1. < Message from the Chair

Last week was an incredibly challenging week for our research community. As you all know by now, approximately 340 federal grants to UCLA from multiple agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), were suspended in response to Department of Justice investigations of UCLA. A total of 70 NIH grants supporting many faculty and trainees across the UCLA Department of Medicine (DoM) have been paused, and we have been in communication to impacted researchers to begin the process of supporting them during this difficult time. Those communications include what we know and how we are responding, as well as guidance to investigators whose grants are currently unaffected.

In the midst of the challenges we face as an institution and a department, we would like to take a moment to express our gratitude to members of our administrative staff. Their work grows ever more critical as we face new hurdles to our research, education and patient care missions. This week is the first in a two-part series where we spotlight some veteran and new admin superstars who help us move forward every day.

Longtime LEADERS Keep DoM Going Strong

DoM administrative staff are essential to our success. Many of these outstanding LEADERS have long tenures during which they have made an enormous impact on our research, education and patient care missions.

The administrative leaders for each division were recently asked to nominate superstars on their teams who have worked in the DoM for multiple years to feature in the newsletter. I hope you will enjoy getting to know nominees from four of our divisions!

As an academic HR analyst in the endocrinology division, Maureen is responsible for handling and advising the division’s dossier actions for merit increases, promotions, appointments, changes in series and more. She also provides faculty members with essential information and guidance on HR processes, eligibility and medical leave. Maureen finds this to be one of the most satisfying aspects of her role.

“I take pride in solving challenges that ultimately make a difference in someone’s academic journey, whether it’s helping a faculty meet a critical deadline or streamlining processes that benefit an entire division,” Maureen said. “Knowing that my behind-the-scenes work contributes to a better learning and teaching environment is incredibly fulfilling.” 

Maureen loves being part of a mission-driven environment where patient care, research and education are deeply valued.

“It is incredibly rewarding to contribute to a department that not only provides patient care but is also actively engaged in groundbreaking research into improving health outcomes,” she said.

It has been nine years since Trisha took that leap, and she has not stopped learning or growing. Now serving in a supervisor role, she continues to manage the behind-the-scenes logistics that keep the GI fellowship running smoothly, from onboarding new fellows, to building rotation schedules, to organizing evaluations and education events — and much more.

“Every day looks a little different, but at the heart of it, my job is about supporting the fellows and making sure they have what they need to succeed,” Trisha said. To her, it’s all worth it to see them grow into confident, skilled physicians.

“It’s a great feeling to know that, in some small way, I’ve helped make their journey a little smoother,” she said.

Trisha finds that the fellows, faculty and staff members she works alongside are the reason the DoM is a great place to work.

“Everyone is so dedicated, supportive, and collaborative,” she said. “There’s also a strong sense of purpose here, and it’s inspiring to be part of a department that’s committed to education, research, and patient care.” 

To her supervisor, cardiology division MSO Stephanie Hope, Orit is a natural problem solver who consistently goes above and beyond to address challenges and find effective solutions.

“Orit is an outstanding member of the Division of Cardiology administrative office and a true asset to our team,” Stephanie said. “Her deep knowledge, remarkable productivity, and collaborative spirit never fail to impress.” 

Maddy’s job requires organizational savvy and attention to detail. She leads all administrative duties for the primary care group — a roster of more than 214 faculty members — which includes tracking their time off, supporting new hire onboarding, updating directories and assisting with quarterly reviews. She also works closely with the academic compensation and academic personnel teams to keep projects moving forward efficiently.

“Maddy has significantly exceeded productivity, provides outstanding customer service and consistently exhibits excellent interactions with faculty and staff at all levels,” Katrina Barron, division administrator for the inpatient and hospitalist services section, said. “She is the only individual in primary care that has successfully completed cross-training in academic personnel, finance, administration and purchasing.”

To Maddy, the best part of the job is helping faculty and the department succeed. 

“It means a lot that my manager always notices and appreciates the work we do,” Maddy said. “Working with kind, positive, and supportive colleagues really makes a difference for our team.” 

Linelle’s role involves managing a variety of critical clinical tasks that keep the section running smoothly. She splits her time between serving as the preventative medicine program coordinator and supporting academic personnel; her role as program coordinator involves overseeing operations, while her job in academic personnel is to assist with faculty appointments, promotions and academic processes.

“This dual responsibility enables me to contribute to both the educational and administrative functions, ensuring efficiency and allowing our healthcare professionals to focus on patient care and research,” Linelle said.

Linelle’s job is satisfying to her because she can see its direct impact, whether that’s in the form of helping a colleague solve a problem, improving a process or contributing to a larger goal.

“Just knowing that what I do every day helps keep things running for our providers, faculty and staff — and ultimately supports patient care — is incredibly rewarding,” she said.

As for what she loves most about working in the DoM, Linelle’s answer is simple: the people.

“I truly value the sense of teamwork and shared mission in the department of medicine,” Linelle said. “We have a strong, supportive team culture where collaboration is encouraged, and everyone brings something unique to the table. It’s a great environment for learning and growing.” 

As the director of research and training programs, Maddy oversees more than a dozen staff members and supports more than 90 graduate and doctorate-level trainees every year. She works closely with faculty and staff to advise on project feasibility, timelines and implementation of new activities. She was also recently appointed as the interim MSO of the med-peds section, a position that requires assisting more than 55 clinical faculty and administrative staff as well as the research faculty and staff.

“It is always rewarding being able to help bring in funding and to see a project to fruition, but what I love most about my job is being able to empower our staff and trainees to grow,” Maddy said. While running training and research programs can sometimes mean seeing people come and go quickly, she added that “it is heartening to see that I played a part in shaping their career paths, even if it might be a small part!” 

Maddy’s favorite part about working in the DoM is the environment of constant learning.

“Just when I feel like I have a lay of the land, I learn something new,” Maddy said. “There are always emerging challenges, but everyone is willing to share resources and help bounce ideas off one another!” 

New Faces in Admin Already Make an Impact 

Let me now introduce you to some newer administrative staff in the department who have become mission-critical in just two years or less. These individuals were also nominated by their supervisors for their outstanding contributions to their teams. Be sure to say hello if you see them around the DoM!

As an administrative officer, Patrice supports faculty by processing travel reimbursements and ensuring compliance with university guidelines. She also assists with graduate student and post-doctoral scholar appointment paperwork, helps track and submit faculty vacation reports, and pitches in on various side projects as needed to support the admin team.

“What I find the most rewarding is knowing that the work I do behind the scenes helps support the incredible doctors, researchers, and faculty in our department,” Patrice said. “By handling the administrative details, I hope I am making their day-to-day just a little easier, so they can focus on the bigger task at hand.” 

For Patrice, the best part about working in the DoM is those who surround her. She is grateful to her colleagues in the UCLA Division of Endocrinology for lifting her up in her new role.

“I love being part of a department that’s filled with passionate, dedicated people working towards a greater purpose,” she said. “I also really value the collaborative environment; we all play a part in making things run smoothly!” 

"I am grateful to work with a dedicated program leadership team, fellows and faculty who truly care about what they do,” Kristin said. She feels that the most rewarding part of her job is providing support to those who are helping others.

“It is also very rewarding to work in an environment of continuous learning, growth and discovery,” she said. “It inspires you to look for ways to improve and innovate and to engage with the process of learning itself.” 

As for what she loves most about the DoM, she is energized by its mission and values — and, of course, her colleagues.

“What I love about working in the DoM is the infrastructure, support and clarity of purpose,” Kristin said. “It is motivating to work with such a talented and dedicated team.” 

Though she has only been part of the hospitalist and palliative care medicine team for five months, Brenda is already doing what she set out to do. She is a key driver of the division’s success, both managing the administrative staff and contributing as a team member by helping with credentialing, contracts, recruitment efforts, project management, administrative coordination, purchasing and academic personnel actions. She finds fulfillment in managing the role’s diverse responsibilities, from managing budgets and personnel to ensuring the smooth functioning of the unit and its alignment with UCLA's goals.

“I especially value collaborating with faculty, staff and other departments and divisions to overcome challenges, knowing that my work directly supports patient care,” Brenda said.

Brenda loves working alongside passionate, collaborative individuals who are dedicated to making a tangible difference in others’ lives.

“I love being part of that impact, whether through supporting faculty, improving operations or helping academic initiatives run smoothly,” she said. “It is an extremely rewarding job!” 

“The most rewarding aspect of my job is helping the fellows as they start a new chapter in their professional career,” Helya said. “It is inspiring to be a part of their journey in medicine and see them develop into specialists.” 

According to Stephanie Hope, cardiology MSO and Helya’s supervisor, Helya brings great energy and professionalism to her dual roles. 

“I’ve been thoroughly impressed by how quickly she has adapted and by the professionalism she demonstrates in her interactions with faculty, fellows, and staff,” Stephanie said.

For Helya, the best part about working in the DoM is the work culture and her colleagues.

“I enjoy working with and have great respect for the staff and faculty in my division,” Helya said.

Please join me in celebrating these individuals and all of our administrative staff for their excellence. Thank you for your dedication to our missions!

Dale

P.S.

I really enjoyed getting to learn about some of my administrative colleagues, particularly their outside interests. A common theme is the love for travel and interacting with people across many cultures, which exemplifies the wonderful tapestry that is our DoM. Given the travel theme, I thought it would be appropriate to share a picture from my own travels for the next installment of my travel challenge. Tell me where this is.

---