From June 10 to June 14, the Emory School of Medicine celebrates Staff Appreciation Week, an annual recognition to thank SOM staff members for their hard work throughout the academic year. In recognition, the School of Medicine has spotlighted some of the exceptional staff members across the school, including DOM’s own, Laquanda Jackson, Administrative Manager for the Division of General Internal Medicine.
This spotlight was written and published by the Emory School of Medicine.
What do you love most about your job?
My unwavering dedication to Emory, demonstrated through my 31 years of service, has not only been a personal journey but also a testament to the wonderful people here. Working in academia requires a team of professionals who are hardworking, dedicated and show compassion and empathy when needed.
Describe your path to Emory and your current role.
I was laid off from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) when President Clinton entered office in 1993. Dr. Schonberger was so impressed with my work at the CDC that he recommended me to interview with Dr. Henry Kahn at Emory University. I became a secretary in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine in 1993. I was promoted to Administrative Assistant in 1996 and started working with the Student Programs Family Medicine Course in 2005 under the leadership of Dr. Michael Lane. With the leadership of Dr. Joanne Williams in 2007, the Family Medicine Course was revamped to OPEX (Outpatient Experience) for first-year medical students to focus on understanding the relationship between the patient, the doctor, the health care team and the community. In 2012, OPEX moved to the Department of General Internal Medicine under the leadership of Dr. Bussey-Jones, where I continued to run the program under the current leadership of Dr. Pamela Vohra. In addition to working as program coordinator for OPEX, I support faculty in the general internal medicine department. In my 30 years at Emory University, I obtained a master’s degree in sociology from Georgia State University and finally became an Emory alum when I graduated with an MPH in 2023 from Rollins School of Public Health.
What is the most interesting project you’ve worked on in your role?
The most interesting project is the OPEX program, which I have worked on since its inception in 2007. Working on OPEX has extended my skills and knowledge. I have established collaborations with outside healthcare systems such as Kaiser, Veterans Affairs, Piedmont, WellStar and other community healthcare programs to extend preceptor services to students in those areas. I have also implemented and hosted a yearly Faculty Preceptor Appreciation Dinner that has expanded to include the Department of Pediatrics and Ambulatory Care. I have adapted to new technologies and learning management systems, such as moving to ACEMAPP, CANVAS, OASIS and 25 Live. Lastly, I have worked with the State of Georgia in submitting documentation to the Georgia Preceptor Tax Incentive Program, which was implemented in 2014 to provide tax incentives for physicians to precept medical students.
What is one thing you wish others knew about your job/field?
Working with medical students is not just a job but a joy and a privilege. Witnessing the growth and development of first-year medical students into proficient doctors is a truly rewarding experience. It reminds of the profound impact we can have on shaping the future of healthcare.
From Pam Vohra-Khullar, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine
“Ms. Laquanda Jackson has been working in the Division of General Internal Medicine (GIM) since 2012. She came to GIM from the Department of Family Medicine and celebrated 30 years with the School of Medicine (SOM) in July 2023. She has made many important contributions to GIM to support our team and initiatives. Her invaluable contributions have supported our large presence and multiple events at the Society of General Internal Medicine Annual Meeting. She also facilitates the OPEX (Outpatient Experience) required course for first-year Emory medical students, working tirelessly to assign students to physician preceptors across the community, ensure good communication between preceptors and students, and implement programmatic updates. She is dedicated and passionate about her work, which is demonstrated by the daily tasks she does to ensure the success of the OPEX program and GIM. She is an inspiration to all who work with her.”
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