Getting to know you Bingo, indoor and outdoor patio games, bowling, raffles, a duck challenge, drinks, food and the Employee of Year announcement – just some of what was on tap Tuesday at the annual MGH Institute Employee Appreciation Day. This year, the event was held at Urban Wild in Charlestown. 

The IHP’s Employee of the Year was awarded to Carla Donati, Assistant Dean of Administration in the School of Nursing, who took home the $2,500 prize.

“I'm so excited!” exclaimed Donati, who said she had been nominated eight times previously. “This is totally unexpected. This is a really important place to me. And I'm so excited to be recognized for my hard work. I'm so thankful to all of the people who nominated me. It really means a lot that they put the work in to do that for me.”

A handful of nomination letters written on Donati’s behalf were shared with attendees, including one that read: 

“As Assistant Dean of Administration in the School of Nursing, Carla is the glue in our school, enhancing the efficiency and resources in our day-to-day operations. Carla's education and leadership are instrumental to our success in the School of Nursing.…Nothing is beneath Carla. She is the consummate team player who pitches in to ensure we meet our goals.”

President Paula Milone-Nuzzo told the staff and faculty gathered that the day was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate all that’s been accomplished over the academic year, while having some fun along the way. 

“Whether you are teaching students directly in the classroom or clinics, conducting research, or working behind the scenes ensuring our technology advances student learning, leading administrative services, or traveling the country to recruit our newest class,” said Milone-Nuzzo, “your contributions combined make us a great place to work, learn and serve.  I am so grateful to call each of you my colleague.”

IHP guests were treated to appetizers and lunch stations that featured sliders, waffle fries, a French bread pizza station, salad, and drinks. 

Along with the Employee of the Year announcements, the IHP Step Challenge winners were announced. During the four-week challenge, Physical Therapy Instructor Rebecca Pham came out on top with a total of 735,263 steps for a daily average of 26,259. In the team competition, Walking on Sunshine won with an aggregate total of 1,264,066 steps. Team members Val Grande, Megan Wilcox and Rachel Renaux averaged 15,048 steps per day.

The event also featured raffle prize winners, “Getting to Know You BINGO,” where employees were encouraged to find colleagues with traits that would enable them to fill in a box, and the Green Duck Challenge. At last year's Employee Appreciation Day, the ducks in the Duck Challenge were yellow but with the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals (and with the team clinching their 18th title Monday night), the ducks turned green. Guests were encouraged to guess how many of the miniature green ducks had been placed within the event space at Urban Wild. Callie Watkins Liu came the closest, guessing 56 ducks; there were 57 ducks placed, in honor of the Celtics' first championship in 1957.