Congratulations Karen Yuan on Promotion to Geriatrics Division Manager!

Congratulations Karen Yuan on her promotion as our new Geriatrics Division Manager! 

Karen started in the Division of Geriatrics in July 2013 as our Research Finance Analyst, serving as the grant manager for about 25-30 faculty members.  Shortly thereafter, Karen was promoted to Finance Manager as she took over managing Division funds, as well as supervising the Operations Analyst in 2014.  Realizing there was an unmet need in HR functions as our Division continued to grow, Karen assumed the role of Assistant Division Manager in 2017.  Over the past five years, Karen continued to lead a lean and successful team of administrative staff including Thomas Yu (Senior Finance Specialist), Elaine Chow (Education Programs Specialist), Caroline Sou Ziesmer (Operations Analyst) and Paula Sison (Operations Assistant); serve as the pre- and post- award grant manager for senior faculty including Dr. Louise Walter, Dr. Rebecca Sudore, Dr. Brie Williams, Dr. Anna Chang, and more recently, Dr. Anna Chodos; manage Division finances; and provide backup coverage for the Division Manager, Maxine Davis and other administrative staff.  

When our Division Manager position became vacant in May, Karen stepped up to serve as the Interim Division Manager without hesitation so that the Division was able to continue functioning at full capacity while we conducted a search for the position.  As our Division continues to expand, the search committee knew we needed a leader who is hardworking and invested in the overall success of each and every one of our employees.  We're delighted the search committee (Aaron Tobacco, Andreana Ososki, Sarah Ngo, Michael Chen, Thomas Yu, Anna Chang, Stephanie Rogers, Mike Steinman and Louise Walter) selected Karen!  Karen has demonstrated that she has what it takes to be our next Division Manager.  She leads with grace and humor, and also takes her job very seriously.  When she’s not working, she loves to look up new restaurants to eat at, and she tells us that she gets dragged to the gym three times a week in order to continue justifying her former hobby (eating).  As she steps into her new role as Division Manager on Monday 8/1, she will continue to advocate for the Division, work closely with leadership on growth and expansion, and also ensure that our employees are happy, engaged and have the tools and resources that they need to be successful.  We are very much looking forward to working more closely with Karen in this new capacity.  

Please join us in congratulating Karen Yuan, Geriatrics Division Manager!