October 2017, Gastroenterology and Hepatology 

Donna Medved, Research Administrator in the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Division, is an asset to her division. If you ask Division Manager Susan Lydick, the only problem is that there aren’t more of her. “Donna has the sort of work ethic that makes her someone I wish I could clone,” Lydick says.

A serious multitasker

Medved’s role varies from day to day. She manages research grants, clinical trials, contracts and unrestricted awards for a number of PI’s in the division, in addition to financial reports, expenditures, invoices, award set-up, and all other related tasks in the post-award phase. She’s worked for the Department of Medicine since 2008, and began in the GI and Hepatology division as an administrative associate. Before coming to Stanford she held various roles, from project management at Applied Materials to managing the finances for her husband’s business.

Lydick, for one, is awed by Medved’s work ethic. “I can still remember the first time I sat down with Donna to get an understanding of what she did on a daily basis,” Lydick says. “When Donna was an admin, she would come in early and get her faculty their daily calendars. She'd process reimbursements, set up meetings, arrange travel, confirm that the various clinic schedules were in sync with the academic calendar for the next few months and order office supplies. Sounds like a typical administrative associate role, right? It is, but the extraordinary thing was that this was all completed within the first hour Donna had arrived in the a.m.”

Now, as a research administrator, Medved has more responsibilities, but she’s more than up to the task. “Donna is still teaching me how to do the job,” Lydick says. “She takes care of so many trials and studies that I’m amazed she doesn’t have to work all day every day. She has mastered the ability to effectively and efficiently manage an ever growing workload without breaking a sweat.”

Zarina Ali calls Medved “one of the hardest workers in our division,” adding that “the number of clinical trial awards in GI has almost doubled in the last few years and Donna has managed this with no complaints. Awards are set up, invoiced, tracked, and closed from beginning to end with her. She definitely deserved this award a long time ago.”

A warm presence

Still others in her division cite her kindness and warmth. “She's a great teacher. Her instruction is straightforward and easy to understand. She's very patient and caring. She also has a great sense of humor, and she brings good energy to the office,” Akiko Mizuta says.   

Randi Frias agrees: “She’s always helpful and a pleasure to be around. Any time I have a question, she is my go-to person. She never makes me feel like I’m a bother.”

Medved herself was moved by the award, which she says took her by surprise:  "I was in complete shock when they awarded me," she says. "I almost started to cry.  It made me feel good about the work I do here at Stanford, and that there are people who do recognize my work and appreciate it.  It's a wonderful feeling." She adds: "There’s a reason why I stayed at Stanford for this long.  The people are great.  I enjoy my co-workers very much.”

Outside of work, the majority of her time is “with the family.  We spend a lot of time outdoors," she explains. "Camping and boating in the summer and snowboarding in the winter.  My young boys are in competitive sports, which takes up my weekends.  For myself, I believe it's important to be fit and healthy. I make it a point to work out at least three to four times a week.”