2017 Dean's Awards: Staff Honorees (with video)

On Nov. 14, 2017, Dean Marschall S. Runge, M.D., Ph.D., and the executive vice deans for the University of Michigan Medical School presented Dean's Awards to 23 faculty and staff for exceptional accomplishment in the areas of teaching, research, clinical care, community service, innovation and administration.

This year's recipients, who received their awards during a dinner and ceremony in the Omenn Atrium of the A. Alfred Taubman Biomedical Science Research Building, include Administrator of the Year recipient Matthew C. Comstock, MBA, MHSA; Professional Staff of the Year recipient Lisa F. Garber, M.A.; and Support Staff of the Year Award recipient Rebecca E. Weeks.

“This group of honorees faithfully executes the Medical School’s mission, and they work daily to uphold our values of respect, compassion, trust, integrity and efficiency,” Runge said. “They are wonderful colleagues whose work supports our faculty, staff and learners, and they excel in their respective administrative roles.”

Matthew C. Comstock, MBA, MHSA, is executive director for administration and chief operating officer in the Medical School. He also is a lecturer in the School of Public Health (SPH) Department of Health Management and Policy.

A graduate of the Stephen M. Ross School of Business (BBA and MBA), and SPH (MHSA), he is responsible for planning, organizing, evaluating and monitoring administrative and financial functions to ensure that the academic and administrative needs of the Medical School are addressed. This includes implementing the strategic direction and ensuring the appropriate resources and support are made available to carry out the school’s tripartite mission.

Prior to his current role, he served in multiple finance and strategic roles within Michigan Medicine, including UMMS senior finance executive.

Lisa F. Garber, M.A., is the student affairs program manager in the Department of Pharmacology in the Medical School.

A 2008 graduate of the University of Michigan, her first professional role at the U-M came as a graphic artist at the School of Dentistry (2005-09). She moved to the Medical School as manager of the Office of Postdoctoral Studies and coordinator of recruitment and marketing for the Program in Biomedical Sciences (2009-13). She was promoted to director of graduate admissions and recruitment in 2013, a post she held until 2015 when Chair Lori L. Isom, Ph.D., hired her as the education coordinator in the Department of Pharmacology.

She works to develop, assess, evaluate and reform educational policies and programming for undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and postdoctoral programs. She also counsels trainees on adjustments to graduate school, coursework, financial aid, academic milestones, professional development and career outcomes. 

Rebecca E. Weeks is an admissions administrative specialist in the Office of Admissions in the Medical School.

She joined Michigan Medicine in 1998 as a secretary in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine within the Department of Internal Medicine. Through her dedication to the Pulmonary faculty and their pursuits, she worked her way up to administrative specialist.

She plays a vital role in helping to attract and admit a robust medical student body. She organizes Interview Days, when prospective students come to campus to interview, and also Second Look Weekend, when admitted students come back to campus for further consideration.

She also serves as the administrative lead for the pre-matriculation program, is considered the “go-to” person for M1 Launch, and helps to manage the day-to-day operations of the Office of Admissions.