How does UVA School of Medicine Project Management & Continuous Improvement support faculty?
Adam Griggs, Process Excellence Coach for Project Management & Continuous Improvement, answers that question and more.
This post is part of a series of interviews with faculty and staff who offer resources to SOM faculty. Stay tuned for more interviews with your colleagues!
Q: Can you tell us about the services that you and others supporting Process Excellence offer to faculty?
Yes, we are supporting a continuous improvement culture within the School of Medicine. Mike Danzi, Brooke Link, and I are three members of the team. We are available to help administrators within the Dean’s Office establish a problem-solving process for an opportunity that their department has identified as something that they want to improve, whether it is a relatively small, everyday challenge that’s a headache or an issue that is potentially larger. We use problem-solving methodologies to determine and implement solutions.
Right now we’re working with the senior associate deans and associate deans to support their departments within the Dean’s Office – groups such as medical education, clinical trials, finance, space planning, research, and grants and contracts. We’re working with the managers of these groups and then the executives that are associated with those areas. In 2019, we plan to begin reaching out to the larger School of Medicine community, as well.
Q: Could you share an example of a situation your team was able to help improve?
Absolutely. Different team members work with different areas; I can tell you a little bit about my areas. I’ve been working with the finance team. I’ve worked with them to review the way funds are managed. The first phase of the consultation was sharing the problem-solving methodologies I mentioned earlier. Then, I became more of a coach or facilitator while the finance team reviewed their funds flow process, both the rules for disbursement and the delivery of funds. The team identified a more efficient, streamlined set of rules and implemented better communication during the budgeting process, so the departments better understand how the rules affect what their budgeting and funds delivery.
Another example of what we’ve been working on: for anyone who is needing to schedule a meeting space, whether that be a conference room or a classroom or a place to have a face-to-face with a team or a small group, it can be a difficult process. There’s not a comprehensive list of what’s available or who to contact to reserve a space. We have a project team working on making that an easier process. We do have a website serving as an interim solution [https://myuva.sharepoint.com/sites/som. Select “Scheduling a SOM room” on the right side of the page].
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about the services your office offers?
In addition to a hands-on learning approach through an active project, we also offer both introductory and a more advanced classes for people who prefer to learn in a classroom setting. They can attend that class and then take what they learned back to their office or department. As they work through whatever challenge they’re tackling, they can always contact us for advice or coaching. The classes we currently offer are LEAN 101, LEAN 201, and Can You See a Process? Other classes are coming soon! School of Medicine faculty can register for the classes through Oracle.
Q: How long have you been at UVA and where were you before you came to UVA?
I have been at UVA for two years. Before that, I was a process engineer in automotive manufacturing.
Q: Do you have a favorite restaurant or hangout spot in Charlottesville?
Pearl’s on Main Street was one of my favorite stops until it closed down. I love to go to Hardywood.
Filed Under: Administrative Support Interviews, Interviews
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