We received several heartfelt and descriptive nominations for the September 2022 persons of the month! To nominate someone for recognition, please email Melanie Kirk.
Administrator of the Month
Caroline Jordan
"In October, Caroline will have worked in the Department of Surgery for 20 years. She serves as the Department of Surgery’s effort manager and is responsible for managing over 900 faculty and staff effort allocations. This includes processing and/or reviewing and approving hundreds of iforms monthly, ensuring that over 350 Surgery faculty certify effort on a quarterly basis and over 900 faculty and staff certify their effort annually, all by the SOM deadline, in which Caroline has never failed to accomplish. To accomplish this, it often means that Caroline has to send multiple emails, make multiple phone calls, power page, set-up 1:1 on meetings, visit clinics, and wait outside ORs to catch the faculty and take advantage of the one free moment they have during the day.
Prior to the opening of ECRT for each effort certification deadline, Caroline gets up between 1:00-2:00 am the morning of, utilizing a narrow window of time, to ensure that all necessary system tasks have been completed before automated notifications are sent to faculty/staff. This is not something that is required or that is even expected of Caroline, but that she does to make the process as easy as possible for faculty and is an example of Caroline’s dedication to her job, the faculty and staff, and the department.
For many Surgery faculty who care for patients in the clinic and OR, hold VA appointments, perform research, and have leadership and administrative roles, effort reporting can be viewed as cumbersome and frustrating and can often be referred to as “splitting hairs” or making a “square peg fit into a round hole”. With her leadership, experience, knowledge and understanding, she is able to masterfully guide the faculty and articulate an opaque process in a transparent manner and find a way to make that square peg fit into the round hole. Caroline is a great colleague and friend, and although much of Caroline’s role may be performed behind the scenes, her hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed. We are fortunate to have Caroline in our department and we truly appreciate your hard work and effort."
- Lauren Shields, Senior Business Manager
Melanie Kirk
"Melanie Kirk wears a lot of hats for the Department of Surgery. She manages our Chair’s suite, oversees and manages our physical space, and orchestrates recognition for our most valuable assets: our people. This recognition comes in the form of beautifully orchestrated events and more personal recognition that shows individuals how much they are valued. Mel consistently brings the highest level of quality and “customer service” to all she does. Mel’s professionalism and people-focus allow her to excel in her role. We are so fortunate to have her representing Surgery! Thank you, Mel for all you do!"
- Katherine Stanley, Vice Chair of Administration and Finance
"Mel consistently finds ways to help others and genuinely cares about delivering excellent quality work as illustrated by the Akwari Gala. She integrates both an understanding of the goals, as well as attention to detail. Her excellence not only benefits the entire department, but it also sets an example to stay proactive. Her organizational skills are matchless. And she does it with kindness."
- Linda Cendales, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery
Faculty of the Month
Ankeet Shah, MD
"Dr. Shah has rapidly become an instrumental educator within the Duke Urology Residency. He has done this through modeling outstanding patient care and operative skills. Beyond this, he has eagerly stepped up to the plate to care for many complex patients that have come to Duke through their emergency department. Such support has not only helped patients, but the entire division in improving caring for our community."
- Urology Residents
"Dr. Shah is a wealth of knowledge to both patients and colleagues alike. From his bedside manner to his eagerness to teach, you can tell that he is incredibly passionate about and skilled in his career."
- Kathryn Sagester, Physician Assistant
"Dr. Shah has been a welcome addition to the faculty and has taken a strong interest in resident education both in and out of the operating room."
- Srinath Kotamarti, MD, Clinical Associate in the Department of Surgery