Surprise gesture of thanks brightens day for team modeling excellence

By In the Loop • December 5, 2022

A surprise after-hours visit from a team in Otorhinolaryngology working to spread joy brightened the day for staff in the 3D Anatomic Modeling Laboratory. And it let them know their work is appreciated.

It might be a request for a replica of a cancerous bone one day and specially designed personal protective equipment the next. Whatever the case, the response from the 3D Anatomic Modeling Laboratory team at Mayo Clinic is swift and has a real impact.

They also create life-size models to provide a precise understanding of a patient's personal anatomy to help surgeons plan complex or intricate procedures. Those models also help educate patients by showing them how procedures will be performed.

And they were quick to pitch in to help when supply chain issues presented a shortage of protective equipment for staff during COVID-19.

The 3D Anatomic Modeling team works hard to respond to requests quickly, recognizing that the patient-specific models and medical devices they create are integral to providing the best care to patients, says Victoria Sears, an engineer in the Anatomic Modeling Laboratory.

The team's commitment to service excellence has not gone unnoticed. And one group wanted to make sure the team understood how much they were valued.

"We collaborate weekly with the Anatomic Modeling Unit, and they model Mayo excellence daily," says Daniel Price, M.D., Otorhinolaryngology. "They have a can-do attitude, picking up challenging projects at the drop of the hat. They are incredibly flexible, innovative, inclusive and fun."

"We collaborate weekly with the Anatomic Modeling Unit, and they model Mayo excellence daily."

Daniel Price, M.D.

Dr. Price and his team had been thinking of ways to show appreciation for the teams they partner with, and they formed a Joy Program Committee to set a plan in motion. When their proposal to the Joy Grant program was given the green light, they selected the 3D Anatomic Modeling Unit as one of the first they would recognize.

"We are fortunate to work every day with groups who work tirelessly to improve our care and help us fulfill our mission of excellence in patient care," says Eric Moore, M.D., chair of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology. "The Anatomic Modeling Unit is a group that Dr. Price and I benefit from weekly. We wanted to express our appreciation and show them our gratitude for their friendship and partnership."

The plan was to plant vases of flowers, thank-you notes and a signed banner in the modeling lab after-hours, when the lab was expected to be empty.

That expectation soon met reality. While the team from Otorhinolaryngology was surprised to see Modeling Lab staff still working late into the day, it was rewarding to see their reactions in person, says Ashley Robards, chair of the department's Joy Program Committee.

"There were a few of them still working very hard, and they helped us figure out the best spots for all the flowers and notes," Robards says. "They were so excited. It was fun to see them because a lot of times we don't get to see that part. We just hear about the reaction and see photos."

The excitement was just as palpable for staff who came into the lab the next day.

"To come in and see the flowers and the thank-you banner and to know your work is appreciated by everyone was a real treat," says Jonathan M. Morris, M.D., medical director of the Anatomic Modeling Unit in Rochester.

"To come in and see the flowers and the thank-you banner and to know your work is appreciated by everyone was a real treat."

Jonathan M. Morris, M.D.

"We oftentimes get busy, stay late and ask our staff to work extra hard for the needs of the patient. To let our entire staff know they are appreciated, that their work is important, and they are a valued member of the care team was a heartfelt experience," Dr. Morris says. "All I could say was, thanks."

The recognition means a lot to the team, Sears says.

"It just gives you warm, fuzzy feelings," she says. "We are definitely behind-the-scenes workers here. Physicians know where the models come from, for the most part, because they're the ones ordering them. But not many people really see the work that's put behind every model, so it definitely makes you feel good that they appreciate the work that you do."

Dr. Price says he has been moved by the positive effect his team has had on others.

"This is the brainchild of others and the sweat of others who make this happen," he says. "They stay late after work to go and put on a surprise for another team simply to make their day. I’ve been surprised and impressed by what a positive impact these little moments have had in people's lives. I think it's so unexpected, so universally positive. It's just what people need when times feel a little bit challenging, and work feels a little bit tougher."

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