Kansas Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, announced Tuesday in a news release that two supervisors at the University of Kansas Medical Center were honored with a “My Boss is a Patriot” awards in recognition of extraordinary support of an employee serving in the United States Navy Reserve.

According to Walt Frederick, Kansas ESGR State Chair, “the Patriot Award was created by ESGR to publicly recognize individuals who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees, who like the citizen warriors before them, have answered their nation’s call to serve. Supportive supervisors are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s Guard and Reserve units.

Cmdr. Laura Mussulman, who serves with the United States Navy Reserve, nominated her supervisors, Dr. Edward Ellerbeck and Dr. Theresa Shireman, for being highly supportive of the Navy Reserve.

Dr. Ellerbeck is the Chairman of the Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health and Dr. Shireman is the Director of the Master of Science in Clinical Research Department.

Ellerbeck echoed the feelings of all attending the award presentation that they appreciate the military skills that Cmdr. Mussulman brings to the department and they “can’t wait for her to come home and work at the Medical Center.” Mussulman has been working at the University of Kansas Medical Center for many years and is a “valued employee.”

Doctors Ellerbeck and Shireman accepted the Patriot Award from Diane Boeger, Area Chair for the Kansas ESGR Committee.

For more information about ESGR Outreach Programs, or ESGR volunteer opportunities, please call 1-800-336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil.