Althea Scott, EdD (Co-Director)
Althea Scott, EdD, is the Director of the Department of Psychiatry Advanced Clinical Rotations (ACRs) at the Uniformed Services University (USU) in Bethesda, MD. This role involves overseeing the function and quality of medical education and collaborating with Site Directors to ensure consistency across multiple clinical sites. Dr. Scott also serves as the Psychiatry Clerkship Administrator, playing a pivotal role in shaping the medical students’ experience in the psychiatry clerkship course. In addition to the administrative roles, Dr. Scott has held an academic appointment as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the USU School of Medicine (SoM) since 2018. Furthermore, as a Dean’s Fellow, Dr. Scott engages in scholarly research to improve teaching and administration within the SoM. Dr. Scott is the 2023 recipient of the Excellence in Clerkship Administration Award from the Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry (ADMSEP). She completed the Clerkship Administrator certificate program in 2022, demonstrating a commitment to ongoing professional development and quality improvement processes.
Tiffany Swain (Co-Director)
Tiffany Swain is the Clinical Education Specialist for the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas. Her educational background includes Advanced Individual Training in Unit Supply courses for the United States Army, courses required for her military training – Basic German Language, Unit Level Supply Course for ULLS-4 Software, and Database Applications; she received her Associate of Arts in 2021 where she graduated with Honors and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Sigma Delta Chapter, in 2018. Upon completion of military service, Ms. Swain began her career at UTMB, working with nursing students from 2003 to 2007 and then transitioned to the Department of Pediatrics where she has been working with medical students ever since. Ms. Swain has a love for education and working with students. She takes pride in the work she does, which shows in all the recognitions she has received. She was awarded for Excellence in Support of Pediatric Education in 2010, 2013, and 2020; recognized with an Employee Appreciation Award for Exemplary Performance in Customer Service (2014) and Outstanding Performance in Innovation and Improvement (2015); and nominated for the President’s Way to Go Award for Regents Outstanding Employee in 2018. Ms. Swain completed the Clerkship Administrator Certificate Program in 2017. She has been involved with COMSEP for 10 years.
Donnita Pelser, B.A. (Co-Director)
Donnita Pelser has been the Pediatric Program Administrator at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita since 2000. She has served as leader of the COMSEP Administrators Collaborative from 2010-2013. Ms. Pelser completed the Clerkship Administrator Certificate Program in 2008. She was awarded the COMSEP Excellence in Clerkship Administration Award in 2014. Currently, she serves on the AAP Pedialink for Medical Students Workgroup Editorial Board.
Cathy Chavez
Cathy Chavez has been the Pediatric Program Administrator for the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics since 2001. Ms. Chavez completed the Clerkship Administrator Certificate Program in 2006. She has been involved with COMSEP for 10 years.
Wilhelmina Bradford, B.A.
Wilhelmina Bradford’s degree is in Elementary Education where she taught language arts, social studies, and physical education. She transitioned to the emerging fields of PC computing and network technology in the early 80’s to 2002. During her technology career she worked in orders and accounts receivables, in human factors software analysis, teamed in computer and network installation projects, and held coordinator and project leader roles. Wilhelmina has spent the last 16 years at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC as a Pediatric Program Coordinator for The George Washington University 3rd and 4th year programs. She has created electronic access for students and faculty through website content development and design. She received her Clerkship Administrators Certification in 2011 and has worked on the Coordinator and Technology Task Forces of COMSEP, a national organization for Pediatric Clerkship Directors. She was awarded the COMSEP Excellence in Clerkship Administration award in 2019. Wilhelmina became the Clerkship Administrator’s Collaborative Leader in COMSEP in 2019 and currently is a member of the DEI task force, the COMSEP Collaborative Leaders working group and is a member of the planning team for the COMSEP conference in March, 2022.
Alison D. Ricker, M.S.
After 8 years as a licensed Preschool Teacher, Alison started in medical education as a Residency Program Assistant for the Department of Pediatrics. She transitioned to the Pediatric Clerkship, where she achieved her Clerkship Administrator Certificate and worked with the Coordinator Task Force of COMSEP, the National organization for Pediatric Clerkship Directors. After 10 years in Pediatrics, Alison transitioned to the Office of Faculty Development, focused her free time on completing her Master’s Degree in Communication with a focus on Learning and Training. In 2016, Alison moved into the role of Director of the Clinical Curriculum where she facilitates a wide variety of aspects of the 3rd and 4th year medical student curriculum.
Gary L. Beck Dallaghan, Ph.D.
Gary Beck Dallaghan, Ph.D. is the assistant dean for accreditation at Carle Illinois College of Medicine in Urbana. He has published over 130 peer-review articles; two of which are related to this certificate program. Dr. Beck Dallaghan has been the administrative director of the Alliance for Clinical Education since 1997. Dr. Beck Dallaghan along with Dr. Fred McCurdy created the Medical Education Administrator Certificate Program.