Pilot Program Develops Emerging Talent Among School of Medicine Staff

Initiative combines Duke Learning & Organization Development instruction with mentorship

Two women talking.
Duke Surgery Administrative Coordinator Irish Hamilton, left, a mentor in the Duke Administrative Career Advancement Program, speaks with mentee Wendy Holt, right, a Duke Surgery Staff Assistant, at the program's kickoff meeting. Photo by Stephen Schramm.

In nine years at Duke, Deirdre Woodard has gone from a Patient Services Associate staffing Duke Clinic reception desks to a Staff Assistant in Duke Cancer Center鈥檚 Thoracic Oncology Clinic.

On August 27, in a sunny fourth-floor Trent Semans Center classroom, Woodard took another step in her professional journey during the Duke Administrative Career Advancement Program鈥檚 kickoff meeting.

鈥淚鈥檓 looking for a way to grow in my career and network with people who have more knowledge and wisdom about this work than I do,鈥 Woodard said.

Duke Surgery Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Rodney Reeves speaks to participants of the Duke Administrative Career Advancement Program. Photo by Stephen Schramm.

Supported by a 老牛影视 School of Medicine , the Duke Administrative Career Advancement Program offers nine School of Medicine staff and administrative assistants the opportunity to enroll in the (CEAP) professional development program and combine it with mentorship and hands-on experience working alongside senior colleagues.

The School of Medicine partnered with , a unit in , to teach the CEAP program. Designed to sharpen administrative professionals鈥 communication, collaboration and leadership skills, the CEAP program features eight courses and gives graduates a nationally recognized certification.

鈥淭his approach is very smart,鈥 said Senior Learning & Organization Development Consultant Marjorie Siegert, who oversees the CEAP program. 鈥淲e have a program that works in the CEAP, and they thought to add things to it to make the experience even better.鈥

For mentors like Department of Surgery Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Program Coordinator Rodney Reeves, who spent 12 years as a staff assistant at Duke, the chance to help colleagues grow was too valuable to pass up.

鈥淚 received a lot of guidance and had a lot of positive role models here at Duke,鈥 Reeves said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not going to be one of those people who gets help and then pulls the ladder up behind them. If somebody helps me, I want to help somebody else behind me.鈥

Duke Department of Medicine Divisional Administrator Pam Keels helped envisioned the Duke Administrative Career Advancement Program. Photo by Stephen Schramm.

The Duke Administrative Career Advancement Program was envisioned by Duke Department of Medicine Administrative Director Pam Keels prior to the COVID pandemic. Conceived as a way to create equitable and inclusive career advancement opportunities for staff, the idea steadily gained backers among the Staff Advisory Committee and the Department of Surgery鈥檚 , the Department of Head and Neck Surgery and the Department of Emergency Medicine.

The Catalyst Fund grant awarded in April allowed Keels鈥 idea to become a reality.

鈥淥ftentimes staff assistants and administrative professionals are overlooked,鈥 Keels said. 鈥淭he ones who are the best at their jobs make it look easy. To give them an opportunity to think about their careers and invest in them benefits them and our organization.鈥

After encouragement from school leaders and a discussion of the schedule 鈥 the program ends in April 2025 鈥 participants finished the kickoff meeting by chatting with their mentors for the first time.

鈥淪he said 鈥業 can tell you catch on quickly and learn fast,鈥欌 Woodard said after meeting her mentor, Department of Surgery Executive Assistant Melanie Kranz. 鈥淚 said, 鈥業 do! And I鈥檓 ready to get started.鈥欌

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