About UI Health

Of the Year Award Recipients

Congratulations to Our Recipients!

It is with great pleasure that UI Health recognizes the people who have been selected as recipients of our 2025 annual awards!

2025 UI Health Award Recipients

UI Health annual award recipients put patients first in all encounters; consistently contribute to the delivery of world-class care; are great inspirations to their colleagues; and personify our core values of Inclusion, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence.

Employee of the Year

Tyrell Funkhouser, OTR/L, CHT, MBA
Occupational Therapist — Occupational Therapy

Ty exemplifies the very best of UI Health’s values and mission-driven culture. He is the kind of employee every leader wishes for — dependable, driven, compassionate, innovative, and genuinely devoted to patients, peers, and the success of the department. He is a thoughtful and intentional clinician who puts patients first in every interaction. He actively contributes to improving operations and team functionality, and he demonstrates UI Health’s Mission-Drive As One ethos by continually supporting students, new staff, and colleagues. He shares knowledge generously with his peers. He is seen as a clinical expert, especially in shoulder rehabilitation and hand therapy, where he is often specifically requested by physicians. His chart audits reflect the high quality of his work, and his teammates consistently seek his insight and mentorship. Ty also exemplifies compassion, inclusion, and respect in the way he treats everyone he works with. He responds promptly and politely to emails, often with sincere words of thanks. He shows appreciation with personalized thank-you cards to coordinators and leadership — thoughtful gestures that truly leave a lasting impression. He is also quick to lift his colleagues with “shout-outs” and recognitions when he sees them going above and beyond. Ty is a remarkable therapist, colleague, and person. He embodies every aspect of UI Health’s ICARE values and models the type of professional we want representing our health system. His contributions span clinical care, education, safety, innovation, and team culture, and he does it all with grace and humility. 

Advanced Practice Provider of the Year

Marta Semeyn, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Cardiothoracic Surgery

Marta Semeyn is the embodiment of excellence in patient care, education, and leadership, consistently demonstrating the ICARE values that define our institution. She is the face of the Cardiothoracic Surgery team — serving not only as a clinical expert but also as a trusted liaison for our Cardiology team and a leader among advanced practice providers. Marta’s technical skills are exceptional; her precision and poise in the operating room have earned widespread respect from her surgical colleagues, and she is equally adept in the clinic and on the floors — managing consults, guiding complex treatment plans, and bridging cardiac and thoracic surgical care with impressive clinical judgment. Her leadership style is inclusive, collaborative, and mission-driven. She has led quality improvement initiatives that have reduced readmissions and postoperative infections, and her advocacy for best practices and resource stewardship ensures that exceptional care is delivered efficiently and equitably. What truly distinguishes Marta, however, is her unwavering dedication to patients. She is the very definition of a class act. Her professionalism, integrity, and unwavering commitment to excellence make her not only an asset to the Cardiothoracic Surgery team but a role model across UI Health.

Resident of the Year

Chelsea Herbert, DO
Internal Medicine

Dr. Chelsea Herbert’s clinical excellence, visionary leadership, and steadfast commitment to UI Health’s ICARE values have enriched our institution and the communities we serve. Her patient-centered approach is evident on every rotation. Whether managing complex ICU cases or leading inpatient wards, she tailors teaching and care plans that respect each patient’s cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic context. Dr. Herbert led the sizeable efforts to establish a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council within the Internal Medicine Residency Program, first serving as the inaugural chair before transitioning into the DEI Chief Resident role, in which she will develop initiatives that promote synergy between the residents and faculty and further promote a culture of equity and inclusiveness in our learning environments. Through Dr. Herbert’s global health work in Zambia, she formed a partnership with Lusaka Zambia University Teaching Hospital in Zambia, developing a recurring interactive lecture series where IM residents teach Lusaka students. Between all of these active projects, Chelsea has also served as a mentor and sounding board for many residents of the internal medicine program regarding concerns of inequity and well-being. As a nonjudgmental listener and advocate for her colleagues, she has organically fostered an environment of welcomeness and inclusivity within the program as well. Dr. Herbert is a humble, mature, resilient, emotionally intelligent, and humanistic physician who tirelessly advocates for all patients and trainees she encounters.

Physician of the Year

Sarah Messmer, MD
Medicine/Pediatrics

Dr. Sarah Messmer is a visionary clinician, a dynamic educator, a trailblazing researcher, and an unyielding advocate for marginalized populations. Her work embodies the mission of UI Health, blending clinical excellence with compassionate service, innovative scholarship, and a tireless commitment to health equity.

In Pediatrics, she has transformed the care landscape for immigrant and refugee children. Her leadership in the pediatric global health track, and the development of a dedicated medical home for unaccompanied minors under the National Youth Advocate Program, has brought timely, trauma-informed care to numerous children. Her mentorship of residents has cultivated new leaders in global health and resulted in the creation of institution-wide training curricula. With the Mobile Migrant Health Team, she mentors students undertaking needs assessments and advocacy projects for migrant families and LGBTQIA+ individuals. These initiatives exemplify Dr. Messmer’s ability to empower the next generation of physician-advocates while strategically expanding access to developmentally supportive, community-centered care. She provides critical services and is building sustainable models of care that elevate entire communities.

Dr. Messmer is, without question, a rare and invaluable asset to UI Health. Her breadth of expertise, depth of compassion, and clarity of vision are unparalleled. She does not merely do the work, she elevates it. She does not simply serve patients, she transforms systems on their behalf.

Joseph V. Abraham Leadership Award

Monique Long
Mammography Technologist — Radiology

Monique Long is an outstanding technologist whose professionalism, compassion, and commitment to excellence consistently elevate the standard of care in our department. Monique she has consistently shown inclusion, compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence in all that she does. As a highly skilled and dedicated mammography technologist, Monique demonstrates excellence in her technical work and has proven to be an exceptional leader, mentor, and advocate for patients and staff alike. Her technical expertise in mammography is second to none; she is meticulous in her approach to imaging, ensuring the highest quality standards and the safety and comfort of every patient. What truly sets Monique apart is her unwavering dedication to patient comfort and well-being. She takes the time to listen, reassure, and advocate for patients, making what can be a stressful experience feel more manageable. Her empathy and attentiveness leave a lasting impression on both patients and their families. Her ability to communicate complex procedures with patients, alleviating their anxieties and explaining the importance of early detection, speaks volumes about her empathy and commitment to patient care. Monique’s exceptional skill, deep compassion, and team spirit have not only improved patient care but also strengthened the culture of our department.

NEW AWARD: Program Coordinator of the Year

Karolina Marczewski, MS
Emergency Medicine

Karolina Marczewski is more than a program coordinator — she is the essence of our residency program! If you ask our residents who has the biggest positive impact on their residency experience, hands down you will hear them say Karolina. As the sole coordinator for both the Emergency Medicine and combined Emergency/Internal Medicine (EM/IM) residency programs, she is consistently proactive in keeping EM/IM residents informed, ensuring residents have  access to all necessary resources and are able to navigate unique ACGME requirements with efficiency and clarity. She has become a lifeline for many residents, whether it’s someone to talk to after a bad shift, or to remind them “this licensing form is overdue.” One of Karolina’s greatest strengths as a program coordinator is her accessibility. She is consistently available, responsive, and easy to approach, whether by email, phone, or in person. This level of openness creates a reliable point of contact for residents and faculty alike. Her responsiveness not only reflects her dedication but also makes the complex day-to-day logistics of residency training run far more smoothly. She creates a welcoming and supportive environment for our residents, ensuring that every individual feels seen, heard, and valued. Whether she is guiding a new intern through the complexities of onboarding or supporting a resident through a personal or professional challenge, Karolina’s ability to connect with people from all backgrounds and foster a sense of belonging is one of her most remarkable qualities. In a role that is often behind the scenes, Karolina is the steady hand that keeps our programs thriving.