In an effort to continue cultivating a culture of equity and inclusion for all employees, the Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences (HNS&CS) has joined forces with four other School of Medicine departments. This collaboration, which includes Duke Learning & Organizational Development, Duke Health Integrated Plan Human Resources, and Duke University Human Resources, has launched a fifteen-month pilot program for ten administrative support staff. The goal is to establish a career ladder for employees in key administrative support roles.
The Administrative Support Staff Professional Development Pilot Program, which has been in planning since March 2022, began on July 29th, 2024. Irish Hamilton, CEAP, from HNS&CS, who is one of the founding members of the program planning group, is volunteering as a mentor, while Linda Jackson, a Staff Assistant selected from a pool of candidates, will be working on establishing a career ladder at Duke University.
Both Irish and Linda are integral parts of the HNS&CS department, supporting faculty, administrators, and patients at Duke University. The fifteen-month pilot program includes certifications, mentor and mentee meetings, webinars, and shadowing opportunities.
Duke HNS&CS is proud to support its team members and other administrative support staff in this pilot program. This initiative will encourage engagement and retention by strengthening the internal professional network at Duke University and other entities. Ultimately, the program aims to create a model for equitable and inclusive professional development opportunities for staff at Duke, regardless of position, that can be scaled to the broader University.