There is no doubt that the pandemic put a significant strain on the healthcare system and its providers. While best practice and exceptional patient care are the utmost priority, I am nominating Pauline not only for excelling in these areas but also for her unique understanding that the well-being of providers will inevitably trickle down to the care they provide to patients.

For the past three years, our interdisciplinary team has been overwhelmed by burnout, staff shortage, and constant changes in workflow. While many were privileged to work from home amid the pandemic, Pauline and her team showed up daily to care for patients struggling with persistent and acute mental health conditions.

Pauline cared for her team with the utmost compassion and provided support as they dealt with the uncertainty and ramifications of the pandemic. She ensured we were well fed, checked how we were coping, offered assistance when needed, provided emotional support, and assisted the team in establishing solution-focused strategies for the myriad of challenges we encountered.

When I think of the trauma, anxiety, and uncertainty associated with the pandemic, I will forever remember Pauline’s provision of CICARE and the admirable ways in which she took on challenges, cared for patients, and supported her team. UCLA Health is fortunate to have Pauline, and I speak for my team members when I say that her compassionate and thoughtful care makes all the difference.