Geri Spotlight: Dustin Le and Melody Luo

Interviewed by Melody Luo over Zoom.

About Dustin’s Role/Ongoing Projects
Dustin serves as a program coordinator for CAP-CT which provides educational training to health care teams on involving caregivers in a patient's care process. The goal is to have the provider identify, engage, and support caregiver needs. Seeing the online training and resources launch and disseminate is a big excitement. Seeing the impact of the work and the program launching to the world is a great feeling. Plus, the training is free and it feels great to make it accessible to all. CAP-CT is advancing patient care by improving engagement and support for the caregiver and patient. We provide special resources and training that are built to inform the healthcare team members with methods of engaging and supporting the patient and caregiver.

His favorite part of his role is the creative freedom to choose the direction and approach he wants to take. He enjoys applying his professional skills in practice and values the positive feedback he receives from both his manager and peers. He appreciates the collaborative environment within his team, where open feedback is encouraged. Additionally, he finds it rewarding that colleagues outside the program are receptive and supportive of its goals.

What is a professional goal you would like to accomplish by the end of this year?
Dustin's professional goals for this year include enhancing his project management skills by pursuing a PMP certification and achieving Smartsheet certification.

More about Dustin
What’s one “fun fact” about you that not many people know? (e.g., hidden talent)
Dustin solo traveled through Asia for three months!

What would your back-up career be?
Dusting would open a matcha coffee shop with of bunch of cats running around. He’d call it the “Cat-fe”.

Interviewed by Dustin Le over Zoom.

About Melody’s Role/Ongoing Projects
Melody is the Age-Friendly Health Systems Quality Improvement Specialist, working on two key projects: preventing delirium on the Acute Care for Elders (ACE) unit and the Caring Wisely project, which helps patients enroll in Care at Home faster. Both projects focus on improving outcomes for older adults—reducing delirium during hospital stays and ensuring patients see a primary care provider quickly after discharge. She enjoys working on post-discharge care operations, where her efforts help close gaps in follow-up care to make sure patients get the best care possible. Her work has a big impact, improving care both during hospital stays and after discharge, and supports the Division's mission to optimize care for older adults at every step of their health journey.

Her favorite part of her role is the opportunity to connect with her mentor and supervisor during their time on service. They often check in with each other, having conversations about anything and everything. She’s incredibly grateful for the trusting and close relationship they’ve built, as it has been a valuable source of learning in areas like project management, leadership, public speaking, geriatrics care, and even politics.

What is a professional goal you would like to accomplish by the end of this year?
Melody’s professional goal for this year is to learn more about QI Macros and lean.

More about Melody
What’s one “fun fact” about you that not many people know? (e.g., hidden talent)
Melody can touch the tip of her tongue to the end of her chin.

What are you happiest doing in your free time?
Melody loved playing volleyball but had to stop recently due to an ACL injury.

What would your back-up career be?
Melody would be a travel vlogger.