The annual Dean’s Performance Awards honor employees whose work helps the UNC School of Medicine achieve its vision of becoming the nation’s leading public school of medicine. The 2023 award winners are Scott Young, Mary Hauser, John Harrison, Gloria Lima, Keri Waldrop and Dallas Carter.
The annual Dean’s Performance Awards honor employees whose work helps the UNC School of Medicine achieve its vision of becoming the nation’s leading public school of medicine.
The awards span six categories that are aligned with the School of Medicine’s Forward Together strategic plan: research, service, education, faculty, diversity and administrative infrastructure. This year, more than 70 nominees were considered for their extraordinary efforts and the winners were announced at the 2023 School of Medicine Annual Staff Summit on Oct. 3.
The 2023 award winners are Scott Young, Mary Hauser, John Harrison, Gloria Lima, Keri Waldrop and Dallas Carter.
RESEARCH
Genetics Grants Manager Scott Young
Young’s colleagues emphasized his productivity and impressive work ethic in their nominations for him. Over the last 12 months, the Department of Genetics has secured more than $49 million in grant funding and Young has built and submitted the majority of these grants. To do this successfully, he must juggle many tasks at one time. He interacts with UNC grants management teams as well as with funding agencies when necessary and is the subject matter expert for all things grant related.
Young has worked closely with the department’s Assistant Director of Research Sarah Schoenrock and Project Manager Stefanija Giric to ensure successful submission of large grants. He also coordinated trainings for colleagues to ensure the team was following the latest guidelines and tools from granting organizations.
EDUCATION
Offices of Medical Student Education Senior Director of Curricular Affairs Mary Hauser, PhD
Hauser transformed the medical doctorate curriculum this past year. Although only one year into her tenure here, Hauser has spearheaded several initiatives, which will have lasting impact for the School of Medicine’s medical doctorate program for years to come. Leaning into her years of K-12 teaching, Hauser has co-facilitated the transformation of the foundation pre-clinical curriculum from primarily lecture-based to one that is centered on case-based and small-group learning in advance of the TEC 2.0 launch in the foundation phase courses (medical sciences, patient centered care and social and health systems) for fall 2023.
Additionally, Hauser’s education and extensive experience with teacher training programs has helped develop the foundation of educator training and preparedness. As part of this new curriculum, she co-directed the launch of competency-based medical student education and assessment, an enormous undertaking that will allow medical students to be assessed by a diversity of measures with regular feedback to help individualize their learning, provide precision education and ultimately graduate physicians who have a nuanced skillset to take care of patients and their communities. Hauser will continue her curricular innovations this summer as OMSE looks to continue transforming medical education in the clinical years.
FACULTY
Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Administrative Support/Travel Specialist John Harrison
Harrison has been with the University for 20 years and in the Division of Infectious Diseases for 15 years. He made it his mission to learn the new Concur travel system that has recently been implemented at UNC-Chapel Hill. There were many complaints from faculty due to the steep learning curve, time constraints, and paperwork requirements of Concur.
As a response, Harrison helped faculty members learn the system, holding many individual Zooms to walk individuals and groups through the process. He also acts as a delegate for faculty, easing their administrative burden in arranging travel for important research projects. In addition to becoming the touchstone and consultant of the Concur system for his department’s faculty and staff, Harrison created a website for the division with all the information needed for travel planning, reimbursement and more. Harrison serves on the travel committee for the School of Medicine, helping them understand the issues we have encountered.
SERVICE
Teach Autism Program Employment Coordinator Keri Waldrop
Waldrop interacts every day with current and potential employers for autistic adults as well as establishes and maintains relationships with other community resources that adults may need, such as housing, assistance with food insecurity and recreational and social activities. She educates those resources on the needs of autistic adults and guides/supports TEACCH job coaches in the Triad region. Several TEACCH staff have reported that she is an exceptional supervisor, and they receive more support in their positions than they have at any other job, both in and out of the mental health field.
Waldrop regularly covers for her staff when needed, work that is in addition to all the responsibilities of her job. Waldrop also worked with the International Board of Credentialling and Continuing Education Standards to have TEACCH represented at the recent Certified Autism Destination Press Conference.
DIVERSITY
TEACCH Autism Program Bilingual Resource and Referral Specialist Gloria Lima
Lima has served as an interpreter for many years facilitating and supporting communication for countless Spanish speaking families as they undergo autism evaluations and intervention services. In her new role as the statewide resource and referral specialist, she assists families in navigating the referral and intake paperwork.
She has translated multiple resources and pieces of information to benefit our Spanish speaking families, increasing their access to our services. In nomination letters, colleagues emphasized that Lima deserves this award because she is dedicated to the TEACCH mission and the families the program serves, is an amazing co-worker and is always available to help.
ADMINISTRATIVE
Microbiology and Immunology Director of Finance and Administration Dallas Carter
Colleagues say that Carter goes above and beyond her regular job description in service to the School of Medicine. She currently serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Council, which is the voice for staff across the SOM to build a more diverse and inclusive work environment and contribute to achieving the goals of the SOM DEI Strategic Plan. She also serves on the Administrative Advisory Council, which facilitates collaboration between Departments/Centers and the Office of the Dean to maintain rigorous and robust administrative and/or finance policies and processes.
Carter previously served as a business manager ambassador, and she currently serves as mentor/ambassador for director of finance and administration in the Department of Social Medicine. Carter also has led and served on search committees for directors of finance and administration and the director of human resources. Colleagues say Carter is fearless in pursuit of solutions to challenges faced by members of the SOM broadly. She led Microbiology and Immunology’s transition to use of the T&E Card and use of the Concur system with ease and clarity, and was able to quell the angst of the department’s faculty. Because of her success, SOM leadership asked Carter to be the founder and chair of the SOM Concur Workgroup, which was tasked with improving travel processes and procedures.