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Meet Kendrick Mercedes, Senior Administrative Assistant (Cardiovascular Medicine)

May 19, 2023
by Elisabeth Reitman

Kendrick Mercedes enjoys the sense of community at the Yale Cardiovascular Research Center.

What is your role at Yale School of Medicine (YSM)?

I work at the Yale Cardiovascular Research Center (YCVRC) as a Senior Administrative Assistant.

Have you been involved in any projects that you are particularly proud of?

I was heavily involved in organizing a faculty recruitment symposium for the YCVRC. The project took several months to prepare and execute. Some steps entailed inviting four candidates to present their science, arranging their lodging, scheduling individual meetings, and setting up the venue for the symposium. The event was a great success and I look forward to pursuing future endeavors with the YCVRC.

Why did you decide to work at YSM?

Yale has a remarkable reputation in the realm of higher education. I’ve always admired the academic rigor that the university continues to express. I applied to YSM because I recognized these traits, and I knew that it was the ideal community to build upon my skills.

How did you become interested in your line of work?

Throughout my career path, I’ve gained experience from different office environments, spanning from property management corporations to educational institutions. I grew to appreciate the diverse tasks and skillsets that often accompany administrative positions. These challenging situations are one of the factors that make my job exciting.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

It’s rewarding to see how my work has a positive impact on a variety of people. The YCVRC consists of over 100 investigators, and much of my work assists with maintaining a strong sense of community. On some occasions, the outcomes have impacted individuals outside of the YCVRC. It’s satisfying to know that my efforts can make a difference.

Why do you love working at Yale?

Yale embodies many values that align with my goals. This has paved the way for my personal growth as a person and an employee. I also work with a wonderful team of Administrative Assistants, a highly supportive Operations Manager, and four influential Co-Directors.

What is a fun fact about you?

One of my favorite hobbies is hardware engineering. I have a custom computer desktop that I built piece by piece, and I’m still thinking of ways to modify it. Some current features include 10 fans with customizable lights, a unique liquid-cooling system, and a mini screen inside! I’m very excited to see how creative I can get with this project.

Submitted by Elisabeth Reitman on May 19, 2023