by Sarah L. Minor, MS

L to R: Cynthia Joiner, PhD, Jennifer Wilson, and Nisha Patel, MSHA, MBA

An innovative new program aims to create a pipeline of future administrative leaders across UAB and UAB Medicine. The Developing Emerging Administrative Leaders (DEAL) program offers a custom-designed training experience to equip internal talent for management and leadership roles through an interactive 10-month exploration of finance, human resources, research, education, and clinical operations at UAB.

UAB Department of Medicine Vice Chair Cindy Joiner, Ph.D., serves as principal investigator on the Health Services Foundation General Endowment Fund grant that funded DEAL’s implementation. She worked alongside seven other administrative leaders across the institution, including LaKisha Mack, MBA (Senior Associate Dean of Finance and Administration in the Heersink School of Medicine), Rachelle Hall (Director of Finance in the Heersink School of Medicine), Nisha Patel, MSHA, MBA (Director of Wellness and Administration in the Heersink School of Medicine), Molly Wasko, Ph.D. (Professor and Associate Dean for Research, Innovation and Faculty Success in the Collat School of Business), Ryan Outman, MS (Executive Administrator in the Department of Family and Community Medicine), Shane Wiley, MBA (Executive Administrator in the Department of Medicine), and Jennifer Wilson (Division Administrator II in the Department of Medicine), to design and implement the program.

“We all recognized how difficult it can be for staff to get the real-world experience they need to grow in their UAB administrative careers. This program gives participants the opportunity to network and build connections, while gaining a comprehensive understanding of university administration and management through monthly four-hour sessions, personal development plans, and both small and large group interactions,” Joiner states.

The program blends didactic presentations with real-world case studies, discussions, and practical, interactive learning. Participants will also have opportunities to continue their learning and network with existing administrators through review, discussion, and opportunities beyond the program.

Out of 88 applicants, 28 individuals were selected to participate in DEAL’s inaugural cohort.

Meagan Raegan, Clinical Research Administrator I in the Division of Pediatric Nephrology and DEAL participant shares, “I feel super excited about being here for multiple reasons. I’ve been at UAB for 8 years, but I get to deepen my roots a lot more into the UAB system. I get to network with a lot of fantastic people, and I get to see the broad scope of what happens at UAB from a day-to-day basis. I think it will be really enriching, and I’m looking forward to the next 10 months!”

UAB is dedicated to fostering the growth and development of its staff members and the DEAL program is an exciting example of this value in action. For more details about the DEAL program and its leaders, please visit https://sites.uab.edu/deal.