My journey began in Columbia, Missouri, where I joined the University of Missouri’s Department of Pathology in the early 1990s. What started as a role in administrative support soon became a lifelong passion for mentoring residents, building strong educational programs, and supporting the teams who make it all possible.
Over the past 30+ years, I’ve led and managed GME programs in surgery and emergency medicine across Missouri, Florida, and North Carolina — and today, I’m proud to serve as Residency Program Manager for the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Duke University Hospital.
Through the years, I’ve helped build new residency and fellowship programs from the ground up, guided teams through ACGME site visits, and mentored countless staff and residents along the way. I’ve always believed that strong programs start with strong people — and my role has always been to support, empower, and advocate for those people, day in and day out.
I’ve also had the privilege of contributing to the larger GME community through leadership roles with two incredible national organizations. I served as President of the Association of Residency Coordinators in Surgery (ARCS) and held several years of service on their Steering Committee, helping elevate the role of program administrators nationwide. My ongoing commitment to Training Administrators of Graduate Medical Education (TAGME) has spanned more than a decade. I’ve led certification and assessment efforts and now serve as President (2024–2026), advocating for professional recognition and development for GME leaders across specialties.
But beyond the work, what matters most to me is family. I’m the proud mom of two incredible daughters who inspire me every day. Nicole is a dedicated athletic trainer whose compassion and strength remind me why care and resilience matter so much in healthcare. Lauren, the COO of her company, brings strategy, grace, and bold leadership to everything she does — and makes me incredibly proud with her drive and heart. Watching both of them carve their own paths has been one of the greatest joys of my life.
Outside of work, I love learning new things — including earning a pastry and baking certificate from Le Cordon Bleu just for the fun (and flavor) of it. Whether I’m mentoring a new program coordinator, baking for family, or supporting faculty through an accreditation cycle, I bring the same care, curiosity, and commitment to excellence.
Looking back, I never could have predicted this path. Looking forward, I wouldn’t change a thing. Supporting the people who train tomorrow’s physicians — and building a legacy of integrity, mentorship, and compassion — has been one of my life’s greatest honors.
