Jackson is the epitome of creativity and collaboration,” says Jackson’s supervisor, Julie Messina, Director of the Clinical Skills and Patient Simulation Center. “His joyful attitude and willingness to do whatever it takes to ensure that students and faculty have a positive experience when they come to our Center is an inspiration to all of us. He is a wonderful ambassador for the work that we do, and barely a week goes by when I don’t get an email or phone call to tell me how helpful Jackson has been.”

COVID and the rapid change to working from home were no match for Jackson as he was able to implement virtual events and assessments to ensure that the show could go on. He has tirelessly trained staff and developed materials for faculty and students to ensure that each virtual event is as seamless as events hosted in the Center.

“Jackson is the heart of the Center. I couldn’t think of a more worthy recipient of this prestigious award,” said Messina. Jackson joins Center coworker Jeff McQueen in receiving formal recognition by UNC for his work; Jeff was awarded the Erskine B. Bowles Staff Service Award in May 2019.