Carin Borg is March Gold ‘U’ recipient

Carin Borg wears many hats as the administrative director of the UNMC Department of Surgery.

Asked to describe her job, she sounds like she’s reading from a bowl of alphabet soup: part CBO, part CAO, CIO, CFO, COO …

“Anything and everything is my responsibility,” she said with a laugh.

Perhaps Borg’s willingness to tackle any job is the reason she is the Chancellor’s Gold ‘U’ Award winner for March. Or perhaps it is her:

• “Dedication, hard work and compassion.” – Tracy Rheault, administrator, cardiothoracic surgery and surgical oncology
• “Loyalty to the university.” – Tracy Krasser, administrator, division of transplant
• “High performance standards, integrity and accountability.” – Gale Wilson, clinic manager, surgery and urology.

“I love surgery. I like being on the leading edge, being progressive and innovative in what we do.” Carin Borg

Borg has been at UNMC for 37 years – though she meticulously points out an 11-month break somewhere in those three-plus decades – starting her career, she recalled, on “Six West for University Hospital.”

“I’ve worked with surgeons for 37 years,” she said. “I love surgery. I like being on the leading edge, being progressive and innovative in what we do. But I also like the business side – my job is the best of both worlds. It allows me to use both my clinical background and my business acumen.”

Another important facet of her work, Borg said, is helping her co-workers develop and succeed.

“I view my job as being a coach, mentor, trainer, facilitator,” she said. “Kind of like a coach who teaches her team the fundamentals of the game and then lets them execute.”

In fact, Greg Prorok, a research manager who has worked with Borg in the surgery department for more than 15 years, credits her mentorship as important to his career.

“In her extremely busy world she takes the time to talk to me and support me when I need it,” he said.

Kim Songster, the administrator of general and vascular surgery, also cites Borg as a mentor.

“It’s nice to always feel like you have someone in the department that will have your back and support you in some of the tougher decisions,” she said.

As for Borg, she still loves her work.

“I wouldn’t commute (from Lincoln) for 25 years if I didn’t enjoy it,” she said. “It’s a challenge. Things are constantly changing – no day is ever really the same.”