Donovan “Nova” Rivera, Health Services Program Manager—Professional Staff at UW Long COVID Clinic and CAReS (COVID Aftercare Recovery and Support) Program, has been nominated for the 2024 UW Distinguished Staff Award in the “Collaboration” category, for driving improved patient care, community outreach, and efficiency while fostering a welcoming, interactive environment on the team
Nova brings a formidable energy to their work as Health Program Manager. This energy has driven implementation of the clinic’s five-year AHRQ Grant—a program that aims at ‘improving access to multidisciplinary care for people with long COVID.’ As program manager, Nova has set a solid foundation to the team’s goals, finding innovative solutions to challenges in identifying patients at the highest risk for poor outcomes and marginalization, to filling workflow gaps, to organizing the first Long COVID Symposium.
Nova’s work is thoughtful and inclusive of a wide range of backgrounds. The Long COVID Symposium proved his mettle when he brought together clinicians and patients from various backgrounds, providing valuable information like healing arts performances and patient stories. The symposium itself strove for inclusion through format, including sign language translators, hybrid format, and other accessibility measures faced by long COVID patients
Nova has promoted awareness of long COVID and access to care for underrepresented and marginalized groups in our community, while building community by hosting Long COVID Clinic booths at health fairs, Trans Pride, and Seattle PRIDE. His efforts to include diverse members from various backgrounds have enhanced access to care for underrepresented and marginalized groups in our community. As the nomination letter makes clear: “[Nova] has brought our team together by creating a welcoming and supporting environment, fostering open and clear communication, being a world-class problem solver and innovator, all with a sense of humor and grace – [we] cannot think of anyone more deserving.”
Congratulations, Nova!
