Focus on Staff With Gilda Young

Gilda Young, manager of the division of education within the UC College of Medicine Department of Surgery, has worked in the department for 36 years. Her work at UC has almost always always involved interacting with surgical residents and faculty, so her current position is a natural culmination of that experience.

Young says: "The truth is I love my job and consider myself very lucky to work here.” Here, she tells us about her role working with surgical residents and fellows at the UC College of Medicine. 

Tell us about your current role within the department of surgery. 

"I have worked in the UC College of Medicine Department of Surgery for 36 years in the roles of general surgery residency coordinator, project coordinator for the chair and currently as manager of the division of education. During my tenure, I have had the pleasure of working for five chairmen (Drs. Altemeier, Fischer, Matthews, Nussbaum, and Edwards) and five program directors (Drs. Culbertson, McDonough, Bower, Pritts and B. Davis.) There have been many changes to the hospital and medical school facilities and the department as well as the requirements for training surgical residents, for example, the new ACGME duty hours and core competencies.”

What is the most rewarding aspect of your day-to-day work?

"It is the opportunity to work with the residents. It is exciting to watch them as they grow from being medical students applying to our program to residents progressing through training to graduating and continuing in fellowships or entering private practice.  Many of our alumni are directors of departments and community leaders, and I am honored to have had the privilege of working with them. 

At the American College of Surgeons meeting, I have the opportunity to keep in touch with our alumni at the Mont Reid Surgical Society annual dinner meeting. I am thankful for the friendships I have made through the years and feel blessed to have had the opportunity to work with these individuals.”

Take us through the average day-in-the life of Gilda Young. 

"Our year is cyclical. We have ‘seasons’ of resident recruitment, graduation, orientation, planning new curriculum for the year, etc. Even though it is cyclical, it remains exciting and new because of the individuals you work with for a period of 5 to 7 years. There are many new and exciting challenges in meeting and exceeding the requirements for graduate education.” 

What do you enjoy doing in your non-work hours? 

"Our son is graduating from college this year and hopes to relocate to the Columbus area, so we are officially ‘empty nesters.’ We hope we’ll have the opportunity to travel a lot more. I also love getting together with family and friends, baking and trying new recipes which look easier on The Food Network cooking show than they really are.