Douglass Clapp, RN, nurse manager at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) and , was presented this week with a by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. The program, part of the Department of Defense, is designed to strengthen relationships between civilian employers and its members. This award is given to supervisors who "support citizen warriors through a wide range of measures, including flexible schedules, time off prior to and during deployment, caring for families, and granting leaves of absence if needed."
Clapp was nominated by a nurse he supervises at HCI, Captain Christy Jonkman, RN. In addition to her service at HCI, Jonkman is a member of the Utah Air National Guard. Jonkman was called to active duty by the Utah National Guard and served the state of Utah for the past 18 months during the pandemic. "The first or second week into the pandemic, I was called and told that [the Utah Air National Guard] needed people now," Jonkman says. "I was scheduled to work at HCI the next day. I called Douglass to tell him, and he covered my shift himself. Each time my service was extended, he told me not to worry. He would call me, check on me, and was amazingly supportive."
"I am honored to receive this award, because what Christy and her unit have done to help the state of Utah over the past 18 months has been profound," says Clapp. "If they weren鈥檛 willing to take the time out of their lives, be away from families, and support health in the myriad of ways they did鈥攆rom testing, to vaccinating, to educating nursing facilities鈥擨 know we wouldn鈥檛 be as successful as we are now [against COVID] as a state. I鈥檓 grateful for them."
In addition to Clapp鈥檚 recognition as a supervisor, HCI and U of U Health received a certificate thanking the organization for their support of members of the National Guard and Reserves.
Colonel Andrea Van Leeuwen, Chief of Staff of the Utah Air National Guard, said, "Without employers like Huntsman Cancer Institute, people don鈥檛 stay in the Guard, so thank you for your support in making it possible for our reserves to have jobs to come back to."
Media Contact
Heather Simonsen
Public Affairs Senior Manager
Huntsman Cancer Institute
801 581-3194
public.affairs@hci.utah.edu
About Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah
Huntsman Cancer Institute at the is the National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center for Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Wyoming. With a legacy of innovative cancer research, groundbreaking discoveries, and world-class patient care, we are transforming the way cancer is understood, prevented, diagnosed, treated, and survived. Huntsman Cancer Institute focuses on delivering the most advanced cancer healing and prevention through scientific breakthroughs and cutting-edge technology to advance cancer treatments of the future beyond the standard of care today. We have more than 300 open clinical trials and 250 research teams studying cancer. More genes for inherited cancers have been discovered at Huntsman Cancer Institute than at any other cancer center. Our scientists are world-renowned for understanding how cancer begins and using that knowledge to develop innovative approaches to treat each patient鈥檚 unique disease. Huntsman Cancer Institute was founded by Jon M. and Karen Huntsman.