Last month, Judy Darnell joined the Medicine Chair’s office as the new administrative coordinator.
Darnell has worked for Duke Health for seven years, working in Duke Respiratory Care Services as an administrative assistant for five years. Darnell also brings experience in business management to the office.
For 23 years, she and her husband were a part of a custom printing boutique business called Wilson Litho, Inc. In the company’s last 11 years, Darnell and her husband co-owned the business. She also earned her bachelor’s degree in business from Appalachian State University in 1987.
“We are very fortunate to have recruited Judy to the Department,” said Joe Rogers, MD. “She comes with a wealth of institutional knowledge and professionalism that will be of benefit to the entire Department.”
In her new role, she acts as one of the key supporters for Dr. Rogers and the Department. This ranges from managing Rogers’ meeting schedules to planning large-scale functions.
“I’ve learned a lot already. There’s so much more to learn and Donna Salvo is a wealth of information along with Joy Williams and others,” said Darnell. “As I grow into the role and understand what the Department needs, my time here is going to be exciting. I’m very happy to be here!”
During Darnell’s time at Duke Respiratory as an administrative assistant, she gained experience in budget management, meeting planning, and helped the leadership team with basic department operations on a daily basis.
“That position was a very good foundation for what I’ll be doing now,” she said. “Basically, I was the ‘go-to’ person for about 160 people who needed to know what was going on in Respiratory Care Services.”
Darnell said she will miss everyone in Duke Respiratory and will to keep in touch with her old co-workers.
“I loved my role at Duke Respiratory. It was personally rewarding and I loved working with the people,” she said. “I will always know them and we’ll always be friends. I’m just excited to do something new and use my skills to help this team.”
Darnell said she is ready to embrace the Department of Medicine’s fast-paced work environment and its challenges.
“It’s not unlike running a business…but as far as handling all of the different things that will come at me I’m assuming, that was what I lived for 23 years before I came to Duke,” Darnell said. “I was constantly juggling, switching, adjusting, reprioritizing in some cases, and keeping the pulse on what exactly needed to be done at any given time. They’re two different worlds but I think the mindset will be the same.”
This story was written by Tia Mitchell, communications intern for the Department of Medicine.