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When faced with challenges, hopefulness and gratitude are powerful choices that help us stay emotionally, mentally, and physically vibrant. Looking back on 2024, we have much to be grateful for with just a few highlights packed below. Above all, I am deeply thankful for the opportunity to continue serving you in meaningful ways.
- We are grateful for all our PAVIR employees and are thrilled about an 8th-peat! Despite ever-increasing insurance costs, we choose PAVIR employees by keeping employee contributions for health benefits the same for the 8th year in a row.
- In partnership with one of our medical plan carriers, Cigna, PAVIR's employee wellness initiative was another huge success. All employees enjoyed a fresh fruit and snack gift basket sent to their homes. Over 70 employees attended the Emotional Wellbeing webinar, and over 30 winners received a $30 Amazon gift card to support their wellness.
- We are gratified to have created opportunities for VA Palo Alto researchers to showcase their research at the Golden State Warriors Mental Health Awareness Night and Summer County Fairs and are studying how to do more of this next year.
- PAVIR was able to financially support common small equipment, FACS supplies, and repair of the laser scanning microscope as well as facilitate the diagnostic service for the repair of FACS sorters.
- We appreciate Dr. Jennifer Lee for providing from research space on the 4th floor of Bldg 101 and salute the Office of Facilities and Planning Department for outfitting us, enabling PAVIR to maintain physical presence on campus.
- We are proud of and grateful for our PAVIR Admin employees who are committed to serving alongside of you as they find ways to relieve administrative burden. Learn more about them below.
- We are thankful for and inspired by our researchers whose work not only advances Veteran and public health but also creates rewarding opportunities for PAVIR Admin to contribute to the mission.
Wishing you a healthy, joyous, and restful holiday season,
~Elaine
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We're Growing to Serve You
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 As part of PAVIR's succession planning, Mr. Patrick Richards joined PAVIR in October as our Associate Director of Finance and Operations. Patrick has a background in forensic accounting and has worked his way up through various roles at UC Berkeley's University Health Services and the School of Optometry to his most recent role as the Controller for Alexander Valley Healthcare where he streamlined processes, modernized policies and procedures, and secured grants and other funding to strengthen the organization's financial position. Patrick brings experience with developing and executing budgets ranging from $30-60M, managing and implementing major projects including leading audits and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software transitions, and applying intellectual curiosity to learning and problem solving. Patrick is passionate about cultivating partnerships and unifying efforts across teams. He is committed to continuous improvement, which fuels his curiosity about emerging tools like AI.
Patrick holds a Bachelor’s degree from North Park University in Chicago, a certificate of Financial Planning and Analysis from UC Berkeley Extension, and earned his Six Sigma Black Belt in 2023. He has an unofficial co-worker, a 9+ year old German Shepherd name Rizzo. Patrick loves Disney and on his first visit to Disneyland in 2019, he started a tiki mug collection which has grown to over 25 unique tiki mugs. Patrick telecommutes from Windsor, CA and you can reach him via e-mail at prichards@pavir.org or by phone at (650) 239-2809. |
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PAVIR Admin had two long-term employees retire in September. We are so grateful for their service and wish them a long and happy retirement.
- Luanne Scott had been in Purchasing since 2008
- Frances Merigan had been in Accounting since 2012
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Stepping into the big shoes left empty on Luanne Scott’s retirement, Marisela Diaz has been promoted to the role of Purchasing Supervisor, while retaining her Operations Specialist role, working on the Information Technology side of things. Marisela’s PAVIR career began in Purchasing in 2014. She worked in Contracts & Grants for many years and has now come full circle back to work alongside Anna Sasamoto in Purchasing.
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We are very happy to welcome back Julia Yu for her third stint in PAVIR Accounting. Julia has also worked with our sister organizations in San Diego and San Francisco after originally starting with PAVIR in 2000.
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Jenny Dao has been with PAVIR Accounting for more than 17 years in various roles starting as Accounts Payable Accountant, then Accounting Supervisor, Accounting Manager and has been promoted to Controller. Jenny manages Accounting staff and is responsible for PAVIR's single audits, cash management and projections, and recharge units’ activities. She participates in budget development and, along with Marisela, is an active member of PAVIR’s Fun Squad.
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PAVIR Admin Employee Spotlight
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JENNI SCHMIDT
Contract & Grant Analyst
PAVIR Birthday: May 10, 2022
PAVIR Superpower: Jumping into any situation to help move it along. "I try hard to build working relationships across the aisles at Stanford and VA and leverage those to move our mission ahead."
Favorite Food: her mom's southern cooking, delicious roast brussel sprouts with goat cheese and vinaigrette from local brewery
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Q: What is something you are grateful for?
A: I have a great, loving family and we have fun together!
Q: What did you want to be when you grew up?
A: I wanted to be a news anchor, fueled by elementary and middle school participation on the morning announcements. I never made it there, but have been on the news a few times because of my daughter (links here, video at top of page). Childhood Cancer Patients Day and One in a Million
Q: What is something most people don't know about you?
A: My daughter, Olivia, was unexpectedly born with a craniopharyngioma tumor on her pituitary gland. [She] had it resected at 3 weeks old and lives with panhypopituitarism. I plan on publishing a book one day about my journey as her mama and how I've found joy, meaning, and strength through some very difficult and scary times.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job at PAVIR?
A: I enjoy getting to know the individual Principal Investigators (PIs) and their science - I personally benefit from medical breakthroughs that have improved my daughter's quality of life...to be able to support that on behalf of others is inspiring and an honor.
Q: What is your most memorable moment at PAVIR advancing the mission?
A: The projections we used were not particularly helpful to one of our PIs. I met with them and they shared with me what they used the projections for. I was able to modify the tool for their successful use.
Jenni's supervisor says: "Jenni always has the best interests of PAVIR and its stakeholders in mind. She has a knack for process improvement and is always on the lookout for creating efficiencies...Jenni's positive attitude approachable demeanor, and drive to provide excellent customer service are key attributes that make her a standout PAVIR employee!"
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PAVIR now offers new CITI Program training courses available to all its employees through our affiliation with the National Association of Veterans’ Research and Education Foundations ( NAVREF). The CITI Program is widely recognized, with over 90% of research universities, academic affiliates, and many government and public sector organizations using it for education and training purposes to support the professional development of its employees. All courses are available at no cost and can be completed with the flexibility of your own schedule. Courses currently available include the following topics:
- Becoming an Effective Leader
- Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) Foundations Plus Advanced Series
- Conflict Management
- Essentials of Clinical Trial Budgets
- Essentials of Research Administration
- QA/QI Human Subjects Research
To learn more about the CITI Program and how to register, please contact Calvert Lee at clee@pavir.org. |
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2025 Application Deadline: January 30, 2025 (11:59 pm)
Program Dates: June 23 - August 15, 2025
PAVIR is in its third year of supporting the VA Research Pipeline via the Summer Research Program (SRP). Working together with VA Directors, a 5-year grant for a VA Office of Research & Development-funded was submitted and awarded!
- 8 week program
- Stipends
- Life Science: up to 40 hours per week, WOC required
- Health Science: up to 20 hours per week, remote/virtual
If you know an undergraduate student who is a US citizen, at least 18 years of age, and interested in learning more about Life Sciences, encourage them to check out our website to apply. If you are interested in serving as a mentor, email srp@pavir.org. Successful applicants will be matched to mentors based on experience and area of research interests. For the Health Sciences track, please contact Carla.Garcia2@va.gov.
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Flexible Spending Account Reminder
Employees who elected a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for 2024 should incur eligible expenses by 12/31/24 and submit receipts for incurred expenses by 3/31/25. Up to $640 of unused FSA funds will rollover to 2025, but these rollover funds will not be accessible until after the claim submission deadline. Any FSA balance exceeding $640 by 12/31/24 will be subject to the “Use It or Lose It” policy! Visit www.fsastore.com to spend down your FSA funds on eligible expenses if needed.
Tax Season is Coming!
Please make sure to update your address in ADP if you have moved so that we can send your W2 to your correct home address.
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2025 401 (k) Contribution Limit is Increasing!
Employee 401(k) contributions for 2025 will increase to $23,500 — a $500 increase from 2024. Employees aged 50 and older can contribute up to $31,000. To make changes to your elections register/log into The Standard.
Check Your Benefits
New benefits selections will take effect on January 1, 2025 for benefit eligible employees. Check your first paycheck of the year (January 7, 2025) to verify that your benefit withholdings are as you selected. Contact pavir@vitamail.com or hr@pavir.org with any questions.
Stanford Federal Credit Union
Exciting news! The Stanford Federal Credit Union is offering a holiday reward of $500 to new members who meet the requirements
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PAVIR employees are not on the same holiday schedule as VA or Stanford employees. The following are the year-end PAVIR holidays for PAVIR employees. Full-time employees will receive holiday pay.
Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Wednesday, December 25, 2024
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
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PAVIR Administrative Office Winter Closure
The PAVIR Administrative Office will be closed Monday, December 23, 2024 and will reopen on Monday, January 6, 2025. PAVIR Administrative Office staff are required to use accrued vacation for days not covered by the above holiday schedule. PAVIR Contracts & Grants, Operations, IT, Purchasing, Accounting, HR, and Leadership Staff will not be available.
- No requisitions or orders will be processed during this time
- No personnel or payroll actions, including hires and terminations, will be processed until after January 8, 2025.
- California law dictates that employees must receive their final paycheck on their last day of work. Termination dates during Winter Closure are therefore strongly discouraged as PIs may be subject to penalty pay requirements by the Department of Labor.
For assistance during the closure, please read below for contact information:
- For benefits questions or issues, please contact our benefits broker Vita:
- For emergencies that cannot wait for our return, such as a workplace injury or illness, please call Elaine Staats, CEO at (650) 239-2803 or Lisa Clark, HR Director at (650) 239-2804.
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