Sgt. Ann Marie Bell - Chief Noise Investigator and More!

Sgt. Bell has been with the department for a little over seven years. She initially joined the team at entry level, but quickly climbed the supervisory ladder and achieved the role of Security Sergeant. Her quick elevation to a leadership role was primarily due to her ability to navigate complex patient, family, and medical staff interactions. She successfully addressed many challenges such as managing her security teams through the August 2017 Unite the Right protest operations and the difficult COVID challenges that our nation and the UVA Medical Center faced.

Here's what colleagues had this to say about her:

Caitlin Lowman, RN, Clinician 3: On behalf of the Nursing Supervisor Group, we all just love working with Sgt. Bell. Personally, she is a calming presence, especially in a crisis. Sgt. Bell has safety for all of the employees at UVA on her mind at all times. She has been a listening ear for us when we have security questions or concerns. Sgt. Bell has a wonderful personality and she goes above and beyond for staff and patients. She is thorough in her assessments to ensure safety of the community, patients, and staff. She follows up with staff to make sure a safety plan is in place after an assessment is in place, and I feel safer knowing when Sgt. Bell is in the hospital.
 
Even though she’s not employed by University of Virginia, Sgt. Bell exemplifies ASPIRE values and leads with HEART every day. She works overtime to make sure her team is adequately staffed and is happy to do it.
 
We appreciate Sgt. Bell for everything she does for us. We are proud to work along side of her on a daily basis, and think she deserves this recognition wholeheartedly.

Gina Songer, RN, Clinician 2: I am delighted to nominate Sergeant Ann Marie Bell, aka our 'Chief Noise Investigator,' for recognition. She has been described as “pro-patient, pro-employee, and knows hospital policy inside and out.” I primarily know Sgt. Bell through her response at Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT) calls. BERT is called when patients are at high risk for harming themselves or others. These situations are often volatile, chaotic and dangerous. We all breathe a sigh of relief when we see Sgt. Bell; she is like the calm in the eye of a hurricane.

Sgt. Bell reads subtle cues in a situation, things others can easily miss. She is masterful at defusing highly charged situations. She always knows exactly what to do, both during and after an incident. She is our resource for workplace violence policy and outlines options available for any injured staff, including emergency medical care or legal recourse.

Tony Frazier, Director of Security, UPD: Ann Marie is truly adored by her teammates, peers, and external partners, who gave her the endearing term as “Ma Bell,” which undoubtedly manifests from her caring for her teammates in every facet of their operations. Sgt Bell is also known as the "scheduling whisperer" as she has consistently created unique scheduling projections, which have enabled the team to facilitate a myriad of operational needs (i.e. UVA Football, Protest Operations, and special events) despite limited staffing availability.

Why Sgt. Bell's Work Should Matter to You 

Gina Songer, RN, Clinician 2: When incidents occur, Sgt. Bell will share her observations and insight with the employee, observations that often are unseen by them. Her devotion to safety and security are readily apparent. She teaches with love and genuine concern so that staff may be safer the next time.

Tony Frazier, Director of Security, UPD: All of these things are a huge testament to the professional that Ann Marie is. Her extraordinary work ethic enables her to accomplish all of these critical tasks while also managing her work/personal life balance, as she is also a single parent/grandmother. We are truly appreciative of her efforts and are not the least bit surprised that she is being spotlighted as a top performer. 

Captain M. McBee, Medical Center Police Commander, UPD: Sgt. Ann Marie Bell’s dedication to the Medical Center Community has been nothing less than incredible. The relationships she has fostered with other team members is a true testament to her commitment. Ann Marie’s measured professionalism in adverse situations and her ability to connect with people is amazing and hasn’t gone unnoticed. Thank you, Sgt. Bell, for what you do on a daily basis!