Eye Center Team Leaves No Pin Standing at Holiday Celebration

The UMass Memorial Eye Center team gathered Friday, December 16, for its annual holiday celebration at Apex Entertainment in Marlborough. A bit different than in past years, by popular demand the team chose to go bowling. Bringing the team together outside of work is just another example of how Shlomit Schaal, MD, PhD, MHCM, Professor and Chair of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at UMass Memorial Health and UMass Chan Medical School, and President, UMass Memorial Medical Group, acknowledges and shows appreciation for her team, and the camaraderie among the team is apparent.

After indulging in a full spread of pizzas, sliders and a nacho bar, Dr Schaal presented the 2022 awards for outstanding service in promoting the mission of Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences. The following individuals were recognized:

Award for Outstanding Idea Board Leadership

• 1st - Katherine Ribeiro, MBA
• 2nd - Manisha Anand, MBA
• 3rd - Sherri Granger

Award of Excellence:

• Zorangly Baez
• Jodie Grady
• Shalese Harris
• Firas Kassira, OD
• Jason Mctigue
• Kathy Mshooshian
• Lori Murnane

It was then time for bowling and more than 50 in attendance took to the lanes. With large screens above the lanes tracking scores, one staffer remarked how the technology in keeping score has changed since the days of bowling as a young child. Ophthalmic technician David Rivera came out on top with a score of 141 and when asked about his winning night he said, “No child can defeat the Grinch,” referencing his loving nickname at the Eye Center. Second and third place went to fourth-year resident Omar Abdelmegid and researcher Michelle Cheng

“I am so grateful to work alongside such incredibly fun people at the Eye Center who genuinely care about one another. I had such a great time talking, eating, celebrating and learning to bowl with everyone! It was a wonderful evening and I’m so appreciative that I could spend time with my amazing team members away from the office,” said Dr. Schaal.

Unfortunately, Covid kept some folks away, but a fun night was had by all.

Congratulations to all the awardees!