As we face the challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, Duke staff and faculty everywhere are stepping up to keep the important work of the university and health system going. In an effort to highlight contributions, we've started a new feature, "Dedicated Devils."
With your nominations, Dedicated Devils will showcase the work of Duke employees who go above and beyond during this trying time. If you know of a staff or faculty member who has risen to the challenge, tell us here or write to the Working@Duke team.
As the associate dean of medical education administration for the School of Medicine, Stacey McCorison oversees a dozen areas, including finance and budgeting, human resources, IT and the anatomical gifts program.
While a typical year would have her equally splitting up the responsibilities of her role, much of the regular is on hold to focus on a key area: space management. McCorison’s job has been a whirlwind of preparing the Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans Center for Health Education for the return of students and some staff and faculty on Aug. 3.
“Typically, space management takes up maybe 8 percent of my job,” McCorison said. “Now it’s 120 percent. It supersedes everything because we want to make sure our staff, faculty and students are safe when they return to campus.”
McCorison’s worked with Duke Engineering and Operations on the installation of hand sanitizer stations around the Trent Semans Center. She helped map out common room and classroom capacity to allow for distancing between people. And she reviewed applications from faculty, staff and students requesting permission to return to campus.
She also volunteered to pass out face masks to essential employees working in labs on campus.
“It’s been a busy few months, but we’ve got a great group at the School of Medicine,” McCorison said. “Everyone is passionate and eager to help out however they can.”
Amy Ward, director of the School of Medicine’s Office of Curricular Affairs, nominated McCorison for “Dedicated Devil” due to her work preparing the Trent Semans Center for reopening.
“Stacey is the person behind the scenes that makes sure she has the most up-to-date information to make the most up-to-date decisions, even when it changes by the minute, about how the building can be used and the extensive safety plans that need to be in place,” Ward said. “She is kind of the conductor of our orchestra. She makes sure things are humming.”
Read about Stacey and other Dedicated Devils rising to the challenge of COVID-19 on Duke Today