As a research operations administrator in the UNMC Department of Surgery, Jackie Pavlik – the Gold U winner for June – supports the basic science and clinical research efforts of the surgeons in the department, as well as their collaborators across campus.
Her nominators say Pavlik has created and championed a work environment that allows members to collaborate and support surgery investigators. And her expertise in research administration has led the department to more successful growth in research.
Pavlik, on the other hand, said her success is the result of the people around her.
“I have such a great team right now – they make me look good, and I have complete trust in them,” Pavlik said. “I’ve also had some great mentors along the way, but my current supervisor Tracy Rheault has been instrumental in my growth, and I’m very appreciative of that.”
Pavlik began her career at UNMC in 1991 as a technologist in a research lab in the VA Liver Study Unit with Georgia Rees, MD, and Michael Sorrell, MD, and has since worked in a number of different labs across campus, including internal medicine, pulmonary, obstetrics, gynecology and pathology. She joined the department of surgery as a grants administrator in 2018 before coming to her current role in 2021.
In addition to supporting and leading the research infrastructure within the department, Pavlik reviews grant applications and reports, approves contracts and purchases and created the infrastructure to support clinical trials in the department by recruiting FTEs to support faculty who fall outside the cardiovascular and oncology clinical trial offices.
Pavlik said one of the more rewarding aspects of her role is to take researchers’ creative ideas and guide them through the system, with the goal of attaining funding through the National Institutes of Health or other sponsors.
Pavlik’s ability to find ways to streamline processes led to the creation of an online system that allows her to track her team’s progress. One nominator said: “We continue to expand the number of funded clinical trials, thanks to Jackie and all of her hard work.”
Pavlik said interacting with others and collectively working toward increasing knowledge and supporting future breakthroughs in research has been most rewarding.
“It’s a great place to work because of the people that are here. Everybody is working toward the same mission – we’re all service-based and serving the greater good of the university system,” Pavlik said. “I may not see the immediate benefit of my work, but knowing that I’ve impacted future innovation is rewarding.”
Another nominator said Pavlik’s professionalism and expertise in research administration have inspired and motivated the team to strive for excellence.
Pavlik said she’s honored and grateful for the Gold U recognition, considering the award another small win in a collection of little wins that make a great career.
“We’re not working for awards; that’s not why we do it,” she said. “We work toward hitting a higher standard. I think we’re always our toughest critics, but I am hitting a standard that meets the needs of the department and the university as a whole.”
Good job Jackie!
Congratulations Jackie! So well deserved!
Congratulations, Jackie, you are so very deserving of this recognition!
A well-deserved honor, Jackie. It’s a pleasure working with you.
This is a much-deserved award. You have been a pleasure to work with for over 30 years (dang, we have been here a long time). Congratulations, Jackie.
Congratulations Jackie! Well deserved!
Great Job Jackie
Congratulations Jackie!
Congrats on this amazing recognition, Jackie! It is so nice to work with you and have your support and your amazing team.
Congrats Jackie! So glad you are doing so well!
Congratulations, Jackie! It is a well-deserved honor. Your supportive leadership is invaluable. We are a successful team thanks to your guidance.
Congratulations Jackie. You are a true asset to the Department of Surgery. They are lucky to have you!
Congratulations Jackie! So well-deserved!
Very well deserved. Thank you so much for all the leadership and strong work you have been providing!
Congratulations, Jackie!
Congratulations Jackie!! Well deserved award and I have enjoyed working with you.
Congratulations, Jackie!
Congratulations, Jackie!
Congratulations! Jackie. You were worthy of it.
Congrats Jackie! It’s an impressive achievement and truly well-deserved.
Congratulations, Jackie!
Congratulations, Jackie, so very deserving of this award!
Congratulations, Jackie! Very well deserved.
Congratulations, Jackie!
Congratulations Jackie! It is good to see you recognized for all the great work you do. I truly miss working with you in pulmonary, but am excited for all your current success!
Congratulations, Jackie!
So deserved! Congratulations, Jackie.
Congratulations! You are so deserving of this honor, and I am grateful for your mentorship.
Congratulations on achieving this award, Jackie!
Congratulations Jackie!!
Congrats Jackie! You deserve this!
Congratulations, Jackie! I have known you from the very beginning of your career at UNMC working in Georgia Rees’s lab at the VA and can attest that you are so deserving of this award! I am so happy for you!
Congrats Jackie – you are so deserving for this recognition. You are the absolute best!
Many thanks to all of you for the kind sentiments. It has been great working with all of you at UNMC and your contributions too, have led to this little piece of my journey. Humbled to be recognized & push forward to meet or beat this standard every day as the ongoing goal.
A driving force in research in the Department of Surgery. Well deserved Jackie!
Well deserved! Jackie is a pleasure to work with and has championed the workplace for the rest of us!
Congratulations! Jackie is knowledgeable, reliable and supportive. She is the anchor of our research support team. Very well deserved!
Woohoo! Congratulations Jackie! Well deserved!
Congratulations Jackie!