Coordinator of the Year Award Winners

Amy Kraus, University of Mississippi Medical Center

• Is the epitome of an ideal team player.
• Consistently goes unreasonably beyond normal expectations for the good of the department.
• Treats her position as a calling rather than a job, which is evidenced by the way she approaches every single issue or request.
• Within the institution is recognized as the best coordinator in our GME and is always asked to assist with CLER visits, train new coordinators, and support database reporting transitions.
• She is trusted wholeheartedly, loved, and revered by the residents, their spouses and their families.
• Amy has attended most ARCOS Annual Meetings since 2005 and recently was part of a panel at the ARCOS meeting empowering other program coordinators.

Courtney Matlach, C-TAGME, Montefiore Medical Center

• Embodies the spirit of CORD’s mission and represents the best of what medical education should and can be.
• Is the lifeline for two residency programs, numerous fellowships, and our residency leadership team, all while being recognized at the institutional level as a resource for other coordinators.
• Has helped overhaul the education program, organized and prepared the PD for ACGME visits, developed an ABOS 2 prep course for graduates, created a social media presence for the residency, and expanded the residency program size, for starters.
• She is a supporter and guide for many, is the department’s problem solver and organizer of all events.
• Is compassionate, organized, and supportive.
• This type of dedication is rare, and is indicative of her constant commitment to the success and well-being of residents.
• Courtney has been active at the national level in the organization, the support of other residency programs, and as a testament to her leadership skills, is in line for ARCOS presidency.

Barbra Solares, C-TAGME, University of Arizona

• Provides incredibly important communication and interpersonal skills to help guide and nurture the residents through tough and challenging times.
• Understands the intricacies of the ACGME, ABOS, KSB, ERAS, New Innovations, AAOS and local GME office.
• Demonstrates superior organization skills.
• Worked to implement the ABOS Knowledge Skills Behavior pilot program.
• Was the selected presenter of the Annual Patsi Fur Coordinator Lecture and presented at the 2019 ARCOS Annual Meeting on, “How to Create a Professional Development Council at Your Institution.”
• Barbra exhibits a constant willingness to go above and beyond what is expected of her.

Channon Cordes Cole, Mayo Clinic

• Oversees the residency program (60 residents), fellowship programs (12 fellows), as well as coordinating directly with numerous fellowship program coordinators, administrative staff, and the graduate school.
• Built several programs central to the current curriculum.
• Has an exceptionally creative and strategic mind and processes that define her.
• Forms close, supportive, and effective relationships with residents.
• Manages the “compliance” expectations of the program.
• Former Chair of the Education Program Coordinator Leadership Council and current co-chair of the EPC Optimization Group.
• Channon’s unwavering dedication and tireless work ethic have significantly contributed to the program’s success.

Cindy Thompson, C-TAGME, West Virginia University

• Is an integral part of the program’s growth and development.
• As further testament to her abilities as an educator, several of her former assistants have become successful residency coordinators themselves due to her mentorship.
• Fierce supporter of residents and advocates for their wellness, constantly looking to make residency better.
• Is an expert in the numerous intricacies of program requirements and guides both residents and faculty through the logistics of residency with ease.
• Exemplifies dedication, competence, compassion, and professionalism.
• Served as TAGME Board member.
• President of ARCOS from 2013-2015.
• Cindy’s lifelong dedication in serving the men and women who have been resident at the program is unequaled.

Jennifer Duane, EdM, Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program

• Responsible for oversight of all aspects of five-year residency training program, comprised of 60 residents and over 140 faculty members across four academic medical centers.
• Maintains working knowledge of regulations and trends in GME.
• Set up systems to maintain complex residency program with consistent and predictable excellence.
• Recruited and trained a colleague, and together have made the residency program office a marvel of effectiveness.
• Nearly single-handedly designed an alumni association, including establishing a business plan and incorporating it, to make it a functioning nonprofit entity.
• Treasurer of ARCOS, 2018-2021.
• Jennifer is competent and compassionate, all at the same time.

Kim Reising, University of Cincinnati

• Spearheaded the Residency Program Department for two decades, providing stability through changes in program directors.
• Mastered institutional GME procedures and national ACGME rules and regulations.
• Helped establish Sports Medicine and Trauma fellowship programs.
• Advocates relentlessly on behalf of residents and attendings, supporting both at a hospital-wide level.
• Helped develop an orthopedic surgery business curriculum in conjunction with AOC, serving as an Educational Advisor.
• Is happy standing in the background while faculty and others are praised, despite organizing the entire event–from food to certificates.
• President of ARCOS, 2019-2022.
• Kim is not only the face of the program, but the engine that drives it.

Julia Panzo, Ohio State University

• Program Coordinator for the Orthopaedic Residency Program, Podiatry Residency Program, and the Fellowship Coordinator for the Department of Orthopaedics, assisting with five fellowship subspecialties.
• Organizes all Residency Review Committee and all Fellowship application and site visits.
• Oversaw the implementation of a completely revised resident education curriculum.
• Has become a grant writer to provide funding for educational support and experiences.
• President of ARCOS, 2017-2019.
• Julia is a steady influence and guiding hand, providing leadership for continued growth into an outstanding example of what residency education should be.

Laurel Lewis, C-TAGME, Wellspan York Hospital

• Coordinator for Residency Program and Hand and Trauma fellowship programs.
• Assisted with the program’s initial and successful accreditation by American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
• Successfully managed AOA, AOAO, and ACGME language and requirements during a time of accreditation transition.
• Continued input and efforts resulted in a 500-page application/ADS document and subsequent site visit for continued accreditation.
• She epitomizes a coordinator that any program would be lucky to have.
• Manages residents travel outside the state on two separate rotations, arranging for everything from applying for medical training licenses to housing.
• Member of ARCOS since 2015.
• Laurel pours her whole heart and soul into the residency.

Vicky Norton, C-TAGME, University of Maryland

• Works tirelessly to ensure the program runs smoothly and has implemented multiple improvements while remaining completely dedicated to education.
• Manages 31 residents and is always ahead of the curve and fixes issues before residents know they exist.
• The program has rotations at 11 different hospitals in 5 different medical systems, and she seamlessly orchestrates the paperwork and ensures residents are in compliance with hospital requirements while meeting all ACGME requirements.
• Served as Surgical Review Board Chair and Treasurer for TAGME.
• Serves with the ACGME Advisory Group.
• President of ARCOS from 2015-2017.
• Vicky routinely goes above and beyond her role as residency coordinator to support the academic mission of the entire department.