The Duke Department of Medicine is proud to honor administrative leaders who exemplify the values of excellence, collaboration, and service across all missions of the department.
Recipients of this year’s administrative awards have demonstrated extraordinary dedication to supporting faculty, staff, students, and patients—through innovation, mentorship, and steadfast commitment to operational excellence. These individuals reflect the best of Duke’s values in action, with contributions that strengthen our department and help advance our shared mission.
Meet the 2025 Administrative Award recipients:
2025 Rising Star Award for Administrative Excellence
Tatiana Scipiao Araujo, Clinical Grants and Contracts Administrator
Tatiana Scipiao Araujo is recognized as an emerging leader whose growing contributions and expanding impact reflect a strong trajectory within the Department of Medicine. Her commitment to the research mission has already produced measurable results: she developed a tool to improve financial record accuracy that was adopted across the Medicine CRU, helping to recover over $500,000 in missed revenue and resolve more than $400,000 in past-due invoices. Her efforts have also strengthened research compliance by closing out long-standing studies, demonstrating initiative, innovation, and leadership well beyond her current role.
2025 Distinguished Achievement in Administrative Service Award
Beth Lassiter, MSHR, PHR
Chief Human Resources Officer
Beth Lassiter embodies the highest standards of administrative leadership through her depth of knowledge, resilience, and thoughtfulness. Her ability to remain unflappable in the face of challenges, combined with her pragmatic approach to problem-solving, has made her an invaluable leader within our department. Her unwavering commitment to service is evident in her willingness to take on additional responsibilities, most notably in assuming oversight of the Appointment, Promotions, and Tenure (APT) office. In doing so, she has masterfully leveraged the synergy between APT and Human Resources, ensuring a more seamless and effective coordination of faculty needs. Whether providing solutions to intricate HR matters or fostering a culture of collaboration, Beth consistently demonstrates an extraordinary ability to empower those around her at every level.
2025 Lifetime Achievement Award in Administration
Dawn O'Briant, Administrative Assistant, Rheumatology
Dawn is honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award in Administration for her extraordinary impact over 48 years of service to the Department of Medicine. A creative problem solver known for her tenacity and compassion, she has consistently gone above and beyond for patients, faculty, and trainees. Colleagues describe her as a trusted partner who built meaningful relationships with patients and families, often stepping in during their most difficult moments. Her prompt, thoughtful support—especially for the most vulnerable patients in the Rheumatology clinic—reflects a career defined by empathy, excellence, and unwavering dedication.