A Personal Connection to Pediatric Healthcare
In 2007, I was sitting in the backseat of my parents’ car as we drove down Madison’s bustling University Avenue. My parents were quiet, but my attention was glued to the scene outside my window. Hundreds of UW-Madison students, chatting and laughing, walked along the sidewalks.
Curious, I turned to my dad and asked, “Who are all those people? Where are they going?”
He smiled and replied, “Those are UW-Madison students, Cal! They’re going to school. Think of them as little ants, marching one by one to their classrooms. Maybe you can join them as a college student one day!”
At the time, I didn’t realize how significant those words would become.
Earlier that year, I had been diagnosed with an optic nerve glioma—a benign brain tumor causing complete blindness in my right eye. Although my family and I lived in Rockford, Illinois, we were referred to the American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison to see pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Bermans Iskander.
That first drive down University Avenue marked the beginning of many trips to Madison for doctor’s appointments. Every visit brought me back to that same stretch of road, where I’d watch the “ants”—the UW students—marching to class. Watching them became a source of fascination and comfort during a frightening time, giving me, as a seven-year-old girl, something steady to hold onto amidst challenges I couldn’t fully understand.
My seven-hour neurosurgery was a success. The tumor was removed, and I regained much of the sight in my right eye. Alongside my recovery, my family and I were profoundly grateful for the city of Madison. From Dr. Iskander and my entire care team to the support of the Ronald McDonald House, Madison wrapped its arm around us when we needed it most.
Eighteen years later, I returned to this same city—not as a patient, but as a student, filled with passion and purpose, ready to pursue my Master of Business Administration in Strategic Human Resource Management.
Combining Passions: Human Resources Meets Pediatric Healthcare
Returning to Madison this year felt both familiar and transformative. Shortly after accepting my offer to join the MBA Class of 2026, I was presented with an incredible opportunity to work part-time as an HR Project Assistant with the University. As a career-switcher transitioning from my previous role as an Operations Manager at Six Flags, I was eager to gain real-world experience in Human Resources.
When my Center Director and mentor, Tanya Hubanks, shared the news that I’d be working within the Department of Pediatrics in the School of Medicine and Public Health, I was speechless. The chance to contribute to the healthcare system that cared for me as a child felt incredibly meaningful. I eagerly accepted the offer and looked forward to starting a new chapter as an MBA student and HR Project Assistant.
A Semester of Growth and Gratitude
Stepping into my new Project Assistant role in August, I found myself walking the same hospital hallways I had as a child. Despite being so young at the time of my surgery, small details brought back vivid memories—the bright atrium, the abstract cow statue, and my favorite part of the hospital: the Skywalk.
When I was a patient, UW Health was completing renovations to connect the main hospital and the American Family Children’s Hospital with a stunning walkway. Families were invited to sponsor mosaic tiles with personalized messages embedded in the Skywalk’s glass windows. My parents, filled with gratitude for the care I received, chose to sponsor one. On my first day as a Project Assistant, I made sure to stop by and find our tile. Seeing their message etched in glass filled me with deep gratitude—not only for the care I received as a child, but also for the opportunity to contribute to this incredible healthcare system as an HR Project Assistant.
From that first day, I was welcomed with enthusiasm by the faculty and administrative staff in the Department of Pediatrics. My first few weeks were a whirlwind of “Meet and Greet” conversations with business leaders across key functions such as Clinical Operations, Finance, Academic Affairs, Education, and Research. These conversations highlighted the collaborative nature of the department and provided a clear understanding of how my role as a Project Assistant would support these critical functions.
For my first major project with Pediatrics, I collaborated with the Human Resources Business Partners to develop a Faculty Exit Interview Survey. Department leaders sought to better understand the experiences of departing faculty, many of whom are dually employed by the University and the UW Health Foundation. Designing the survey required balancing the need to capture diverse faculty roles—such as research, clinical work, and teaching—with the need to produce actionable data. This project gave me valuable insight into dual faculty contracts and employment structures—an experience that aligns with my long-term goal of working in HR within a healthcare setting.
Using Qualtrics for the first time, I developed a comprehensive survey that leveraged branching logic to tailor questions to faculty members’ primary areas of focus. Currently, I am gathering feedback from department leadership, and the project is nearing completion. This experience is not only strengthening my technical skills but also deepening my understanding of how HR supports faculty in a complex healthcare environment.
Another one of my key projects this semester involved creating a Faculty Offboarding Checklist in collaboration with the Associate Department Administrator of Academic Operations. Without an established process for offboarding faculty, leaders faced challenges in tracking and managing the tasks associated with departures. To address this, I worked closely with departmental business leaders to identify and integrate offboarding tasks specific to their areas. I am currently automating the checklist in Smartsheet and preparing to present my progress at the Pediatric Senior Huddle meeting in early January.
I have also contributed to several smaller projects throughout the semester, including serving on the Mitigating Bias in Recruitment and Hiring Committee, assisting with planning the 2025 Supervisor Summit, and collaborating with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program Manager. In January 2025, I will begin working with the Department Chair and Chief Administrative Officer to explore a reorganization of the physician leadership structure.
Looking Ahead
Returning to Madison—this time not as a patient, but as a professional—has been an incredible journey. Working within the Department of Pediatrics has given me the chance to give back to the healthcare system that profoundly shaped my life while also fostering significant personal and professional growth. Through this role, I have networked with inspiring professionals, gained invaluable technical skills, deepened my understanding of Human Resources in a healthcare setting, and contributed to impactful projects that support the department’s critical functions. As I look ahead, I am eager to continue building on these experiences, growing within the MBA program, and further contributing to the Department of Pediatrics’ important work. It’s been a privilege to come full circle and be part of something so impactful. On, Wisconsin!