Staff Spotlight: Liz Wright, Program Operations Specialist

UW Dermatology is fortunate to have a small, but passionate team of administrative staff members whose talent and dedication to our faculty, trainees and research teams help make our division such a great place to learn, work and teach.

Check-out our Staff Spotlights to learn how our staff contributes to our academic, research, patient care and service missions.

Meet Liz Wright (she/her/hers), a Program Operations Specialist at the UW Division of Dermatology coordinating our medical student training experiences!

Originally from Grand Junction, Colorado, Liz first joined UW Dermatology in 2017. 

What is your work and educational background?

I worked at several fancy restaurants in Seattle while I went to community college for my AA degree, then for my undergrad, I was selected to attend Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, which turned out to be one of the most wonderful college experiences one can have. I have worked here at UWSOM since I moved back to Seattle in 2015, first in the Medicine Student Programs office, the Pathology Department for a brief spell, and have been here in the UW Division of Dermatology since 2017. 

What drew you to your current role at UW?

Unbelievably, it was Stephanie Timm, Manager of Dermatology Education & Training Programs, who drew me to this role. We developed a lovely rapport via email correspondence when I was working in Internal Medicine, and when she was ready to move up in the Division, she offered me her part-time role working with medical students. She knew that I had a small babe at the time, and that a part-time gig is great for new moms looking to find work-life balance.

Tell us about your position; what does a typical day look like? 

I coordinate all of our medical student programs, and manage the many non-trainees who rotate through our clinics as well. On a typical day, I balance the day-to-day needs of current trainees, observers, potential visiting students, as well as look well ahead to the coming months to what is needed for scheduling and support for annual projects and events. 

What’s your favorite memory from working at UW Dermatology? 

My favorite memory from working here was when, as a goodbye send-off prank, we tin-foiled the entire office of one of our long-time admins in Dermatology who was quite the prankster herself. The look on her face when she saw our handiwork was priceless.  

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Since I have two little ones, I don’t have much free time currently, but we are avid readers in our house. We love to haunt our local libraries and Half-Price Book stores to discover new books to devour. Also, I know I am not original here, but we love to maraud through the woods whenever we get the chance. A little “forest bathing” makes for a nice after-dinner activity, and we’re lucky to have trails close by our home.