Kellie Devney is September’s Gold U award winner

As the residency coordinator for the neurosurgery division, Kellie Devney describes herself as “kind of a den mother.”

That’s a lot more low-key than saying she’s “the consummate example of commitment to excellence, leadership, teamwork and collegiality,” which is how Ken Follett, M.D., Ph.D., chief of neurosurgery, describes her.

Devney is the Chancellor’s Gold U Award winner for the month of September.

Devney came to UNMC 15 years ago in February to take over what was then a new position.

“Now, things have changed — every program is required to have a coordinator,” she said. “Back when I started, it was more of a perk to have somebody designated to take care of the program.”

As residency coordinator, working primarily with the residents but also with medical students, Devney handles “most of the academic things in the office – the journal clubs, the conferences, the annual academic lectures,” she said.

The job has evolved since she arrived, not least because Devney now works with 14 residents instead of five — and because the neurosurgery residency now last seven years instead of six. But she still loves it.

“Every day for me is a new adventure,” she said. “No two days are the same. And the people I work with are amazing.”

In a division that doesn’t see a lot of turnover, Devney describes her co-workers as a family.

“We all know we’re working toward a common goal,” she said. “And the residents — I feel very blessed that I work with this amazing group of young physicians.”

In a nominating letter, Devney’s supervisor Claudia Morgia called her the “go-to person for the entire division.

“She has a way of helping people in difficulty while maintaining a positive and nourishing manner,” Morgia continued.

Dr. Follett noted that he consistently receives comments from physicians and staff from other institutions — including nationally and internationally prominent neurosurgeons — describing Devney as a wonderful asset to the neurosurgery program and to UNMC.

“She has been a driving force in improving the quality of our neurosurgical training program to the extent that our program is now recognized nationally for excellence,” Dr. Follett wrote.

Perhaps because, for Devney, the program, her co-workers, her residents, the professors and the physicians, deserve to be recognized for excellence.

“These are people I respect and admire so much,” she said. “I love UNMC. It’s an amazing place to work.”