When students in Vanderbilt’s Biomedical Informatics program complete capstone presentations and doctoral dissertations, by custom they include a slide of thanks to those who have helped them achieve that level of success.
The names vary, of course, based on the course of study and the involved faculty members, but they all include one name: Rischelle Jenkins.
“Having been to so many student defenses over the years, Rischelle is included in the acknowledgment slides of almost every single student,” said Kim Unertl, PhD, director of Graduate Studies, associate professor of Biomedical Informatics and former MS and PhD student in the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI). “I can’t think of any student who hasn’t included her.”
Jenkins is the program manager of the master’s and PhD program in DBMI, but “program manager” doesn’t say nearly enough. One of her students had another name for it: “University Mom.”
Jenkins has been the first point of contact for Vanderbilt informatics students since she joined DBMI on March 1, 2001.
“I’ve always called the students my babies even though they’re adults,” she says with a laugh.
“Whether I’m at the office or working from home, people are always welcome to contact me any time. I’m here because of the students.”
Wearing many hats
It’s not just the students, though. Faculty, staff and department leadership rely on her, too. Over her two decades in the department, Jenkins has worked alongside the program’s educational leadership, managing student recruitment and enrollment, organizing critical data for DBMI’s National Library of Medicine grant, budgeting, overseeing weekly informatics seminars and planning social activities for students.
DBMI staff and former students-turned-faculty commonly chat with Rischelle in the hallways, sharing details about their weddings, children and elderly parents’ well-being. And at the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) Symposiums, the largest annual informatics conference, DBMI alumni, graduates from the AMIA High School Scholars Program and Vanderbilt Biomedical Informatics Summer Program, and even applicants who didn’t participate in Vanderbilt’s informatics programs regularly stop by Vanderbilt’s booth to say hello.
“When you’re applying to grad school, you’re in a disconnected place. You don’t know much about the institution. Rischelle helps applicants navigate that. She’s an important friendly face and a welcoming presence for people.”
Kim Unerti
“I want to be that person that gives them warmth and love and makes them feel comfortable,” Jenkins said.
The spirit and soul of the department
Earlier this year, Jenkins celebrated her 40th work anniversary at Vanderbilt. Her first job was in Management Systems, and she moved through several areas, growing in administrative skills and knowledge. This included working in the Center for the Advanced Study of Educational Leadership at VU’s Peabody College as the secretary to the director, Philip Hallinger.
“Dr. Hallinger empowered and encouraged me in so many different aspects professionally that I’ll always be grateful for,” she said.
Even though Jenkins left that role in 1994, Hallinger, who is at the College of Management at Mahidol University in Thailand, and Jenkins still regularly check in with each other.
“Rischelle is still helping me after all these years!” he said.
For her 40th anniversary at Vanderbilt, her DBMI colleagues found various ways to show their love and support, including attending a special program at the Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center to celebrate Black employees who have been with the institution for more than 25 years, and also a special recognition and reception in her honor.
“To say it has been a pleasure to work with Rischelle is an understatement,” says Peter Embi, MD, MS, Professor and Chair of Biomedical Informatics, professor of Medicine and Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation at VUMC.
“Rischelle embodies the spirit and soul of the department and is always focused on making sure that everyone in DBMI and everyone we interact with has an outstanding experience. She’s an amazing colleague, friend, and ambassador for DBMI, and we are so fortunate to have benefited from her service for so many years,” said Embi, holder of the Directorship in Biomedical Informatics.
“Someone with her level of experience and fantastic skills — and generally being so great to be with — she can get a job anywhere, and she’s chosen to be here for a long time,” said Jessica Ancker, PhD, MPH,professor of Biomedical Informatics and Health Policy and vice chair for Educational Affairs in DBMI. “I want to make sure we value that. It’s a true gift.
“Rischelle became the repository of institutional knowledge, and that was completely critical,” said Ancker, whose first task upon joining DBMI in January 2021 was to write the department’s T15 grant renewal. “We couldn’t have done that without her.”
Moving forward
Jenkins is also credited with helping Unertl and Neil Sarkar, PhD, MLIS, establish the AMIA High School Scholars Program, which has introduced high school students to informatics since 2014 and provided opportunities for them to present research at the AMIA Annual Symposium.
“It’s eye-opening for these kids to see informatics as a potential profession,” said Sarkar, President and CEO of the Rhode Island Quality Institute and associate professor of Medical Science and Health Services, Policy and Practice at Brown University. “This has been a wonderful partnership with Kim Unertl from the very beginning. We’ve built something that will leave a legacy, and none of it would be possible without Rischelle.”
Jenkins looks back at her career and is grateful that so many people in and outside of Vanderbilt have recognized her reputation as a hard worker and loving person.
“Remembering ‘to do unto others as you would have others do unto you,’ or not ‘to return evil for evil,’ those are the things I work hard to live by,” she said.
“I didn’t have to go outside of Vanderbilt to advance,” Jenkins said. “I was able to do my 40 years right here. I’m here now because of the growth I’ve done over the years, and because of the great mentors in my life who have taken an interest in my professional development. For that, I’m deeply grateful.”
