DPSS honored as international leader in healthcare security and safety
The U-M Division of Public Safety & Security’s Michigan Medicine team was selected to receive the 2026 Lindberg Bell Program of Distinction Award from the International Association of Healthcare Safety and Security (IAHSS). Presented at the association’s international conference in New Orleans last week, this prestigious award recognizes institutions that have established, administered, and maintained an outstanding health care security and safety program.
“Receiving the Lindberg Bell Award is an incredible honor for our entire DPSS team,” said 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.”
And, with April recognized as National Workplace Violence Prevention Month, the timing for the award couldn’t be better.
Unique approach for a unique environment
DPSS-Michigan Medicine has built a model that is intentionally different — one that focuses on relationships, trust, and proactive engagement. In health care, where people are often at their most vulnerable, that approach matters.
The DPSS model supports several of the BASE strategic priorities, creating a sense of Belonging and community, ensuring physical and psychological Safety, and enhancing Experience for patients, visitors, and team members. An important part of that experience is having a sense of security.
“At Michigan Medicine, our goal isn’t just to keep people safe — it’s to ensure they feel safe,” said Uridge.
The entire team takes this mantra to heart, building and fostering relationships, developing core safety skills, and using state-of-the-art tools to empower teams, build confidence, and create a safer health care environment.
“What makes this award especially meaningful is that it reflects and validates our non-traditional, relationship-based approach to public safety — one grounded in trust, training, and technology,” said Uridge.
Advancing protection
To be considered for the Lindberg Bell Award, departments must have clearly defined, measurable, and demonstrated advancements in their total protection program over a 30-month period. DPSS partners with leaders and multidisciplinary team members from across the organization to continuously assess evolving needs and tailor its programs and services to ensure the safety and security of all who work, learn, and receive care at Michigan Medicine.
In the last year alone, the DPSS team achieved three critical goals, in addition to its ongoing work:
- Supported the opening of the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion, assisting with patient move day and staffing U-M Health’s newest adult inpatient facility
- Launched body-worn cameras for all Guest Services and uniformed Security staff for greater safety, transparency and accountability
- Established a new Behavioral Threat Assessment Management team to proactively identify and mitigate potential risks before they escalate into harmful incidents
Sustained excellence; repeat recognition
Equally important to advancing protection is the ability to sustain a culture of safety and security.
“This award is not about a single program or moment in time,” Uridge said. “It reflects a culture that consistently prioritizes safety, innovation and people.”
Further evidence of this commitment is the fact that the DPSS-Michigan Medicine team has now won the Lindberg Award three times (previously in 2008 and 2014) — a highly unusual feat.
“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.”
Uridge said this repeat recognition shows that the DPSS team hasn’t just achieved a high standard — they’ve maintained and evolved it.
Collaboration and commitment for the win
“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 couldn’t agree more.
“From our frontline officers to our guest services staff to our leadership and support teams, every person plays a role in creating the environment we have today,” he said.
“We’re proud of the recognition,” Uridge continued. “But we’re even more proud of the people behind it.”
“It is literally the best of the best of the best on a global basis,” said Navejar about the significance of winning the Lindberg Bell Award, “and the competition was fierce.”