Staff Spotlight: Kelsey Griffin

Kelsey is a Washington state native who lived in Frankfurt, Germany as a teenager before returning for college at Central Washington University. After college, she began her first professional job as a temporary administrative coordinator in the Division of Gastroenterology.

She now lives in South Seattle with her partner Mike and corgi Ruby and outside of work, loves spending time gardening, knitting, reading, and going to live music, “when it is safe,” she adds.

Upon beginning at the University of Washington, Kelsey quickly realized she enjoyed working with physicians and in the academic community. Eight years later, she is currently the division’s Operations Manager and works part time with the Department of Medicine, Academic HR team as a communication liaison to divisions and facilitator of the Division AHR Workgroup.

“I love the range of information that I get to learn working within the Division/ Department,” she says.

“My week can start out learning about the complexity of hospital finances and shift to research related to fecal transplants (yes, it is exactly like it sounds!)”

One of her favorite activities within the Department is her involvement in the Gender Equity Council (GEC). Kelsey has been an inaugural member of the GEC and leads the Employment Subcommittee, and she has recently been installed as the council co-chair. As co-chair, she works with faculty co-chair Dr. Susan Merel to lead and support the council’s mission and members.

In the same month she was named as co-chair of the GEC, Kelsey was also named as an interim co-administrator for the GI Division. Her leadership and skills have been a huge asset to Dr. Rotonya Carr as she came to the UW in October as GI Division Head.

“How lucky am I to have started my position as Division Head of GI with Kelsey as an administrative partner,” exclaims Dr. Carr. “Kelsey is an astute, creative, and highly skilled administrator.  She is also kind, patient and a true people person.  Her talents extend beyond that of her primary role as GI Division Operations Manager to helping lead our department in important initiatives.”

“She is seemingly indefatigable and so passionate about everything she takes on.  She sets the bar high for administrative operations and how we should all work to help one another.”

Kelsey returns the admiration for her team and Division, thanking the ”amazing Division/ Department staff and faculty. Throughout these unprecedented times, our divisional and clinical staff and faculty continue to show up and put in their best!”