2025 Barb Gonnella Award recipient: Marissa Ryan

New York Presbyterian Hospital - Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Marissa has been in her current role for about one year now and has shown a remarkable impact on the team’s morale through her ability to inspire and guide her team, fostering an environment of collaboration, accountability, and creativity. Her leadership and innovative approach have consistently produced outstanding results in our laboratory. She consistently navigates complex challenges with a calm, focused demeanor, and her decision-making reflects a deep understanding of both short-term goals and long-term vision. Her ability to mentor others and empower them to succeed is one of her most remarkable qualities. She leads by example, always willing to roll up her sleeves and support her team members in achieving collective success. In addition to her leadership abilities, Marissa is a true innovator. She continually seeks out new and better ways to approach problems and improve processes in our laboratory. Her forward-thinking mindset and willingness to take calculated risks have led to the successful implementation of several new initiatives that have significantly enhanced the efficiency and impact of our operations. She has a natural talent for identifying opportunities for innovation and turning them into practical, impactful solutions. Marissa recognizes a problem and hones in to fix and resolve it. This quality has led to three different major SOP changes and improved patient care and better regulatory compliance in just the past three months. On top of all that, she is an operation supervisor, educator, trainer, and a supportive and empathetic leader day in and day out. Her combination of strong leadership, innovative thinking, and dedication to excellence make her an invaluable asset to any organization.