Of the 25 winners presented with the Pfizer Award for Excellence in Research, Education, Patient Care and Community Outreach in 2003, two of the winners chosen were from our own Isché Library. Affectionately referred to as "The JoAnns", JoAnn McKendall and JoAnn Spadoni were given the award for their outstanding work as employees with LSUHSC, especially in the Interlibrary Loan Department (ILL). These two individuals have been the heart and soul of the department since 1994, filling requests for patrons as well as providing various libraries with daily requests. Although they did not work side by side for many years, they have shared a few things in common besides their namesake. For instance, they were hired within the same week in 1982.

JoAnn McKendall, a New Orleans native, began working for LSUMC Library on October 25, 1982 as a Cataloguing Assistant. Before being hired by the Library, she graduated cum laude at the University of New Orleans receiving a degree in Business Administration. She left the Library briefly in 1987 to give birth to twins. She returned a year later as a part-time employee and quickly resumed full-time employment in 1989. It was not until 1994 that she transferred to ILL where she joined JoAnn Spadoni. She is married to Irvin McKendall. In July of 2003, tragedy struck the McKendall family when they lost one of their sons, Stephen. Scott, who is sixteen, is a junior at Brother Martin High School.

JoAnn Spadoni, who is also a native of New Orleans, began her employment with LSUMC Library on November 1, 1982 as a Serials Associate. In 1985, she transferred to ILL where she has remained for 19 years. She earned a bachelor's degree in Elementary and Special Education from Xavier University and an Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies from Tulane University. Before working at LSUMC, she spent two years in the Orleans Parish school system teaching Special Education. In addition to being awarded the Pfizer Award last year, she also received the Employee Service Award in recognition and appreciation for twenty years of service to LSUHSC. She is married to Michael Spadoni and has two daughters, Myka and Dominique.

As previously mentioned, they have more than their namesake in common. Both are avid readers and can be found quietly consuming a book along with lunch most days. JoAnn Spadoni enjoys reading all types of literature: fiction, non-fiction, religion, and history. JoAnn McKendall probably enjoys one other past time even more than reading which just happens to be "shopping, shopping, shopping." Finally, the last connection between the two began long before they ever met. When they began working together, they discovered that JoAnn McKendall had actually grown up with JoAnn Spadoni's husband and had been a close friend with his sister during her childhood. The library is lucky to have such wonderful co-workers in their midst. They have truly made the library a better place.

-- Shane Harris link removed