UVA Today is highlighting the winners of the 2013 Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contribution Awards, the highest U.Va. honor staff receive for their dedicated service to the University. Today: Jamie DeVore, manager of radiation oncology. To see all of the stories, click here.

Since 2005, Jamie DeVore has worked in the Department of Radiation Oncology in the U.Va. School of Medicine as administrative manager and as executive secretary to the department’s chair.

“No job is too large, no task is too menial for Jamie,” wrote Melody Lain, medical director for the department of radiation oncology, in her letter of nomination for DeVore.

“From delivering mail and locating physicians to evaluating staff and creating budgets, she covers the gauntlet. Regardless of what the request might be, Jamie is always willing to help.”

When Dr. James Larner became chair of the department in November 2005, he was aware of DeVore’s exceptional administrative skills and her ability to lead. There were actually two positions open at that time – administrative manager and administrative assistant to the chair.

“Jamie quickly assessed the workflow and workload of the department and proposed that we combine the two positions, thus eliminating one position and saving the department almost $50,000 a year,” Larner wrote in his nominating letter.

DeVore consistently strives to find ways to increase revenue, cut costs and improve quality and patient care. In 2012, she streamlined billing processes as one of her primary goals.

DeVore also serves as the human resources manager for the department and coordinates all recruitment and personnel searches. She directly supervises six employees and serves as a role model to her colleagues.

Her staff made the following comments: “Jamie makes me feel appreciated,” “she makes my job enjoyable,” and “Jamie doesn’t ask us to do anything she wouldn’t jump right in and do as well.”

DeVore’s nominators all mentioned how tirelessly she works in helping her community. Her greatest personal passion is volunteering and helping the needy, whether through her church or the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.

In 2009, DeVore helped to organize a medical mission trip to Liberia, Africa, raising enough money to buy and send medical supplies with an 18-member team of doctors, nurses and non-medical personnel.

DeVore obtained donated glasses from the Lions Club International, and after training with a local optometrist, she held vision-screening clinics and fitted hundreds of people with glasses in Liberia. The trip was so successful that, upon their return, Jamie’s mission group gave a presentation at the U.Va. Department of Pediatrics Grand Rounds.

When her niece, Jennifer Wells, a fourth-year U.Va. student, died in 2006 from B-strain meningitis, DeVore worked with her family to plan an annual event to raise money for meningitis research in her niece’s memory. Devore appeared on television, radio and in the press to educate the public about how the current meningitis vaccination does not cover the B-strain type. 

DeVore and her family held the seventh walk/run Wells remembrance event in Charlottesville on May 11 at Monticello High School.

“Jamie approaches her leadership role in the department and in the community with poise, attention to detail and a seriousness of purpose that is apparent to those around her,” wrote Dr. Timothy Showalter, assistant professor of radiation oncology. “She always anticipates issues and follows through, and she is supremely competent, experienced and generous with her time and effort.”

“Because of this, Jamie is often my starting point for advice on how to handle challenging issues.”