October 11, 2023

When did you join UTHealth Houston? What brought you here?
I joined UTHealth Houston in November 2020. I was working at UTMB in Galveston and hoping to advance my career after receiving my MBA in 2019. I worked at UTMB for 6 years as a residency coordinator alongside two other women. I knew coming to UTH neurosurgery would help me learn and grow to be the sole program coordinator in the department.

Tell us about your work history here.
I have been working for the last three years as the senior residency/fellowship program coordinator for the Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery. When I started in 2020, the department was still operating in COVID protocol. Throughout the three years, I have had to relearn and transition with the department as we are coming out on the other side of COVID. This year is the first year we are going to do the residency interviews in person again, which we are all very excited about. The process of transitioning our program back to “normal” has been exciting and given me a chance to help update and revamp our program.

What are you most proud of accomplishing?
My biggest accomplishment in my career has been getting my MBA. I obtained my degree while working full time as a residency coordinator knowing the skills and knowledge would help me be a bigger asset to my program and residents.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
The thing I truly enjoy the most about my job is the relationships I have with all of the residents and fellows. I know the long and hard hours they all work, so if I can make their lives easier in any way it makes me feel really good.

Why have you stayed?
Through the last three years of working here, we have had a change in the chairman and our residency program director. Although these are big changes, it has never stopped the department in its efforts for excellence and growth. We are now up to a 21-residency complement and six fellowships. Amid all the changes, the department’s ability to keep moving and growing confirmed this was the environment I wanted to grow with.

When you are not at work, how do you spend your time?
Although I love my job, my true passion is my family. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband watching sports and traveling. I also have six nieces and nephews who are my world! Being with my family brings me great joy, and I am so blessed with the family I have.