Candidates
President-Elect
Kevin T. Dustin, MBA
Associate Chair for Administration and Finance
University of Utah School of Medicine
I am honored to be considered as a candidate for the upcoming AIM President Elect officer in Fiscal Year (FY) 25. The AIM Council and Alliance has much it would like to accomplish between now and 2024. As you are aware, the Business of Medicine (BOM) has become more integral than ever as organizations struggle with the cost of academic medicine. The Alliance’s goals and strategic plan are critical to helping academic departments through this new era within the delivery of medicine across the country. I would strongly support, advocate, and move these AAIM initiatives forward while helping AIM members meet the needs of their individual departments. As a quick introduction to my work experiences, here is a short snippet:
I have been working in academic medicine in both Colorado and Utah since 2001. Over the past 20+ years, I have held various leadership roles, including: Business Specialist, Administrative Manager, Associate Director, Administrative Director, and now Associate Chair for Administration and Finance within the Department of Internal Medicine located in Salt lake City, Utah. In each of these roles, I have increased both my knowledge and experience in the various challenges that face our Associations, Alliance, Universities, and Health Systems. Over the past 12 months, I actively participated an AIM Councilor and previously as member of the Business of Medicine Initiative Task Force. Being a Councilor and taskforce member has been a great opportunity to see some of the operations, dedication, and focus of the wonderful AIM members, staff, and colleagues from around the country. These experiences have ignited my desire to be more involved in giving back to this incredible organization!
While many of the issues we all face today are not new, the rate in which they are impacting each of our organizations, are alarming. My hope is to help create guidance, suggestions, and approaches for organizations that struggle with issues like:
- Culture: Create a culture where inclusion fuels innovation and quality as well as addresses health and educational inequities within medicine for faculty, APCs, learners, staff, and patients
- Employee Engagement: Define “success”, developing retention, development, and leadership initiatives: focusing on autonomy, mastery, and purpose of work
- Environment: Develop a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment by focusing on compassionate relationships, improved employee satisfaction, and overall wellness
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI): Establish ED&I as a core value, through: 1) a clear focus throughout each academic mission; 2) prioritizing/defining ED&I within daily activities; 3) creating a culture where ED&I is valued at all levels within an organization; and 4) developing the paradigm shift needed to keep pursuing ED&I no matter what barriers lie within our paths.
- Business of Medicine: Develop appropriate business models, create the appropriate organizational culture (awareness and understanding), find adequate resources, develop clear outcomes, and identify new and varied opportunities to support our academic missions.
Councilors
Sheena Barnes, MBA
Practice Supervisor - Cardiology
Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
I started within healthcare 7 years ago at The University of Vermont Health Network. At The University of Vermont Health Network I collaborate with my leadership team to oversee an intricate network of staff and providers within a rural environment. In my position I aid the faculty and fellows in attaining their objectives across all aspects of the organization’s missions: research, teaching, patient care and service.
In this counselor position I will actively participate in discussions, contributing my perspective and collaborate with fellow counselors for the benefit of AIM. My deep passion lies in facilitating access in a rural healthcare setting. I actively engage with AIM by consistently attending AIM Week conferences and have presented multiple posters. Additionally, I have participated and contributed to the AIM Education Committee and conducted a webinar.
My goal is to advocate for the voices of rising early and mid-career professionals. I aim to foster healthcare improvement through professional development, research, and advocacy. In support of the AAIM Strategic Plan I am poised to provide impactful professional development for administrative leaders within the academic internal medicine field.
Ladonna P. Elliott, MBA
Division Administrator, Gastroenterology and Hepatology
University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine
I have nearly 30 years of healthcare administration experience ranging from financial, operational and project management, consulting, and sales across many healthcare-related industries including academic medicine, private practice, hospital medicine, pharmaceutical, software, and consulting organizations. For 6 years, I have been the Division Administrator for the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. In my first year at UAB, I also served as the Division Administrator of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism as well. Spending a year serving both Divisions was challenging but very rewarding as I was able to immerse myself in the management of two distinctly different divisions within the UAB Department of Medicine.
While at UAB, I have served on many committees including search committees for faculty and staff as well as serving as the Chair of our Department of Medicine’s employee awards program. I have onboarded a new Division Director (and countless faculty, staff, and APPs) and have established a great working relationship with the Division Director as we build and grow the division.
I have a passion for continual learning to help improve my leadership skills. I am a recent graduate of the UAB Healthcare Leadership Academy, a partnership between the UAB Heersink School of Medicine and the UAB Collat School of Business, focused on leadership development and networking within the School of Medicine, a most prestigious leadership development program at UAB!
I have been a member of the AAIM since 2018, have attended all in-person meetings, and have grown and learned so much by being part of this great organization. In 2022, I had the privilege of joining the AIM Planning Committee and was able to participate in the planning of our annual meeting. For the 2023 academic year, I was asked to serve as the AIM Pre-Course Director. The Pre-Course is focused on providing education and information to new division administrators in academic medicine. I have enjoyed my time serving on these committees and feel that I have contributed positively.
I am ready to further my contributions to the AIM organization by being a Councilor on the AIM Council in 2024. Ways in which I can contribute to the AIM Council focus mainly on my varied work and life experience which has culminated in the position in which I currently serve. Daily, I reflect on and lean upon my experiences in various leadership positions and organizations in which I have been involved. I believe that my experience makes me a better Division Administrator and leader, and ultimately a contributing member of the AIM Council.
I envision a very inclusive AIM Council which welcomes the perspectives and ideas of all the Council members. With this as its guiding principle, the Council will be able to think and act creatively in its decision-making. I look forward to being part of this important body of work.