DAPM Administrative Managers Attend Engagement and Retention Workshop

April 18, 2023

DAPM Administrative Managers Olivia Vallejo, Carla Gonzalez, Elizabeth Paray, and Lucelva Mendez, as well as Chief Administrative Officer Stephanie Fisher, MA, attended the Engagement and Retention Workshop on April 18, 2023, hosted by the Learning and Organizational Development Department of UCLA Health and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. This event at the Luskin Conference Center allowed our leaders learn about new tools, resources, and research-based best practices for enhancing departmental onboarding practices and elevating the new employee experience.

One of the activities centered around asking strategic questions in 1:1 meetings that engage staff members and demonstrate a commitment to their professional development. Participants received a resource with questions centered on four themes: Connections, Career Development, Wellness, and Recognition. 

Olivia Vallejo, Administrative Manager of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI), found this exercise particularly helpful to her workflow: "I believe it is so important to ask questions centered around these themes as a manager because it shows that you are invested in these individuals and care about their needs," she said. "Guidance on this has definitely made me more conscious of how crucial this is, and I will make an active effort to integrate these kinds of questions in my dialogue with colleagues. I believe it will help contribute to a healthy work culture."

Our managers cited the workshop as a "really inspiring and enjoyable experience" and came out of the event with new ideas for improving the onboarding experience and elevating team engagement.