[MUSIC] >> GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO THE 6030 ANNUAL NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH MANAGEMENT INTERN AND PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT FELLOW COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY. MY NAME IS LAURA CRAMP AND I AM A SECOND YEAR MANAGEMENT INTERN. >> AND I AM A SECOND YEAR PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT FELLOW, AND WE ARE HONORED TO SERVE AS YOUR MASTERS OF CEREMONIES TODAY. >> TOGETHER WITH MEMBERS OF THE GRADUATION PLANNING COMMITTEE, MADE UP OF OTHER SECOND-YEAR MANAGEMENT INTERNS AND PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT FELLOWS, WE HAVE PREPARED A PROGRAM FOR YOU THAT WE HOPE YOU WILL ENJOY. >> TODAY, YOU WILL BE HEARING FROM SEVERAL OF OUR LEADERS IN NIH MANAGEMENT, LEADERS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRAINING COMMITTEE, THE MI AND PMF PROGRAM MANAGERS, AND MOST OF ALL, THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GRADUATING CLASS. >> BUT BEFORE WE HEAR FROM OUR SPEAKERS, WE WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MOST UNUSUAL AND CHALLENGING YEAR THAT WE HAVE ALL HAD IN THE FOLLOWING PRESENTATION. WHEN THIS YEAR'S CLASS OF GRADUATES JOINED THEIR RESPECTIVE PROGRAMS IN 2019, THEIR EXPERIENCES WERE FILLED WITH CAMPUS TOURS, IN-PERSON TRAININGS, NETWORKING, INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS, AND ROTATIONS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THEIR PROGRAM MANAGER, MARY WASSAM. >> THEY COMMITTED FULLY TO THIS EXPERIENCE, STARTED DEVELOPING SKILLS AND ADAPTABILITY AND WERE IMMERSED IN ALL THE NIH HAD TO OFFER. THERE WAS SO MUCH THAT WAS TAKEN FOR GRANTED. ON-SITE TOURS, DROPPING BY SOMEONE'S OFFICE, OR LEARNING BY LOOKING OVER SOMEONE'S SHOULDER. COFFEE BREAKS WERE IMPROMPTU, AND OFFICE CELEBRATIONS INCLUDED THE BREAKING OF BREAD IN COMMUNAL SPACES. >> THEN, THE WORLD WAS TURNED UPSIDE-DOWN. FOR ALL OF US. DRAMATIC CHANGES IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES BECAME COMMONPLACE. IN THE EFFORT TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER, THE WORLD WENT VIRTUAL. DESPITE THE INHERENT RISE IN ANXIETY AND STRESS, THIS AMAZING 2021 MI PMF COHORT PERSEVERED. THEY ADJUSTED AND ADAPTED. THEY FOUND NEW WAYS TO CONNECT, AND TO CELEBRATE. BOTH PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY. >> THEY SPENT TIME WITH THEIR LOVED ONES, BOTH FURRY AND HUMAN. THEY DEVELOPED NEW HOBBIES, AND THEY GOT VERY CREATIVE IN THEIR WORK FROM HOME SETUP. THIS CLASS OF GRADUATES HAS HAD AN EXPERIENCE UNLIKE ANY OTHER, AND THEIR RESILIENCE AND DETERMINATION HAS BEEN PUT TO THE TEST. >> AS WE GATHER TODAY, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE WAYS OUR GRADUATES HAVE GROWN, LEARNED NEW SKILLS AND THRIVED, DESPITE ALL ODDS. WE CELEBRATE THEM. THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ALL OF THOSE WHO SUPPORTED THEM OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. THEY HAVE MADE AND WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT THE NIH THROUGH THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS. CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2021. >> WE WILL NOW HAVE OPENING REMARKS FROM ONE OF THE NIH'S MOST RESPECTED AND VALUED LEADERS, DR. ALFRED JOHNSON. DR. JOHNSON IS THE NIH DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR MANAGEMENT. HE WAS APPOINTED TO THIS POSITION IN MAY 2017, BRINGING OVER 35 YEARS OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCE AT NIH TO THIS ROLE. DR. JOHNSON STARTED AT THE NIH AS A POSTDOCTORAL STAFF FELLOW IN THE LABORATORY OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AT THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE, AND WENT ON TO SERVE MANY ROLES AT THE NIH, INCLUDING DIRECTOR OF THE NIH UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND THE OFFICE OF -- PAYMENT AND SCHOLARSHIP, ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF LOAN REPAYMENT AND SCHOLARSHIP AT THE OFFICE OF INTRAMURAL RESEARCH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF INTRAMURAL RESEARCH, AND DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH SERVICES. DR. JOHNSON IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2012 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES' SECRETARY'S MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD. HE HAS RECEIVED FIVE NIH DIRECTORS' AWARDS, 11 NIH OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR MERIT AWARDS, AND AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AWARD. ADDITIONALLY, THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY HAS AWARDED HIM WITH AN OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING DR. JOHNSON. >> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT KIND INTRODUCTION. I REALLY AM GLAD I CAN JOIN YOU TODAY, AND REALLY HERE TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE MANAGEMENT INTERNS AND PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT FELLOWS FOR COMPLETING THEIR TWO YEARS. AS I LOOK BACK AND YOU'VE DEVOTED THE LAST TWO YEARS EXPANDING YOUR MH KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING CONCEPTS, TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS AMAZING ENTERPRISE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, LEARNING ABOUT YOURSELF. BUT YOU DID NOT HAVE JUST A REGULAR TWO YEARS. YOU HAD TWO YEARS THAT INCLUDED OVER 15 MONTHS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. SO REALLY, TODAY IS A RECOGNITION NOT ONLY OF THOSE TWO YEARS, BUT OF YOU TAKING THE NEXT STEPS TOWARD PUTTING THAT KNOWLEDGE AND THOSE CONCEPTS INTO PRACTICE, EVEN THOSE CONCEPTS YOU LEARNED DURING THE PANDEMIC. ALSO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PAST AND CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRAINING COMMITTEE, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE ATC. THE ATC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM. I MEET WITH THE ATC ON A QUARTERLY BASIS TO RECEIVE UPDATES ON THE EFFORTS THEY PUT INTO SUSTAINING AND ENHANCING SUCH A RICH PROGRAM. ONE THAT SUPPORTS PARTICIPANTS' GROWTH TO BECOME VALUED MEMBERS OF THE NIH COMMUNITY. ATC, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM A SUCCESS. THAT THE PROGRAM IS A SUCCESS IS ILLUSTRATED BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE I REGULARLY INTERACT WITH WHO ARE GRADUATES. TWO OF MY DIRECT REPORTS ARE GRADUATES, JANET SHOREBACK, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS, AND DIANE FRASIER, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF ACQUISITIONS AND LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT. ALSO, AT LEAST TWO IC EXECUTIVE OFFICERS ARE FRAD GRADUATES. KEITH LAMERAN, EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR NCATS, AND CAMILLE HOOVER, EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR NIDDK. AND I'M WELL AWARE THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER GRADUATES IN LEADERSHIP ROLES HERE AT THE NIH, AND SOME OF THOSE ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE EVENT TODAY. BUT MANAGEMENT INTERNS AND PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT FELLOW GRADUATES ACROSS NIH DON'T JUST WORK IN ADMINISTRATIVE PROGRAMS. YOU CAN FIND GRADUATES IN PROGRAM OFFICES AND ALSO IN SCIENCE POLICY. GRADUATES, YOUR CAREERS CAN TAKE YOU IN MANY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. MY ADVICE TO YOU IS TO ENJOY THE JOURNEY, AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO TAKE BOLD STEPS ALONG THE WAY. AS YOU BEGIN THE NEXT STEP OF YOUR CAREER, I HOPE YOU FIND A PATH THAT IS FULFILLING, EXCITING, AND IMPACTFUL. MY OWN PATH AT NIH AS WAS REFERRED TO IN THE INTRODUCTION EVOLVED FROM A POST RESEARCH FELLOW TO LEADING THE CANCER RESEARCH LAB IN NCI, TO LEADING PROGRAMS WITHIN THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR. AND NOW LEADING THE MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS AT NIH. ALL ALONG THE WAY, THESE STEPS HAVE BEEN VERY REWARDING. AS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR MANAGEMENT, MEETING THE NIH ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY, I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER ALL THAT ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT PATHWAY CAN OFFER. OUR RESEARCHERS FOR THE , RELY ON INNOVATIVE ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROGRAMMATIC PROFESSIONALS LIKE YOURSELVES TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR EFFORTS. MANY NIH ACCOMPLISHMENTS WOULD NOT BE REALIZED WITHOUT THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OUR COMMUNITIES. THE SCIENTIFIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT COMMUNITIES. LET ME HIGHLIGHT SOME RECENT PARTNERSHIPS THAT YOU MAY BE AWARE OF OR MAYBE NOT. THE RAPID ACCELERATION OF DIAGNOSTICS, RADX INITIATIVE. TO SPEED INNOVATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT, COMMERCIALIZATION, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF TECHNOLOGIES FOR COVID-19 TESTING. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COVID-19 HOME TESTS THAT OFFERS A COMPLETE AT-HOME SAMPLING AND TESTING SOLUTION. NIH LAUNCHING THE ACCELERATING COVID-19 THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS AND VACCINES, OR ACTIV, PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO SPEED DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOST PROMISING COVID-19 TREATMENT AND VACCINE. ACTIV BRINGS TOGETHER AT LEAST EIGHT GOVERNMENT, 20 INDUSTRY, SEVERAL NON-PROFIT PARTNERS, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM ACADEMIA. NIH UTILIZING EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE TO ESTABLISH THE COVID-19 PREVENTION TRIALS NETWORK MERGING FOR EXISTING CLINICAL TRIAL NETWORKS AND PIVOTING THEIR RESEARCH FOCUS. ALSO NIH DEVELOPING THE PATHWAYS TO EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION PROGRAM, OR PEI. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WITH THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO OVERCOME CULTURAL AND BUREAUCRATIC BARRIERS IN THE PURSUIT OF NIH AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES. NIH IS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK, AND WITH YOUR HELP, WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO. I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THAT IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO WORK HERE, A FEELING THAT I HOPE YOU SHARE. THE WORK WE DO, TURNING DISCOVERY INTO HEALTH, IS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE MISSION, ESPECIALLY DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES. IT HAS BROUGHT ME TRE TREMENDOUS FULFILLMENT, BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY. IN FACT, I JOINED NIH OVER 36 YEARS AGO INTENDING TO STAY HERE FOR THREE YEARS OF TRAINING, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, I AM STILL HERE. SO THAT TELLS YOU HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH I THINK ABOUT THIS PLACE, THIS AMAZING PLACE, THAT WE SOMETIMES REFER TO AS THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HOPE. I HOPE THAT YOU FIND THAT FULFILLMENT AS WELL. AS YOU CONTINUE YOUR NIH CAREER PATH. THE NIH COVID-19 RESPONSE, OUR RESPONSE TO THIS PANDEMIC HAS BEEN UNPRECEDENTED. WHILE WE CONTINUE OUR RESEARCH MISSION TO ENHANCE HEALTH, AND REDUCE ILLNESS AND DISABILITY. THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY. OF COURSE, AND THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY. BUT SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY INCLUDED SERVING AS THE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGER FOR ESSENTIAL AND LIFE SAVING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, OR PPE, ALLOWING NIH TO RESPOND TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY. CONDUCTING SYMPTOMATIC COVID-19 TESTING, PROVIDING CONTACT TRACING FOR WORKERS AT HIGH RISK OF EXPOSURE TO COLLEAGUES WHO HAD TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. ENSURING PHYSICAL WORK SPACE AND FACILITIES ARE SAFE. ENSURING COVID-19 SAFETY AND VACCINATION POSTERS AND SIGNAGE ARE DISTRIBUTED TO INFORM THE NIH COMMUNITY. ENSURING CLEAR, CONCISE AND TRANSPARENT COVID-19 RELATED COMMUNICATIONS. PROVIDING NIH STAFF AND HIGH PROFILE OFFICIALS FROM OTHER AGENCIES WITH COVID-19 VACCINATIONS. REPLACING MANUAL PROCESSES WITH ELECTRONIC PROCESSES TO ENSURE TIMELINESS AND CONTINUED PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES WHILE WE WORKED IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT. AS YOU LAUNCH YOUR CAREERS WITH THIS RECOGNITION OF COMPLETION OF YOUR PROGRAM, YOU WILL BE PART OF AN NIH COMMUNITY WITH A GREATER COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION. THE NIH UNITE INITIATIVE, WHICH I'M PROUD TO CO-CHAIR WITH DRS. TABAK AND BERNARD, WAS ESTABLISHED TO IDENTIFY AND REDRESS STRUCTURAL RACISM WITHIN NOT ONLY THE ENTIRE NIH AND NIH-SUPPORTED COMMUNITIES, BUT THE GREATER SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY AS WELL. WITH REPRESENTATION FROM ACROSS ALL OF THE NIH INSTITUTES AND CENTERS, UNITE AIMS TO ESTABLISH AN EQUITABLE AND CIVIL CULTURE WITHIN OUR COMPLETE WORKFORCE AND THE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH ENTERPRISE, BUT ALSO TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO RACIAL EQUITY IN THE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH WORK. TO REACH THIS GOAL, UNITE IS FACILITATING RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES, TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES TO INCREASE INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY IN SCIENCE AND THE ENTIRE WORKFORCE THAT SUPPORTS THE SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVORS. WHEN OPPORTUNITIES ARISE, I CHALLENGE YOU TO CONTRIBUTE YOUR FEEDBACK TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD AS WE STRIVE TO MAKE NIH AN IDEAL PLACE FOR ALL TO WORK. NIH IS ALSO COMMITTED TO SHAPING OUR FUTURE OF WORK TO ENSURE THE NIH MISSION CONTINUES AS WE ADDRESS FUTURE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES. AT THE SAME TIME, REMAINING A BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH ENTERPRISE COMPETITIVE EMPLOYER. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS TAUGHT US THAT WE CAN WORK DIFFERENTLY THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST, AND STILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN ACCOMPLISHING OUR MISSION. AGAIN, I INVITE YOU TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD WHEN OPPORTUNITIES ARISE. AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND HEALTH DISPARITY CHALLENGES HAVE DEMONSTRATED, NIH MUST CONTINUE TO WORK AROUND THE CLOCK TO IMPROVE HEALTH EQUITY AND OUTCOME FOR AMERICA AND FOR THE WORLD. YOU, YOU GRADUATES, YOU WILL FIND NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES AT NIH, TO USE YOUR TALENTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS VITAL MISSION. I URGE YOU TO REMAIN FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENT, OPEN TO NEW CONCEPTS AND NOVEL SOLUTION TO PROBLEM. THESE ATTITUDES CREATE THE FOUNDATION FOR A PROMISING FUTURE FOR BOTH NIH AND FOR YOU PERSONALLY. FINALLY, I EXTEND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUATES, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING YOUR NIH CONTRIBUTIONS OVER THE YEARS TO COME. I THANK YOU, AND BEST WISHES. >> THANK YOU, DR. JOHNSON. NEXT, WE WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER, COLLEEN MCGOWAN, DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH OFFICE OF RESEARCH SERVICES. PRIOR TO BEING NAMED ORS DIRECTOR, MS. MCGOWAN WAS THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT THE NIH CLINICAL CENTER. SHE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE CLINICAL CENTER DEPUTY CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND AS SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, AS WELL AS SERVING ON MANY TRANS-NIH COMMITTEES, INCLUDING AS CO-CHAIR OF THE NIH HUMAN RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE. SHE IS A FELLOW IN THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVES, AND HAS OVER 20 YEARS OF HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE. MS. MCGOWAN GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA-CHAPEL HILL WITH A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, AND WAS COMMISSIONED AS AN OFFICER IN THE U.S. AIR FORCE. WHILE IN THE AIR FORCE, SHE OBTAINED A MASTER'S DEGREE IN HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION AND WAS SELECTED FOR A PRESTIGIOUS ADMINISTRATIVE FELLOWSHIP AT THE JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL. WITH A STRONG INTEREST IN MENTORSHIP, MS. MCGOWAN PARTNERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO HOST WOUNDED WARRIORS AS INTERNS TO HELP THEM LEARN NEW JOB SKILLS AS THEY RECOVER FROM THEIR INJURIES. MS. MCGOWAN IS A FORMER CHAIR OF THE NIH MANAGEMENT INTERN EXPHIT HE'LL, COMMITTEE AND HAS SERVED AS MENTOR TO SEVERAL ADMINISTRATIVE INTERNS OVER THE YEARS. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WILL NOW HAND IT OVER TO MS. COLLEEN MCGOWAN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND CONGRATULATIONS, PMF MI CLASS OF 2021. YOU DID IT! W ORTHOPEDIC ONCOLOGY-H ORTHOPEDIC ORTHOPEDICI'D BE GIVING YOU EA CH A VIRTUAL HIGH 5 WITH MY FACE COVERING ON BUT SINCE WE'RE IN THIS VIRTUAL WORLD, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SETTLE FOR A POM-POM CHEER, WELL DONE, WELL DONE. I'M REALLY HONORED TO BE SPEAKING WITH YOU TODAY BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE BEEN A MOST RESILIENT CREW. THIS YEAR HAS NOT BEEN THE NORM. COVID-19 SHOOK UP OUR PERSONAL LIVES, BUT YOUR WORK LIFE WAS DISRUPTED MAJORLY AS WELL. MY GRADING FROM ROTATION IS NEVER EASY. I'VE MENTORED PEOPLE, I'VE BEEN A ROTATIONAL SUPERVISOR, BUT DOING IT REMOTELY MUST HAVE BEEN SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT, AND YOU GOT THROUGH IT AND YOU EXCELLED. WELL DONE! WITH THAT IN MIND, I THOUGHT TODAY I COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT RESILIENCE, BUT ALSO ABOUT CURATING YOUR CAREER. YOU COULD PROBABLY, FRANKLY, GIVE ME A COUPLE OF TIPS ON RESILIENCE YOURSELF, BUT I'M HAPPY TO SHARE WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM MY VANTAGE POINT. SO I THOUGHT I'D START WITH A LITTLE PRIMER ON WHO ORS IS, SO THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH SERVICES. WE'RE 21 DIVISIONS AND BRANCHES THAT PROVIDE A LOT OF SUPPORT ACTIVITIES FOR THE NIH. THIS PICTURE MIGHT SEEM VERY FAMILIAR TO SOME OF YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE ACTUALLY IN IT. IT SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME AGO, BUT WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED THE IMMERSION PROGRAM, SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MIGHT BE NEW AND NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE PROVIDE FOR ALL PEOPLE AT NIH TO BE ABLE TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DO. SO THAT WAS BEFORE COVID. NOW LET'S SHOW YOU LIFE AFTER COVID. SO WHEN COVID STARTED, I HAD, FRANKLY, LITTLE CONTACT WITH THE PEOPLE IN BUILDING 1 AND WITH NIH LEADERSHIP, AND SUDDENLY I WAS THRURS INTO THRUST INTO THESE MEETING S WITH DR. COLLINS, DR. TABAK AND A WHOLE CAST OF CHARACTERS ON HOW WE WERE GOING TO BE RESPONDING TO THIS PANDEMIC WHEN WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT IT, BECAUSE ORS IS SUCH A LARGE SUPPORT ORGANIZATION, WE WERE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE RESPONSE EFFORT. A FEW OF THESE PICTURES HERE, I'LL SHOW YOU UP AT THE TOP, THAT'S OUR CAR SAMPLING LINE THAT WE PROVIDED AND STOOD UP WITH THE HELP OF A LOT OF OUR NIH VOLUNTEERS. SO CLINICIANS, ADMINISTRATORS. WE DID IT RAIN OR SHINE, OUTSIDE, IF PEOPLE HAD SYMPTOMS, WE PROVIDED THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TESTED. AND WE PULLED THIS ALL TOGETHER IN LESS THAN A WEEK, WHICH IS REALLY AMAZING. HAD PEOPLE COME FROM ACROSS THE NIH TO HELP US PULL IT OFF. THE SECOND PICTURE THAT YOU SEE HERE IS SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE FUN, AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE CHILDREN'S INN AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS. THEY DIDN'T MISS A BEAT, THEY WERE HERE EVERY DAY DURING THE PANDEMIC. HERE YOU SEE THEM PLAYING SOME TIC TAC TOE ON THE OUTSIDE WITH OUR CHILDREN'S INN STAFF. THIS PICTURE WAS ACTUALLY FOCUSED ON "THE "TODAY" SHOW. BUT I'M REALLY FORTUNATE AS THE ORS DIRECTOR TO HAVE SUCH A DEDICATED AND RESILIENT WORKFORCE. I HAD STAFF WHO DISENROLLED THEIR CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL FOR A WHOLE YEAR BECAUSE THEY HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR JOB, WHICH REQUIRED THEM TO COME TO WORK EVERY DAY, OR TEACHING THEIR KIDS. SO LET'S EXPLORE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT RESILIENCE. PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THIS PAST YEAR. SO RESILIENCE. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF US, WHEN WE THINK OF RESILIENCE, WE LOOK AT THIS LEFT COLUMN, WHAT WE THINK IT IS. IT'S ENDURING, IT'S SUFFERING, IT'S POWERING THROUGH, IT'S NOT HAVING ANY BOUNDARIES, LISTENING, YOU KNOW, TO EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS ON THE WEEKENDS AND WORKING LATE. THERE ARE ADAGES LIKE NO PAIN, NO GAIN THAT WE OFTEN HERE WHERE YOU'RE HAVING TO PAY YOUR DUES IN YOUR CAREER TO GET AHEAD. WHY DOES EVERYTHING HAVE TO BE SO NEGATIVE? WHAT I'VE FOUND IS THAT RESILIENCE ACTUALLY IS SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT ALL TOGETHER. IT IMPORTANT TO RECHARGE, NUMBER ONE. SO INSTEAD OF ENDURING AND PUSHING FORWARD, IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE TIME TO REALLY RECHARGE YOUR BATTERIES AND KNOW WHAT THAT IS FOR YOU. FOR EXAMPLE, I LIKE TO TAKE TIME OFF, LIKE WHERE I TOTALLY DISENGAGE, SO EVERY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS, I TAKE A WEEK OFF, AND I LEAVE MY DEVICES BEHIND, PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO REACH ME IF THERE REALLY IS AN EMERGENCY BY CALLING ME, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THAT UNPLUGGING IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME PERSONALLY. RECOVERING, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE FEELING VERY STRESSED AND HOW DO YOU RECOVER, DAILY RITUALS REALLY HELP. SOME PEOPLE -- I'M NOT SOMEONE WHO MEDITATES, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE FIND THAT WHEN THEY WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND STARTING THE DAY WITH SOME EXERCISE, A PRAYER OR MEDITATION, OFTEN HELPS YOU PUT YOURSELF IN A GREAT FRAME OF MIND TO TACKLE THE DAY. REFUELING AND FIGURING OUT WHAT THAT IS FOR YOURSELF. SO REFUELING COULD INVOLVE PHYSICAL EXERCISE, IT COULD BE SPENDING TIME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, IT COULD BE BY YOURSELF AND READING A BOOK. BUT YOU REALLY NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT IS FOR YOURSELF. FINALLY RESTING AND SETTING SOME BOUNDARIES. I GET SEVEN TO EIGHT HOURS OF SLEEP EVERY NIGHT. PEOPLE ARE LIKE, HOW DO YOU DO THAT? AND IT GOES BACK TO THAT RITUAL OF SHUTTING OFF DEVICES AT A CERTAIN TIME, NOT HAVING ANY CAFFEINATED BEVERAGES OR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AFTER A CERTAIN MOMENT. AND REALLY PUTTING YOUR MIND AT EASE SO THAT YOU'RE NOT CONSTANTLY GETTING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS. THERE WAS A PERIOD DURING COVID THAT I FOUND SETTING THOSE BOUNDARIES REALLY DIFFICULT, BECAUSE I WAS GETTING EMAILS AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY AND NIGHT AND THERE WAS A TIME WHERE I ACTUALLY PUT AN OUT OF OFFICE FOR TWO HOUR PERIODS OF TIME IN THE EVENING SO I COULD SPEND TIME WITH MY KIDS AND MY HUSBAND SO THAT PEOPLE KNEW, OKAY, SHE'S GOING TO BE OFFLINE FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS, AND I CAN COME BACK A LITTLE BIT LATER. I FOUND THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY HELPFUL. SO THAT'S SOME SENSE ABOUT PERSONAL RESILIENCE AND SOME TIPS FROM ME FROM MY EXPERIENCE. SO LET'S EXPLORE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT PERSONAL RESILIENCE. SO REST, REFLECTION, BOUNDARY AND SLEEP, IF YOU CAN ALWAYS JUST KEEP THESE IN MIND AS YOU'RE APPROACHING ANYTHING, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE JUST COVID. AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR YOU, BUT ALSO THE EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU HAVE OF YOUR STAFF. THEY'RE LOOKING AT WHAT YOU DO, WHETHER YOU THINK THEY ARE OR NOT. SO IF THEY SEE YOU LOOKING TIRED OR IRRITABLE, THEY'RE GOING TO PLAYOFF THOSE BEHAVIORS. SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO REALLY TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE ORGANIZATION. IF YOU'RE A GS12, GS15 OR WAY UP AT THE TOP. BECAUSE PEOPLE REALLY ARE TAKING A LOOK AT YOU, AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON YOUR STAFF. HOW ARE YOU DOING? WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU TOOK SOME TIME OFF? I NOTICE THAT YOU SENT ME AN EMAIL AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING. I DON'T WANT YOU DOING THAT. THERE'S SOMETHING THAT I DO THAT A LOT OF LEADERS, I THINK, HAVE STARTED TO ADOPT AND THAT IS THAT THEY SEND AN EMAIL BUT THEY PUT A DELAYED DELIVERY RECEIPT. SO JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING MIGHT COME TO MY MIND AT 8:00 ON A FRIDAY AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF IT, I'LL COMPOSE THE EMAIL BUT THEN I ACTUALLY WON'T SEND IT UNTIL MONDAY, SO THAT WAY THE PERSON DOESN'T EXPECT THAT I HAVE AN EXPECTATION THAT THEY ANSWER IT RIGHT AWAY. ALL RIGHT. LET'S TRANSITION A LITTLE BIT TO TEAM RESILIENCE. SO ONE THING I FOUND IN THIS JOB IS YOU CAN'T DO IT ALL. YOU CAN'T BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE. YOU REALLY HAVE TO PICK THE RIGHT TEAM. ONE OF MY MENTORS OR ROLE MODELS, I SHOULD SAY, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HIM, IS GENERAL COLIN POWELL. HE WAS THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND HE WAS ALSO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF WHILE I WAS IN THE MILITARY, AND HE ALWAYS SAID THAT YOU NEEDED THREE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS ON YOUR TEAM. ONE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT VISIONARY LEADER, AND THAT'S USUALLY THE PERSON WHO'S UP AT THE TOP. WHO'S LOOKING OUTWARD. THEN YOU NEED SOMEONE WHO'S LIKE THE OPERATIONS MANAGER, THE PERSON WHO'S LOOKING INWARD, MAKING SURE ALL THE TRAINS ARE RUNNING ON TIME. AND THIRD, YOU NEED SOMEONE WHO'S THE CHAPLAIN, WHO IS KEEPING A PULSE ON THE ORGANIZATION TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE ALL OKAY. AND IT'S TOUGH TO BE ALL THREE OF THESE. SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT TEAM. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HIRING, YOU SHOULD REALLY BE THINKING ABOUT DIVERSITY. DIVERSITY PERSPECTIVE, DIVERSITY OF OPINION, DIVERSITY IN A PERSON'S UPBRINGING AND BACKGROUND. YOU DON'T WANT A CARBON COPY OF YOURSELF OR YOU'RE JUST GOING TO BE HEARING ONE POINT OF VIEW. GETTING ALL THOSE DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE FULLEST ACHIEVABLE OUTCOME THAT YOU CAN. THE OTHER THING I TRY TO LOOK FOR WHEN I TRY TO HIRE MY TEAM IS HOW THEY DEAL WITH ADVERSITY. CLEARLY NO ONE IN ORS THOUGHT WE'D HAVE A PANDEMIC LIKE THIS ON OUR HANDS WHEN THEY SIGNED UP TO BE PART OF THIS TEAM. BUT EACH ONE OF THEM IS LIKE, WHAT'S NEXT, BOSS? CAME TO WORK, WORKED OVERTIME, DID WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO. THEY DIDN'T GET STRESSED OUT ABOUT THE UNKNOWN OR THE -- JUST NOT KNOWING IF THERE WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE AN END TO ALL OF THIS. SO THAT, I THINK WAS A KEY COMPONENT TO SOME OF OUR SUCCESS IN ORS DURING THIS PANDEMIC. ALSO THERE'S AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF I THINK SHOWING EMPATHY AND CONNECTION AS A LEADER. ACTIVE LISTENING, MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT ALREADY THINKING ABOUT WHAT TO SAY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU LOOK SMART. IT'S REALLY THAT ACT OF LISTENING. NODDING YOUR HEAD, TAKING IT ALL IN, MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE SHOWING COMPASSION AND A SENSE OF CURIOSITY. PEOPLE CAN SMELL A PHONY A MILLION MILES AWAY, SO IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S AUTHENTIC TO WHO YOU ARE. CONNECTING AT A PERSONAL LEVEL IS ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT TOO. I MENTIONED THAT STORY OF SOMEONE WHO DISENROLLED THEIR CHILD FROM SCHOOL DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND IT HAPPENED WHEN I WENT OUT TO ONE OF THE ANIMAL CARE FACILITIES AND I WAS ASKING HOW PEOPLE ARE DOING AND SHE APPROACHED ME AFTERWARDS AND TALKED TO ME ABOUT HER SITUATION AND THAT JUST HIT ME BETWEEN THE EYES, I DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THAT, THAT MY STAFF IS REALLY HAVING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN COMING TO WORK AND TAKING CARE OF ANIMALS AND EDUCATING THEIR CHILD, AND TRY TO PUT HER IN TOUCH WITH SOME RESOURCES SINCE WE OVERSEE THAT IN ORS. BUT I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THAT PERSONAL CONNECTION, UNDERSTOOD THAT STORY HAD IT NOT GONE I NOT GONE OUT THERE AND ALLOW HER TO BE VULNERABLE WITH ME AS I WAS ALLOWING, SO THAT WAY YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE TRUTH. FINALLY, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU HAVE A TOUGH PROBLEM, INJECTING A LITTLE BIT OF HUMOR ALWAYS SEEMS TO HELP. YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS CALLED IT GOING INTO THE BASEMENT WHERE YOU HAD THIS AMYGDALA ATTACK, WHICH IS THAT HIJACKING THAT YOU HAVE THE FIGHT OR FLIGHT TENDENCY THAT WE MIGHT HAVE WHEN WE'RE FEELING LIKE WE'RE UNDER STRESS. I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST STARTED DOING THESE 7:30 CALLS, DR. COLLINS SAID, OKAY, COLLEEN -- OR HE ACTUALLY DIDN'T SAY MY NAME, HE SAID, OKAY, WE HAVE THIS OPTION THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE 24 HOURS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN REPORT THEIR STATUS, SO WHETHER THEY HAVE SYMPTOMS OR THEY DON'T HAVE SYMPTOMS, IF THEY WANT TO COME ON TO CAMPUS. AND EVERYONE WAS KIND OF LOOKING AROUND LIKE WHO'S GOING TO TAKE THAT ONE ON, 24 HOURS TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING? I RAISED MY HAND AND SAID WE'LL GIVE IT OUR BEST SHOT AND I'M THINKING HOW AM I GOING TO TELL MY TEAM ABOUT THIS? I FOUND -- * YOU DROPPED THE BOMB ON ME, BABY * YOU KNOW THAT SONG? AND PLAYED IT AHEAD OF TIME. THAT TOOK THE STRESS OFF A LITTLE BIT AND WE WERE KIND OF SHARING OUR MEMORIES OF THAT SONG, AND THEN I SAID WELL, THIS IS WHAT DR. COLLINS WANTS US TO DO AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO APPROACH THIS? OKAY, WE'VE GOT THIS IDEA, WE'VE GOT THAT IDEA, INSTEAD OF ME SAYING, OH, MY GOSH, CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT HE JUST ASKED ME, THERE'S NO WAY WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. SO JUST THE WAY YOU APPROACH A PROBLEM I THINK ALSO HELPS IN ADDRESSING SOME OF THE RESILIENCE. SO I WANT TO SHIFT A LITTLE BIT AND REALLY TALK ABOUT CURATING YOUR CAREER, BECAUSE YOU'RE AT A REALLY PIVOTAL POINT IN YOUR CAREER, THIS IS A TREMENDOUS JUMPING OFF POINT, YOU'VE HAD TWO YEARS OF DIPPING YOUR TOE INTO A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROFESSIONS WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATIVE FIELD AS WELL AS SOME OF THE SCIENTIFIC FIELDS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE PMFs, AND GOSH, THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER, SO WHAT DO YOU DO? I THINK FIT WITH AN ORGANIZATION IS PARAMOUNT, AND YOU NEED TO KIND OF HAVE YOUR EYES OPEN AS YOU EVALUATE YOUR CHOICES. IT IS -- YOU KNOW, BASICALLY THE LABOR MARKET IS IN FAVOR OF PEOPLE WHO WERE LOOKING FOR JOBS. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW YOUR VALUE AND TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT JOB OPPORTUNITIES. ONE THING THAT I TEND TO DO TO ASSESS FIT IS TO ASK THE SEARCH PANEL ABOUT THE BOSS' LEADERSHIP STYLE. TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT THE BOSS' LEADERSHIP STYLE. IS THERE A PREGNANT PAUSE AND PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER LIKE THIS? OR DO THEY ENTHUSIASTICALLY RESPOND AND SHARE THAT? YOU REALLY DESERVE TO ENJOY YOUR JOB AND I THINK YOU NEED TO LOOK FORWARD TO GOING TO WORK EVERY DAY. SO DOING SOME OF THAT WORK UP FRONT WOULD BE IMPORTANT. ALSO ASKING IF THERE ARE OTHER PEERS THAT YOU COULD TALK TO, PEOPLE IN THE ORGANIZATION THAT MIGHT NOT BE ON THE SEARCH COMMITTEE THAT YOU COULD PROBE A LITTLE BIT WITH. THAT WAY YOU'RE MAKING SURE YOU'RE MAKING THE BEST FIT FOR YOU. THESE LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES MIGHT LOOK FAMILIAR TO YOU, BUT I THINK I -- IN MY JOB SEARCH WE'RE LOOKING FOR ALL OF THESE DIMENSIONS WHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR A JOB. THESE ARE FOR THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE WHEN YOU TRY TO APPLY FOR SOME OF THESE JOBS, THEY ASK YOU TO DO A NARRATIVE UNDER EACH GROUP. LEADING CHANGE, BUILDING COALITIONS, LEADING PEOPLE, BUSINESS AK MEN ACUMEN AND RESULTS DRIVEN, I BET EACH ONE OF YOU HAS ADDRESSED AT LEAST ONE OF THESE AREAS DURING YOUR TWO YEARS IN THE MI PMF PROGRAM. YOU HAVE A LOT OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT YOU CAN LOOK TO AS YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT YOUR NEXT JOB, AND JUST BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T HAVE SUPERVISOR NEXT TO YOUR NAME, THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE OFTEN BEEN INFLUENCING POSITIVE CHANGE WITHOUT HAVING OFFICIAL AUTHORITY TO DO SO WILL REALLY SPEAK VOLUMES AS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR JOBS. PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR THOSE TYPES OF INDIVIDUALS. NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN YOUR CAREER, YOU HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOWCASE THESE SKILLS. SEEK OUT THESE THINGS THAT ARE CHALLENGING TO YOU. GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE. IT'S OKAY, THE DISCOMFORT WILL PUSH YOU AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE BEING THE BEST THAT YOU CAN BE. I KNOW IT'S HARD TO DO THAT, BUT HOPEFULLY THIS EXPERIENCE OF YOU TRANSITIONING FROM JOB TO JOB WILL MAKE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE UNCOMFORTABLE. LET ME ADD ALSO A COUPLE OF MY OWN LEADERSHIP SKILLS. A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I LEARNED WHEN I WAS IN THE AIR FORCE. I THINK FIRST IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHOW HUMILITY AS A LEADER. YOU NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW. I OVERSEE 21 DIVISIONS AND BRANCHES, SOME OF WHICH ARE SCIENTIFIC. I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT SCIENCE, I'M AN ADMINISTRATIVE PERSON WITH A BUSINESS DEGREE. BUT YOU TRY TO RECRUIT PEOPLE WHO HAVE THAT TECHNICAL EXPERTISE. ADMIT WHEN YOU'RE WRONG. ADMIT THAT YOU MADE A MISTAKE. THAT SHOWS THAT YOU'RE VULNERABLE, IT SHOWS THAT YOU COULD ADMIT THAT FAILURE IS OKAY AND THAT YOU LEARN FROM IT AND YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD. I'VE ALWAYS FOUND THAT YOU TRY TO LOOK AT HOW YOU CAN PROVIDE VALUE, SO YOUR POSITION DESCRIPTION MIGHT LOOK LIKE ONE THING, AND THERE MIGHT BE OPPORTUNITIES ELSEWHERE IN THE ORGANIZATION, YOU CAN STILL DO WHAT'S IN YOUR POSITION DESCRIPTION BUT MAYBE THERE'S A STRETCH GOAL THAT INVOLVES ANOTHER LOCATION OR A VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY WITH FEVS OR A TRANS-NIH GROUP. TAKE IT AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO CHANGE YOUR JOB AS WELL AND MAYBE ENHANCE IT, EVEN IF YOUR POSITION DESCRIPTION SAYS ONE THING. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS REMAIN FLEXIBLE. I THINK WE ALWAYS SAID IN THE AIR FORCE, FLEXIBILITY IS THE KEY TO AIR POWER. SO THAT ADAPTABILITY, THAT RESILIENCE THAT I TALKED ABOUT AT THE BEGINNING OF MY TALK, ALL IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF BEING A GOOD LEADER. AND ALSO THIS SENSE OF BEING MISSION-FOCUSED, IT SHOULDN'T ALWAYS BE WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME. I'M HEARING A LOT IN THE FUTURE OF WORK ABOUT WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME, AND THAT IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT THE MISSION AND HOW WE CAN ENHANCE THE MISSION, I HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT COULD CLEARLY WORK FROM HOME, IF YOU LOOK AT IT ON PAPER, BUT IF THEY'RE ALSO SUPPORTING THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE HERE AND DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF THEIR NEEDS AS WELL. SO ALWAYS KEEPING THE MISSION FOCUSED IS I THINK AN IMPORTANT QUALITY OF A LEADER. INTO YOU BE IF I CAN IF I CAN GIVE YOU A COUPLE DEPARTING TIPS, I'D SAY FIRST BEGINS WITH A SENSE OF GRATITUDE. WORKING AT THE NIH IS SUCH A PRIVILEGE. WE'RE SURROUNDED BY SMART PEOPLE WHO ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. AND I THINK YOU'LL BE HARD PRESSED TO REALLY FIND A FEDERAL AGENCY THAT HAS THIS KIND OF TALENT AND THIS KIND OF MISSION. MAYBE NASA, BUT IT REALLY IS A SPECIAL PLACE. I CHALLENGE YOU TO CONSIDER WHAT YOUR CORE VALUES ARE. AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY TRUE TO THOSE CORE VALUES. LET ME END BY ONCE AGAIN CONGRATULATING YOU ONE MORE TIME. OH, I'VE GOT MY POM-POMS. WELL DONE! AND I HOPE I GET TO SEE YOU SOMETIME SOON ON CAMPUS. CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU, COLLEEN, FOR YOUR WISDOM AND SUPPORT. THERE ARE SO MANY LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM YOUR EXPERIENCES. THANK YOU FOR SHARING. NEXT WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR GRADUATES. KALIN O'DONNELL AND BRIAN JOHNSON WILL SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THEIR COLLEAGUES TO EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION TO ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THEM THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE. >> HELLO E EVERYONE. CAITLYN AND I ARE HONORED TO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE NIH INTERNS AND FELLOWS CLASS OF 2021. IT HAS BEEN A TRUE PRIVILEGE TO GO THROUGH THIS PROGRAM WITH SUCH AN INCREDIBLE GROUP OF PEOPLE. IN THESE COMMENTS, CAITLYN AND I HOPE TO SHARE JUST HOW MUCH THESE PROGRAMS HAVE MEANT TO US. WHEN I FINISHED MY PH.D. IN 2018, I WASN'T SURE WHAT I WANTED TO DO NEXT. BUT I WAS REASONABLY CONFIDENT THAT I DID NOT WANT TO DO RESEARCH. THIS IS SOMEWHAT OF AN AWKWARD POSITION TO BE IN WITH A STEM DEGREE. I HAD TRAINED IN A WONDERFUL LAB AND LOVED LEARNING HOW THE WORLD WORKS, BUT WAS HUNG UP BY THE INTENSELY COMPETITIVE NATURE OF RESEARCH. I HAD HAD A REALLY FORMATIVE EXPERIENCE ABOUT THIS A FEW YEARS PRIOR. I WAS SPEAKING TO A PROFESSOR AT MY UNIVERSITY ABOUT HOW MUCH I HAD APPRECIATED THAT MY PH.D. PROGRAM HAD WORKED TO FOSTER INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN MY CLASSES, GROUP PROJECTS AND MOCK GRANT PROPOSALS. THE PROFESSOR WARNED ME, THOUGH, THAT I SHOULDN'T PUT TOO MUCH EFFORT INTO THIS BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, MY CLASSMATES WERE NOT MY COLLEAGUES, BUT MY COMPETITOR. S. IT MAY COME AS A SURPRISE, BUT I'M SOMETHING OF A PEOPLE PERSON, SO THIS WAY OF VIEWING THE WORLD DID NOT APPEAL TO ME AT ALL. AND SO IT WAS DURING THIS UNCERTAINTY ABOUT MY FUTURE THAT I LEARNED ABOUT THE PMF PROGRAM. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DREW ME TO IT AT NIH WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO STILL DO WORK THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, EVEN IF I WASN'T PERSONALLY IN THE LAB. I WAS THRILLED WHEN I WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM, BUT WAS NERVOUS BECAUSE IT WOULD REPRESENT A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN MY LIFE. I HAD TRANSITIONED DIRECTLY FROM UNDERGRADUATE TO GRAD SCHOOL, AND SO I HAD NEVER HAD A REAL JOB. I WOULD HAVE TO UPROOT MY ENTIRE LIFE IN ARIZONA IN ORDER TO MOVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND EVEN WORSE, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ALL THAT MUCH ABOUT THE NIH ITSELF. AT THAT POINT IN MY LIFE, THE EXTENT OF MY KNOWLEDGE WAS THAT THE NIH WERE THE NICE PEOPLE WHO PAID FOR MY DISSERTATION. MANY PMFs IN MY COHORT HAVE EXPRESSED SIMILAR WORRIES, BUT WE FOUND AN INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY AT NIH. I CANNOT UNDERSTATE HOW HELPFUL THE PROGRAM STAFF HAS BEEN. MARGARET RANDALL, THE NCI PMF COORDINATOR SPOKE EXTENSIVELY WITH ME, EVEN WHEN I WAS STILL IN ARIZONA AND WAS A HUGE HELP IN EVERYTHING FROM GETTING THROUGH THE BACKGROUND CHECK PROCESS TO FINDING A PLACE TO LIVE. JOHN ABRAMS DESERVES SPECIAL MENTION FOR EVERYTHING HE DID TO MAKE THE NEW FELLOWS AND INTERNS FEEL WELCOME AND PREPARED. AND OF COURSE I CAN'T LEAVE OUT MARY WASSAM, WHO IN THESE LAST FEW MONTHS AS RECEIVED A FLURRY OF EMAILS, A LOT OF THEM FROM ME, AS WE WORK TO GET THROUGH THE CONVERSION PROCESS. SO IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE WONDERFUL PROGRAM STAFF, I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES THE PMF PROGRAM HAS AFFORDED US TO EXPLORE NIH, WHETHER IT WAS INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS, SHADOWING OR THE EXCELLENT ORS IMMERSION PROGRAM. BESIDES BEING PERSONALLY ENJOYABLE, THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FREEDOM HAVE REALLY -- HAD PRACTICAL EFFECTS ON MY CAREER TRAJECTORY. I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE LAUGHED IF FIVE YEARS AGO, YOU HAD TOLD ME THAT I WOULD END UP WORKING IN A BUDGET OFFICE. YET, THANKS TO THE PMF PROGRAM, I FOUND A HOME AT THE NCI OFFICE OF BUDGET AND FINANCE THAT CHECKS OFF ALL OF MY BOXES. THE COLLEGIAL AND COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT, WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING ABOUT MEANINGFUL CHANGE. AND NO, WESTON ISN'T FORCING ME TO SAY THIS. AND WITH THAT, ON BEHALF OF THE 2021 NIH PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT FELLOWS, I HUMBLY THANK THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH FOR THE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY HAVE AFFORDED US. AND NOW I'LL PASS THE BATON TO CAITLYN. >> THANKS, BRIAN. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENTS ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS AND THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS BEHIND THEM. AND I, TOO, AM HONORED TO HAVE BEEN SELECTED BY MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF WEARING A BLAZER IN MY OWN HOUSE. I COME AT THINGS FROM A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAN BRIAN, SINCE US MIs ARE, AFTER ALL, AS I AFFECTIONATELY LIKE TO CALL US, THE DISGRUNTLED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES. I PERSONALLY BEGAN MY NIH CAREER FRESH OUT OF COLLEGE AS A PURCHASING AGENT IN THE NHLBI'S INTRAMURAL PROGRAM, AND GRADUATING JOB DESPERATE DURING A RECESSION, I REALLY HAD NO IDEA WHAT THAT WAS, AND FOR ANYONE WHO DOES KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT PURCHASING, I DON'T THINK I COULD HAVE PREPARED MYSELF FOR THAT ROLE. BUT IT ENDED UP BEING THE BEST CRASH COURSE IN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT A BRIGHT-EYED BUSHY-TAILED KID LIKE MYSELF COULD HAVE GOT. WE DID ALL OF OUR RECORD-KEEPING ON PAPER. WE DID THINGS I CAN ONLY CALL TO THIS DAY CATCH-22s, AND WE USE SLOW, BUGGY SYSTEMS THAT REALLY DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE DID, I HAD A BAD HABIT OF ASKING, WHY? WHICH AS YOU CAN IMAGINE MADE ME VERY POPULAR AND LIKABLE TO MY MORE SENIOR COLLEAGUES, WHO WERE RIGHTFULLY BURNED OUT FROM JOB. SO DESPITE ALL MY -- TO CHANGE AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS, I WAS NECESSARILY HUMBLED TO LEARN CHANGE MANAGEMENT, THAT IT JUST TAKES LONGER THAN YOU THINK AND AS AN ADMINISTRATOR, YOU HAVE TO BE INCREDIBLY PER SPIS TENT TO STICKING TO THE STATUS QUO, PESHESLY IN THE PACE AND PRESSURES OF INTRAMURAL SCIENCE, AND GOING THROUGH A COUPLE BOSSES IN THE HIGH TURNOVER WORLD OF PROCURE M, I MENT, I ALSO LEARNED HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE GOOD, QUALITY SUPERVISORS IN LEADERSHIP MAKE ON THE LIVES OF THOSE UNDER THEIR CARE. AND I'M THANKFUL THAT SO MANY OF YOU WATCHING TODAY FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY. PLEASE, NEVER FORGET THE POWER AND INFLUENCE YOU WIELD IN YOUR POSITION. IN SPITE OF ALL THE AMAZING AND VERY CHALLENGING THINGS I LEARNED AND HAVE TAKEN FORWARD WITH ME AND ALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS, I'M INCREDIBLY THANKFUL TO HAVE MADE IN MY PREVIOUS ROLE, I REACHED A LIMIT OF WHAT I COULD DO AND TUCKED AWAY IN BUILDING THREE. I DID NOT KNOW WHERE I COULD GO OUTSIDE OF THE WORLD OF ACQUISITIONS. AND I'M NOT ALONE IN THIS PLIGHT. THIS IS THE COMMON TALE OF COUNTLESS MIs THAT HAVE COME THROUGH OUR PROGRAM AND NO LESS OF MY GRADUATING COLLEAGUES TODAY. WITHOUT YOUR INVESTMENT, WHETHER AS A MENTOR OF ROTATIONAL SUPERVISOR, A MEMBER OF THE ATC, PART OF THE NIH TRAINING CENTER OR EVEN JUST AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW, IT IS REALLY SAFE TO SAY THAT MOST OF US WOULD STILL BE STUCK IN RELATIVE AN MIM IT ANONYMITY TO THIS DAY. IT MIGHT ALSO BE FITTING TO SHARE THAT I ACTUALLY BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH THE MI PROGRAM THROUGH THE MANAGEMENT SEMINAR SERIES OR MSS, AND AT THE TIME, I HAD TENURE IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT WAS ACTUALLY INITIALLY CYNICAL BL THE MANAGEMENT CYNICAL ABOUT THE MANAGEMENT INTERN PROGRAM. I THINK WE'VE ALL ENCOUNTERED THINGS THAT LOOK AND SOUND GREAT ON PAPER BUT ONCE YOU REALLY DIG IN, THEY'RE JUST NOT ALL THEY'RE CRACKED UP TO BE OR THERE'S A CATCH. IN A PROGRAM WHERE YOU CAN ROTATE WHEREVER YOU WANT AND HAVE THIS AMAZING SUPPORT NETWORK BUILT IN REALLY SEEMED TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. HOWEVER, AT THE MSS, I KEPT MEETING INTERNS AND FELLOWS AND THEY'RE PRETTY COOL PEOPLE AND I'VE ALSO MET JOHN ABRAMS. IF YOU'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF INTERACTING WITH JOHN, YOU KNOW HE'S A VERY FORWARD AND CONGENIAL GUY. BEFORE I APPLIED, I ALSO SPOKE WITH HILLARY FLOWERS, A FORMER NHLBI COLLEAGUE OF MINE. IT WAS HILLARY WHO STATED THAT THIS WAS, QUOTE, THE BEST THING SHE'S EVER DONE FOR HER CAREER. IF YOU ALSO KNOW HILLARY, YOU KNOW THAT SHE, TOO, DOES NOT MINCE WORDS SO I DIDN'T TAKE THE ENDORSEMENT LIGHTLY AND I WENT AHEAD AND APPLIED. AND I'M SO THANKFUL THAT OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS FOR US AS MIs, THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN THE REAL DEAL. AN AMAZING, ONCE IN A CAREER EXPERIENCE THAT HAS CHANGED THE COURSE OF OUR FEDERAL SERVICE. AND WHY IS IT ACTUALLY GOOD? IT BECAUSE OF ALL OF YOU TUNING IN TODAY. YOU'RE REAL PEOPLE WHO CARE, THAT GENUINELY WANT TO INVEST IN THE GROWTH AND CAREERS OF OTHERS. AND CERTAINLY THE PINNACLE OF THE PROGRAM IS YOU ALL, THE COMMUNITY OF ALUMNI AND SUPPORTERS, AND WE KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY WONDERFUL TALENTED PEOPLE WE WOULD HAVE NEVER MET OR BEEN ABLE TO INTERACT WITH IN OUR PREVIOUS CAREER TRAJECTORIES. TODAY WE WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO MENTION MARY WASS AM'S SUPPORT OUR FIRST YEAR AND STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE AND BEING A GOOD ADVOCATE AND SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR US THROUGH OUR PANDEMIC YEAR, WHICH LEADS ME BACK TO MY COLLEAGUE, BRIAN. >> WE WOULD BE REMISS TO NOT BRING UP THE DIGITAL ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. IT HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY CHALLENGING YEAR AND A HALF, THANKS TO COVID, AND THE DRASTIC CHANGES IT HAS BROUGHT TO THE WORKPLACE AND BEYOND. AS DIFFICULT AS IT HAS BEEN, THOUGH, IT HAS BEEN REASSURING TO SEE THE NIH'S MISSION CARRIED FORWARD BY THE PROFESSIONALISM AND DRIVE OF THE COMMUNITY. DR. COLLINS SOMETIMES CALLS US THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HOPE. I HAVE A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR THAT NOW. HOPE CAN SOMETIMES BE A PASSIVE FEELING, BUT AT ITS BEST, COULD BE A CALL TO ACTION. IF ONE CAN HOPE FOR A HEALTHIER OR JUST WORLD, THEN ONE CAN ACT TO MAKE IT A REALITY, EVEN IN THE MOST CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES. THE PMF AND MI PROGRAMS AT NIH HAVE EXCELLED IN GIVING US THE TOOLS TO DO JUST THAT. I CAN THINK THIS IS REALLY EXEMPLIFIED BY ONE CURRENT AND TWO GRADUATING MEMBERS OF THE PROGRAMS. THEY HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND AND ARE WORKING TO HELP MAKE THE MI AND PMF PROGRAMS MODELS OF EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION AT NIH AND BEYOND. OF COURSE, EFFORTS WOULD BE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF PROGRAM LEADERSHIP. THIS LEADS US TO OUR OVERALL THANK YOUS. >> THANKS, BRIAN. FIRST, WE'D LIKE TO START BY THANKING THE ATC AND ITS VARIOUS COMPONENTS, STARTING WITH THE STEERING COMMITTEE. THEN, ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR WONDERFUL PMF SUBCOMMITTEE. AND OF COURSE, OUR MI SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS. THANK YOU, ATC, FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO AND SUPPORT OF OUR PROGRAMS. YOU NEXT, WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE CLASS OF 2021 MENTORS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SAGE ADVICE, LISTENING EARS, AND CONNECTION TO VALUABLE RESOURCES AT EACH STEP OF THE PROGRAM. TO THE ATC, MENTORS AND ALL OUR PROGRAM SUPPORTERS, AS WE LAUNCH INTO THE NEXT PHASE OF OUR CAREERS, KNOW YOUR KINDNESS AND INFLUENCE ARE STILL BEING FELT BY EACH MEMBER OF OUR CLASS TODAY. AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, WE'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT HAVE BEEN OUR SUPPORT SYSTEMS DURING THE PROGRAM IN THIS PAST CHALLENGING YEAR, AND ALL THE COLLEAGUES WE HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO MEET AND WORK WITH ALONG THE WAY. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT THESE PAST TWO YEARS. >> AND NOW THE MOMENT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR. WE WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE CHAIR OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRAINING COMMITTEE AND THE PAST CHAIR, WHO WILL BE ANNOUNCING OUR GRADUATES TODAY. >> KEITH IS THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR ADVANCING TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE, AND VICKIE BUCKLEY IS THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE ADMINISTRATION AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING US TODAY AS WE CELEBRATE OUR GRADUATES. AS CHAIR AND PAST CHAIR OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRAINING COMMITTEE, IT IS THE PRIVILEGE OF VICKIE AND I TO RECOGNIZE THE GRADUATES OF THE CLASS OF 2021. ONCE AGAIN, WE FIND OURSELVES UNABLE TO GATHER IN PERSON TO CELEBRATE YOUR ACHIEVEMENT, WHICH IS DISAPPOINTING. HOWEVER, WITH CHALLENGE COMES OPPORTUNITY, AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY BRIGHT SPOTS AS WE NEGOTIATE THE CHANGES WE FACED WITH THIS PANDEMIC WORK ENVIRONMENT. BRIGHT SPOTS THAT GO BEYOND MY HAVING BEEN ABLE TO CHANGE MY WORK WARDROBE TO SHORTS AND FLIP-FLOPS. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WITNESS THE RESILIENCY AND RESOURCEFULNESS OF THIS AMAZING CLASS AS WE MOVE TO THE VIRTUAL WORK ENVIRONMENT. AND INDEED, HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM HOW YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO THRIVE IN THIS UNANTICIPATED NEW WORLD. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE BRIGHT FUTURES YOU ALL HAVE IN STORE. FIRST, WE WILL RECOGNIZE THE MANAGEMENT INTERN PROGRAM GRADUATES. THE MANAGEMENT INTERNSHIP IS A TWO-YEAR PROGRAM ESTABLISHED BY THE NIH IN 1957. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES NIH EMPLOYEES AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE VARIOUS ADMINISTRATIVE FIELDS, CHOOSE MENTORS, PARTICIPATE IN INDIVIDUAL TRAINING, GAIN INSIGHT INTO THE NIH, AND TRANSITION CAREERS IN A WHOLE NEW DIRECTION. GRADUATES OF THIS PROGRAM ARE CURRENTLY IN A VARIETY OF NIH OCCUPATIONS, HOLDING SOME OF NIH'S MOST RESPECTED ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. THIS YEAR'S GRADUATES ARE: TA TANJIER BELTON. MELANIE HAS CONVERTED TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN THE OD ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCE CENTER AT THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE. LASHAWN LEWIS. CAITLYN HAS CONVERTED TO AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST IN THE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY BRANCH AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES AND DIGESTIVE AND KIDNEY DISEASES. JASON SHOCKEY. JASON HAS CONVERTED TO A PROGRAM AND MANAGEMENT ANALYST IN THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC COORDINATION, DIVISION OF PROGRAM COORDINATION, PLANNING, AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES IN THE NIH OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR MANAGEMENT INTERNS. >> THANK YOU, KEITH. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ECHO KEITH'S SENTIMENTS ABOUT THE RESILIENCY AND RESOURCEFULNESS OF THIS CLASS OF INTERNS. WHILE THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE CHALLENGE FROM MANY ANGLES, IT HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY EXCITING FOR ME TO SEE THE CREATIVE AND THOUGHTFUL APPROACHES THAT THIS CLASS OF INTERNS HAS SHOWN IN THE FACE OF EACH CHALLENGE. IT IT HAS TRULY BEEN YOUR CHANCE TO SHINE AND OUR CHANCE TO LEARN. NEXT, WE WILL RECOGNIZE THE GRADUATES OF THE PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT FELLOWS PROGRAM. THE PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT FELLOWS PROGRAM IS A TWO-YEAR FEDERAL FELLOWSHIP ESTABLISHED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER IN 1977. THIS FELLOWSHIP HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY THE NIH SINCE 1985, WITH MANY FORMER FELLOWS RISING TO LEADERSHIP POSITIONS WITHIN THE NIH. THE PMF PROGRAM ATTRACTS INDIVIDUALS FROM A VARIETY OF ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES AND CAREER PATHS WHO HAVE A STRONG INTEREST IN THE LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC POLICIES AND PROGRAMS AT THE NIH. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, FELLOWS HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO ROTATE THROUGH VARIOUS ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROGRAM AREAS TO MEET THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAREER GOALS. FIRST, WE'LL RECOGNIZE THE AT-LARGE PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT FELLOW. THIS YEAR'S AT LARGE PMF GRAD WANT IS SALINA SNODDING. SHE'S CONVERTED TO A PROGRAM ANALYST IN THE DIVISION OF DIGESTIVE DISEASE AND NUTRITION AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES AND DIGESTIVE AND KIDNEY DISEASES. >> NEXT WE WILL RECOGNIZE OUR TARGETED AND DESIGNATED PMFs. THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE DESIGNATED PMFs ARE: CAITLYN O'KEEFE, IN THE SURVEILLANCE RESEARCH PROGRAM IN THE DIVISION OF CANCER CONTROL AND POPULATION SCIENCES AT THE NCI. AMY KAPLAN. AMY HAS CONVERTED TO A PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISOR WITHIN THE NCI'S DIVISION OF CANCER CONTROL AND POPULATION SCIENCES, BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH PROGRAM, OFFICE OF THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR. BRITTANY CHAO. BRITTANY HAS CONVERTED TO A SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE NIH, PRINCIPAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR IN THE NIH OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR. BRIAN JOHNSON. BRIAN HAS CONVERTED TO A MANAGEMENT AND PROGRAM ANALYST IN THE NCI OFFICE OF BUDGET AND FINANCE. IGOR RISTICH. CONVERTING TO A PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST IN THE MEDIA RELATIONS BRANCH AT THE NCI'S OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC LIAISON. THE NCI TARGETED PMF IS ELLEN MINS, TO A REG LA LA TRI AFFAIR SPECIALIST OF THE CANCER THERAPY EVALUATION PROGRAM IN THE NCI'S DIVISION OF CANCER TREATMENT AND DIAGNOSIS. >> THIS YEAR'S OFFICE OF RESEARCH SERVICES DESIGNATED PMF IS TIM HAHN. TIM HAS CONVERTED TO A MANAGEMENT ANALYST AT THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH SERVICES. THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR PMFs ARE JENNA BAUER. JENNA HAS CONVERTED TO A LEGISLATIVE ANALYST AT THE OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE POLICY ANALYSIS IN THE NIH OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR. AND CHRISTOPHER EVERETT. CHRIS HAS CONVERTED TO A LEGISLATIVE ANALYST AT THE OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE POLICY AND ANALYSIS NE IN THE NIH OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR. ALSO IN THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, THE ALL-OF-US TARGETED PMF IS RYAN HOLLUM. RYAN HAS CONVERTED TO A PUBLIC AFFAIR SPECIALIST AT THE ALL-OF-US RESEARCH PROGRAM IN THE NIH OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES TARGETED PMF IS ARSHIR, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DENTAL AND CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH TARGETED PMF IS ALYSSA MEISTER. ALYSSA HAS CONVERTED TO A SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR IN THE OFFICE OFFICE OF SCIENCE POLICY AT THE NIH OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT FELLOWS. AND ONE LAST TIME, PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING ALL OF OUR GRADUATES. >> THANK YOU, KEITH AND VICKIE, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR GRADUATES. FINALLY, WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR AMAZING PROGRAM MANAGERS PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE NIH MANAGEMENT INTERN PROGRAM, AND THE INCOMING PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT FELLOW PROGRAM. >> DEAR GRADUATES, AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME, I'M REMINDED OF A QUOTE FROM THE INCOME -- CHALLENGES ARE GIFTS THAT FORCE US TO SEARCH FOR A NEW CENTER OF GRAVITY. DON'T FIGHT THEM, JUST FIND A NEW WAY TO STAND. AS THE MI PROGRAM MANAGER, WHEN I REFLECT ON THIS QUOTE, I THINK IMMEDIATELY OF HOW ALL OF YOU HAVE EXHIBITED STRENGTH AND ADAPTABILITY THROUGHOUT YOUR TWO-YEAR INTERNSHIP OR FELLOWSHIP. IN 2020, THE PANDEMIC DRASTICALLY CHANGED THE WAY THAT WE LIVE AND THE WAY THAT WE WORK. WHILE THIS DESTABILIZING CHANGE KNOCKED THE WORLD OVER, I'M SO PROUD OF THE WAY YOU ALL ROSE TO THE OCCASION AND FOUND A NEW WAY TO STAND. YOU EMBRACED VIRTUAL ROTATIONS AND OFFICE ASSIGNMENTS EVERY THREE MONTHS, FOUND DIGITAL SOLUTIONS TO CONNECT WITH YOUR COLLECTIVE COHORT AND BUILD SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS THAT FOSTERED GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND STEPPED UP TO LEAD AND TRANSFORM EVENTS LIKE ORIENTATION AND GRADUATION FROM IN-PERSON TO VIRTUAL, USING CREATIVE, INNOVATIVE IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS. EACH OF YOU HAS ILLUSTRATED ADAPTABILITY IN THIS NEW WORLD OF WORK. REFLECT ON ALL YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED IN THESE TWO YEARS AND KNOW THAT YOU'VE GOT THIS. I'VE BEEN SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND TO WATCH YOU ADAPT TO A RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD TO CONTINUOUSLY LEARN AND TO GROW INTO AMAZING TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERS WHO BUILD ON THE PAST WHILE SEEING EVEN GREATER POSSIBILITY AND VALUE IN CONTINUING TO GROW. WE'RE FOCUSED ON USING THEIR POSITION TO UPLIFT AND EMPOWER THOSE WHO HAVE NOT TRADITIONALLY BEEN UPLIFTED AND EMPOWERED. WHO CHANNEL THEIR CORE VALUES TO CREATE A BIGGER, BRIGHTER AND MORE INCLUSIVE VISION FOR THE FUTURE. AS YOU GRADUATE FROM THESE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS, I CALL ON YOU TO ASK YOURSELVES, WHAT CAN I OFFER AS I GO UP? HOW CAN I HELP AND INSPIRE OTHERS? AND HOW CAN I USE WHAT I HAVE LEARNED TO SUPPORT THE NIH MISSION AND COMMUNITY? IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU. YOUR DEMONSTRABLE COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, PROGRESS AND INNOVATION AND DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION ALL EXEMPLIFY WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN NIH INTERN AND PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT FELLOW. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHERE YOU GO AND WHERE YOU WILL LEAD THE REST OF YOUR COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU. >> GRADUATES, THE ALUMNI WOULD LIKE TO OFFICIALLY WELCOME YOU TO THE NIH COMMUNITY. THIS IS AN IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF DEDICATED AND SUPPORTIVE INDIVIDUALS FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS OVER THE YEARS, INCLUDING STRIDE PART PANTS, ADMINISTRATIVE FELLOWS PROGRAM, EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM, NCI ADMINISTRATIVE CAREER DEVELOPMENT, MANAGEMENT INTERNS, PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT INTERNS AND FELLOWS. WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO THE ATC ROTATIONAL SUPERVISORS, MENTORS, ALUMNI AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE FOR SUPPORTING THESE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY. >> THANK YOU, ROXY AND SHERENA. THIS CONCLUDES THE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY FOR THE CLASS OF 2021. WE WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM FOR THEIR TIME AND DEDICATION TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR PROGRAM TODAY. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE MADE DAILY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PMF AND MI PROGRAMS. MEMBERS OF THE ATC, PROGRAM MANAGERS, SHARENA BROWN, ROXY AND MARY, MENTORS AND ROTATIONAL SUPERVISORS, WE THANK YOU. YOU ALL HAVE BEEN INTEGRAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THESE PROGRAMS. AND TO THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2021, WE SALUTE YOU AND APPLAUD YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING THESE EXTRAORDINARY TIMES. CONGRATULATIONS, AND BEST OF LUCK IN YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS. * [MUSIC]