Congratulations to Diane Powers, MBA, MA and Athena Wong, MHA who have both been nominated for UW Distinguished Staff Awards in the Career Achievement category! Athena is the department’s associate director of education and Diane is co-director of the AIMS Center. The following paragraphs are excerpts from their nomination letters describing the fantastic contributions they’ve both made to our department.

For over 20 years Diane Powers has demonstrated excellence in her UW work, positively impacted each person she works with and supported the dissemination of integrated care around the world.  In 2004, she helped found the Advancing Integration Mental Health Solutions (AIMS) Center to promote the delivery of mental health services in primary medical settings and specifically the implementation of the Collaborative Care Model.  She has trained thousands of clinicians and hundreds of health care organizations around the county and world to expand access to mental health services. She has accomplished this through her servant leadership and dedication!

Since joining the UW Psychiatry Residency Program as a program assistant in 2000, Athena Wong quickly rose through the ranks, taking on a leadership position. She is an exceptional team leader, earning the trust and respect of those she supervises. She ensures our educational programs and staff work as effectively as possible. She creates a safe, stimulating, enjoyable work environment for staff while maintaining high expectations for performance. Athena and her team are extraordinarily competent, responsive, courteous, helpful, and professional, and have been cited as a reason trainees choose our residency. In 2021 Athena became associate director for education, the highest staff position within the education program. She is highly deserving of this honor.