Nominations for third-quarter 2025 are open through July 9; submit a nomination online.Elizabeth Caine, vice president at the Center for Psychiatric Medicine; Eddie Luster, supervisor in UAB Libraries; and Olga Mack, R.N., Heart & Vascular Center, are the second-quarter 2025 honorees for the UAB Values in Action Program.

The UAB VIP Award honors employees whose work exemplifies and embodies one or more of the We CARE Shared Values outlined in the Forging Ahead strategic plan: Collaborate, Act with Integrity, Respect All and Excel. All three honorees have made a lasting impact on the fabric and culture of UAB by exemplifying the university’s shared values.

Honorees are nominated by their colleagues and selected by a committee of individuals from across the campus and UAB Hospital. One of the 2025 VIP honorees will be selected for the annual President’s Award for Excellence in Shared Values. Nominations for third-quarter 2025 are open through July 9; submit a nomination online.

Meet this quarter’s UAB VIP Award honorees:

Elizabeth Caine

As vice president at the Center for Psychiatric Medicine (CPM), Elizabeth Caine provides leadership for the psychiatry program, including inpatient and acute care units, consult services, psychiatric services in the emergency department, and the Addiction Recovery Program.

Since joining the CPM team in October 2014, Caine has worked to create an environment in which her colleagues and patients alike can thrive.

Citing her “high standard for collaboration,” Executive Vice President of Clinical Operations Jordan DeMoss credits Caine with developing an aligned, multi-disciplinary team of nurses, physicians, social workers and therapists all focused on ensuring their patients receive the best care. “Her goal is not only to establish a respectful and inclusive work and care environment, but to ensure our teams are able to see our patients through an unbiased lens,” DeMoss said.

With that goal in mind, Caine arranged for the CPM leadership team to visit the Legacy Museum in Montgomery. Such team-building initiatives are a staple of the work culture Caine has encouraged. Citing book clubs, leadership development initiatives and holiday-themed events for staff and patients, DeMoss added that “these events center on joy and … allow common ground among our teams and our patients to flourish and unite.”

Caine’s commitment to collaboration extends beyond UAB. Calling her “one of our strongest patient advocates for mental health,” DeMoss praised Caine’s intentional forging of relationships within the community, citing her work with local and state organizations including the National Alliance on Mental Illness, One Roof, the probate court and the Department of Mental Health. 

Caine recently spearheaded a collaboration with Mayor Randall Woodfin’s office to support the residents of Bankhead Towers when they were displaced from their home, which earned the CPM team a Social Work Month proclamation from the City of Birmingham.

“She knows that effective care for our vulnerable patients extends far beyond the walls of UAB Hospital,” DeMoss said.

CPM Nurse Manager Lisa Mattox has worked closely with Caine and been so impressed with her integrity that Mattox gave her a small replica of a backbone, saying “having a backbone embodies character, courage and the ability to stand up for one’s beliefs, even in the face of adversity.” Mattox went on to describe Caine as “someone who refuses to compromise her values, despite pressure, and stands up for what she believes in and does not give in to intimidation.” 

Caine has also been instrumental in ensuring CPM continues to excel and move forward. Her recent initiatives include a redesign of the Emergency Department’s psychiatry physician model, the establishment of a Behavioral Intervention Team, and proactive assessments to de-escalate patient agitation. According to DeMoss, these efforts have resulted in shorter stays for patients in the acute care setting, a reduction in restraint usage, and a reduction of mental health boarding in the Emergency Department.

“Countless patients, clinicians and unhoused friendly faces in Birmingham have and will continue to be positively impacted because of [Caine] and her unwavering support for those who are so often forgotten,” said DeMoss.

Eddie Luster 

Eddie Luster, a supervisor in UAB Libraries, is considered an unsung hero to the many faculty, researchers, students and colleagues who come to him for help. 

“It can sometimes be easy to overlook people who work in the background and not at the forefront of discovery and project administration,” said Criminal Justice Professor Jeffery Walker, Ph.D. “But having people like Eddie Luster providing his tremendous service to the researchers, teachers and students at UAB makes UAB a much stronger place to conduct inquiry and research.”

Though he is a long-time user of interlibrary loan services (ILL), Walker said working with Luster has given him a whole new appreciation for the system and increased its value to his research immeasurably. Not only has Luster been able to locate hard-to-find historical documents and maps that Walker wasn’t even sure were available, but he does so quickly and efficiently. 

“I almost feel compelled to include him as a contributor to a grant proposal or journal article I have submitted because of his assistance in obtaining the necessary supporting materials,” said Walker.

On multiple occasions, Walker recalls putting in a request for a document only to find it waiting in his inbox in the time it took him to get a cup of coffee. “I did not even break my train of thought … because the resource I needed was received so quickly,” Walker said.

Speed and accuracy are essential for researchers of all levels, and Luster can be counted on for both, said Assistant Professor and Pre-Law Director Brandon Blakenship. 

“By automating repetitive tasks and maintaining an organized workflow, [Luster] returns the right material fast,” said Blakenship, adding that to do so, he has developed and maintained a strong network of partner libraries over the course of his career. 

Luster recognizes that “collaboration is the heart of the profession,” agreed Walker. “Whether through participation in conferences, consortia or simply through consistent, reciprocal lending practices, these relationships can make the difference between a successful request and a dead end.”

Blakenship also credits Luster’s deep understanding of the tools of his trade — in this case, the many ILL management platforms, including OCLC WorldShare, ILLiad and Tipasa — which allows him to navigate the complexities of interlibrary lending with confidence.

“This is really his superpower,” said Blakenship. “I am convinced that if you don’t get distracted by the pocket swatch and the wind blows his tie over a little, you might get a glimpse of a superhero outfit.”

Olga Mack 

Around the UAB Heart and Vascular Center, Registered Nurse Olga Mack is known for her uplifting attitude and inability to sit still. 

“New staff frequently comment on the fact that she is rarely seen at the unit desk because she is always in her patients’ rooms,” said fellow Registered Nurse Briana Harlow. “Olga does not rest if there is work to be done.”

Her dedication to her patients’ needs extends to all stages of their care. According to Harlow, Mack is known to discuss aftercare and medication costs with her patients early in their stay to ensure they are prepared post-procedure, and she is frequently overheard explaining why an action is the right thing to do. 

“She consistently seeks to do the right thing, regardless of the situation, and her ethical approach to every aspect of her work is a model for others to follow,” adds Heart & Vascular Center Director Tracie Bishop.

That approach doesn’t waiver, even in the midst of difficult situations. When faced with a patient who, angry they were being cared for by staff of a different race, used foul language and raised their voice toward Mack, her response was to ignore the insults thrown at her and treat the patient with unfaltering professionalism and care throughout their stay.

“She continuously reminded them she was going to provide them the best care regardless, and her only goal was to help them,” said Harlow, recalling how she then went on to share tips for managing difficult patients with newer staff members. “Her voice remained unwavering and kind throughout.”

In addition to providing exceptional patient care, Mack recently volunteered to step in as the unit’s Nurse Practice Council (NPC) representative. She also serves as the unit’s Magnet Champion, identifying and creating opportunities for the unit to excel during its Magnet re-certification process.

“She has been a constant source of inspiration to her colleagues,” said Bishop. “Her initiative and drive have not only helped our team succeed in the Magnet program, but have also fostered a sense of pride and accomplishment within the unit.”

In fact, colleagues say that the energy Mack brings to their unit truly sets her apart. Registered Nurse Marshala Wynn credits Mack’s positivity with making the workplace feel like a supportive community, saying “her infectious laugh and cheerful attitude have a way of … making difficult days feel more manageable and reminding everyone of the joy in their work.”

Harlow added: “She is the most selfless, patient-first nurse I’ve seen in practice.”