Our Committment

Strategic Engagement

Promoting and sustaining a culture of excellence within the Department of Medicine

Group of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coalition members

Strategic Engagement is designed to advance Department of Medicine goals by building internal and external relationships, providing momentum and clarity toward effective retention and recruitment, and fostering an overall culture of shared success. To fulfill these objectives, we envision strategies rooted in principals pertaining to meaningful engagement, sustainable engagement, collaborative engagement and mindful engagement.

Vice Chair Sacha Sharp

Sacha Sharp, PhD, Sharp is a respected leader within the school and department for many years, especially in career development, medical education, inclusive excellence, and mentoring. As the Vice Chair for Strategic Engagement, she plays a key role in helping the department set and meet goals related to recruitment, retention, and building a workplace culture that is unified and harmonious.

Read Dr. Sharp's Bio

Charts shows the Model for Strategic Engagement and lists each element of meaningful, mindful, sustainable and collaborative engagement

Model of Strategic Engagement

The Department of Medicine is committed to promoting and sustaining a welcoming environment where individuals experience work satisfaction and can thrive. To foster this welcoming culture, it is necessary to use an integrated framework that highlights practical elements for internal and external functions. Our Model of Strategic Engagement acknowledges best practices for engagement based on interdisciplinary resources. The elements are structured for institutional and interpersonal engagement that undergird department mission areas, with the desired outcome of wellness, productivity, and job satisfaction.

Meaningful Engagement

Meaningful Engagement centers
on:

Appreciation
Trust and Respect
Reflection
Reduced Cynicism

A group of college students embrace and smile as they look into the camera.

Sustainable Engagement

Sustainable Engagement centers
on:

Rightful Presence
Cultural Humility
Authenticity and Self-care
Recognition and Joy

A female student reads a book while sitting on a sofa

Mindful Engagement

Mindful Engagement centers
on:

Listening and Seeing
Managing Discomfort
Offering Grace
Breathing

Three college students sit together at a table while working. One student works on a laptop while the others lean in collaboratively.

Collaborative Engagement

Collaborative Engagement centers on:

Candor and Camaraderie
Accessibility
Teamwork
Transparency

Committee for Strategic Engagement

The Committee for Strategic Engagement is designed to promote and sustain a culture of excellence within the Department of Medicine that benefits all members, and to be a catalyst for systemic change.

Committee Members, 2025 to 2027

Survey Results

The Department of Medicine seeks to build an engaged workplace with a shared culture of success. See survey results on these topics, gathered in 2024.

View on OneDrive

Committee Co-Chair

Bridget Working

Director, HR & Academic Administration

Bridget Working works in the Chair's Office and leads the department's team of HR professionals.

Committee Co-Chair

Marc S. Rovner, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine

Marc Rovner, MD, is an assistant professor of clinical medicine, specializing in pulmonology and respiratory care.

Program Manager

Jaskiran Kaur

Program Management Specialist

Jaskiran Kaur works closely with Dr. Sharp on implementing programs for strategic engagement.

Rheumatology

Nicholas Vaughn, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine

Cancer Center

Titto A. Augustine, PhD

Assistant Research Professor of Neurological Surgery

Resident

Adel Hajj Ali, MD

Internal Medicine, PGY 3
American University of Beirut

General IM

Hannah Smith

Assistant Business Manager

Chair's Office

James Bellamy

Research Facilities Administrator

Palliative Care

Paul Goodenough

Chaplain, IU Health

Oncology

Lalitha Nayak, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine

VA

Lindsey M. Temnykh, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine

General IM

Lynette Smith-Caillouet, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine

Muncie Campus

Lynn A. Witty, MD

Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine

Faculty Spotlights

Assistant Vice Chair for Health Impact

Lauren D. Nephew, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Dr. Nephew is a transplant hepatologist and health services researcher. Her research interests include understanding barriers to liver transplantation for vulnerable populations, disparities in care of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, and the impact of the social and structural determinants of health on the outcomes of patients with liver disease.

Read Bio

Assistant Vice Chair for Health Impact

Ashley Gilmore, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine

Dr. Gilmore is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology. In 2016, she launched the Medical and Endoscopic Weight Loss Clinic at IU Health-North, which helps people achieve their weight loss goals without surgery and has the potential to transform population health programs at IU Health and beyond.

Read Bio