Michigan Medicine’s DPSS Team Honored with Prestigious Safety Award
The U-M Division of Public Safety & Security’s Michigan Medicine team has been distinguished with the 2026 Lindberg Bell Program of Distinction Award by the International Association of Healthcare Safety and Security (IAHSS). This honor was presented at the IAHSS conference in New Orleans, celebrating institutions with exemplary healthcare security and safety initiatives.
“Receiving the Lindberg Bell Award is an incredible honor for our entire DPSS team,” noted Brian Uridge, M.P.A., DPSS Senior Director, Michigan Medicine Safety and Security. “It represents global recognition of the work our staff does every single day to protect and support our patients, visitors, and team members.”
Coinciding with National Workplace Violence Prevention Month in April, the award’s timing is particularly significant.
Innovative Strategies for a Delicate Environment
DPSS-Michigan Medicine has implemented a model that prioritizes relationships, trust, and proactive engagement. In a healthcare setting, where patients are often vulnerable, this approach is critical.
The model aligns with the BASE strategic priorities, fostering a sense of community, ensuring safety, and enhancing the experience for everyone at Michigan Medicine. Feeling secure is a crucial aspect of this experience.
“At Michigan Medicine, our goal isn’t just to keep people safe — it’s to ensure they feel safe,” expressed Uridge. The team’s commitment is evident in their focus on relationship-building, safety skills development, and the use of advanced tools to create a safer healthcare environment.
Achievements in Safety and Security
Eligible departments for the Lindberg Bell Award must demonstrate significant advancements in their protection programs over 30 months. DPSS collaborates across the organization to adapt and enhance its programs, ensuring comprehensive safety and security.
Over the past year, the DPSS team has reached several key milestones:
- Supported the opening of the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion, assisting with patient relocations and staffing the new facility
- Introduced body-worn cameras for all Guest Services and uniformed Security staff, enhancing safety, transparency, and accountability
- Created a Behavioral Threat Assessment Management team to proactively identify and address potential risks
Sustained Commitment to Safety Excellence
Maintaining a culture of safety and security is as crucial as advancing protection measures. “This award is not about a single program or moment in time,” Uridge stated. “It reflects a culture that consistently prioritizes safety, innovation, and people.”
DPSS-Michigan Medicine’s team has now claimed the Lindberg Award three times (previously in 2008 and 2014), highlighting their sustained excellence. “That’s not a coincidence, and it’s not luck,” said Bill Navejar, President of the IAHSS Foundation. “It’s your culture. This award belongs to you.”
Collaboration Drives Success
“You cannot be the winner of the Lindberg Bell just by being a great security organization,” said Navejar. “The only way you’re going to win is with a sustained commitment to excellence, from the frontline officers to the C-suite and back.”
Uridge echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the contributions of every team member in creating a secure environment. “We’re proud of the recognition,” Uridge remarked, “But we’re even more proud of the people behind it.”
Navejar summed up the award’s prestige: “It is literally the best of the best of the best on a global basis, and the competition was fierce.”
Reprint: Michigan Medicine Headlines, April 22, 2026
