Staff Assembly: A voice for staff, providers

The Staff Assembly at UC Davis Health on Aug. 7 will host its “Staff Assembly Awards and Welcome Breakfast with the Chancellor,” a quarterly session with Chancellor Gary May aimed at fostering collaboration and understanding between leadership and staff.

The Insider recently interviewed the leaders of UC Davis Health’s Staff Assembly, Joseph Avery III (chair), and Stefan Toma (past chair), about the various priorities and functions of the organization:

What are the key functions of the Staff Assembly on the health campus?

Avery and Toma: Guided by the Principles of Community, UC Davis Health Staff Assembly advocates for the mutual well-being of the UC Davis Health community, including staff providers, and students. On the Sacramento campus, Staff Assembly serves as a voice for staff in matters pertaining to the health system and as a vehicle through which staff can become more involved in, and informed of, the central functions of the health system. Also, Staff Assembly functions as a conduit to C-suite leadership at UC Davis Health and promotes collaboration with other UC, UC Davis, and UC Davis Health organizations to advance initiatives that improve the staff experience at the health campus.

Please describe a few current priorities of Staff Assembly and how will these projects benefit UC Davis Health employees?

Avery and Toma: Our Staff Assembly is currently focused on improving staff inclusion by expanding outreach to Staff Assembly’s constituents at health through the health campus listserv, strengthening partnership with the department of Inclusive Excellence and the Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), offering additional avenues for staff to share their feedback, and improving collaboration with health system leadership.

How many employees are involved in Staff Assembly, and how does one get involved (website or email available)? 

Avery and Toma: The UC Davis Health’s Staff Assembly Executive Committee includes the ex-officio, chair, secretary, communications chair, member outreach and engagement chair, finance chair, and events co-chairs, as well as the “elect” committee members or those preparing to assume the role of the chair in their active term. Members that presume these roles are elected and serve 2-year terms, with the exception of the chair-elect who serves for a total of three years.

Each Staff Assembly, including our health system’s Staff Assembly, has a Council of UC Staff Assemblies delegate. This delegate joins other delegates from various UC campuses and offices and provides the presence, awareness of our work, and voice amongst all other UC campuses, ultimately having a voice through the CUCSA Executive Board to the UC Regents.

The current executive committee members are the following:

• Stefan Toma (past chair and CUCSA delegate)
• Joseph Avery III (chair)
• Darolyn Striley (chair-elect)
• Cory Mendenhall (communications chair)
• Kelsey McCann (communications chair-elect)
• Audrey Lybrand (events chair)
• Samantha Hogan (events chair-elect)
• Rose Rodriguez (finance chair)
• Davin Gardner (finance chair-elect)
• Brittney Patterson (outreach chair)
• Julianne Miller (secretary chair)
• Lauren McCabe (secretary chair-elect)

In addition to participating in the executive committee, staff can get involved by attending Staff Assembly sponsored events, reading the Insider and staying informed with regular updates, volunteering to assist in special events or projects, and giving suggestions to the executive committee to enhance the experience of UC Davis Health’s providers, students, and staff. For example, Staff Assembly sponsors the annual and highly attended Thank Goodness for Staff event.

How does Staff Assembly provide feedback and input to the C-suite leadership at UC Davis Health?

Avery and Toma: Staff Assembly committee members can provide feedback and input to C-suite leadership at UC Davis Health through several pathways. Staff Assembly Chairs regularly meet with and provide direct feedback to Chancellor Gary May, Associate Vice Chancellor of Human Resources Tammy Kenber, and the Staff Assembly executive sponsor, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Human Health Sciences Nicholas Eversole. Additionally, Staff Assembly may participate in committees/workgroups formed by C-suite leadership to provide feedback on matters pertinent to providers, students, and staff. Lastly, there are also opportunities with meet with health system leadership at various programs like the Breakfast with the Chancellor event.

Any additional thoughts?

Participating in Staff Assembly and joining the executive committee provides an opportunity for staff to get more involved. The Staff Assembly Executive Committee offers an invaluable experience of working with peers from various departments within the health system and collaborate with C-suite leadership to implement changes that’ll mutually benefit the institution and its employees. Past and current committee members regard the experience as fulfilling, aiding in their career development.

Click here to volunteer and join UC Davis Health’s Staff Assembly.