Benefits of Participation

This career development program supports the NIH goals and initiatives of developing a group of well-qualified candidates for management positions and ensuring that women, minorities, and employees with disabilities who have been traditionally underrepresented in such positions have access to opportunities to participate in that pool. It might also ease recruiting efforts and may be utilized as a mechanism for identifying highly qualified candidates to fill future leadership positions at NIH. The assignments and experiences to which Cadre participants will be exposed should result in graduates who are well prepared to compete for managerial/leadership positions.

Supervisor Feedback

"From my perspective, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Management Cadre Program has been an overwhelming success and a benefit to the career development of Ms. Valeria Shropshire. It has afforded her opportunities she would not have had in the normal course of her duties in the Health and Safety Branch of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). The training courses, detail and shadow assignments she selected for her development plan allowed her to learn management concepts. From there she saw those concepts put into practice as she completed her detail and shadow assignments with various senior level administrative personnel as they went about their daily activities. The Program has given her insights into the programs and management of NIH and NIEHS that she did not have previously. It has definitely made her a more confident and self-assured person. A person who will be better prepared for management as a direct result of the Management Cadre Program."

— Christopher L. Hunt, Jr., CIH, Safety Officer, Health and Safety Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Participant Feedback

"My main goal during the MCP experience was to attain the skills to function as a Senior Management Analyst at the NIH, and particularly at the NHGRI. To achieve this goal he took several courses directly related to analyzing organizations such as "Data Collection and Analysis" and "Performance Measurement". In order to understand the application of these course related skills he conducted many interviews of analysts at NIH other Government agencies and in the private sector. His program related detail was conducted at the DHHS Inspector General's Office in Washington D.C. He worked as part of the Office of Evaluations and Inspections and assisted with the evaluation of a program designed to promote the reporting of Medicare Fraud and Abuse. While working in that office he also interviewed representatives from all the other segments of the Office of the Inspector General to understand the total organization. The final segment of the program was spent interviewing NIH personnel in leadership positions in an effort to understand their approaches to leading their staff and what impact their styles had on the overall management of NIH. He looks forward to using the MCP experience to enhance his skills at analysis and developing effective leadership traits."

— Don Bordine, Class of 1998

"Participating in the Management Cadre Program (MCP) has given me the opportunity to meet and work with people from several NIH institutes and centers, including the National Cancer Institute, the Fogarty International Center, the Center for Information Technology, and the National Human Genome Research Institute. I have also taken courses in web site design and contract management, as well as the Washington Executive Seminar. I found the site visits to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the intramural research program of the National Institute on Aging most enlightening. The greatest difficulty that I have encountered has been in finding the time to pursue MCP activities while working full-time at my job in the Office of Research on Women's Health."

— Mary Chunko, Class of 1998

"The NIH Management Cadre Program has been of great benefit to my growth and development since I have come to NIH. I have developed in terms of the breadth of my knowledge, increased contributions to my position and organizational unit, and my personal growth. I feel that I have broadened my knowledge of NIH, DHHS and the national scientific and health agenda. This process would have taken place at a slower rate had I not participated in the Management Cadre Program. The people I interacted with, met, shadowed and who mentored me contributed greatly to the very positive experience I had in this career development program. I am so very grateful for having had this opportunity."

— Pamela Clax, Class of 1998

"The Management Cadre Program was very beneficial to me. The program gave me numerous opportunities to enhance my leadership abilities through training and interaction. I had an excellent opportunity to network with NIH leaders. The program gave me the flexibility to self-direct my training activities to meet my development needs and goals. I was blessed with an excellent mentor who I could share my ideas and plans with. My detail was very rewarding and I was able to produce a product that can be used by NIH, other Federal Agencies and industry. I had top to bottom support within my organization. I am the first Management Cadre Program participant in my Division and the program has enhanced my visibility within the Division as potential leader for the future."

— Rick Herring, Class of 1998

"Participation in the Management Cadre Program has dramatically changed my perception of the NIH and my role within the organization. Before the program I had worked in a variety of different positions in a single Division within one of the old ADAMHA Institutes. Not only was the Institute new to NIH, but in my position I had little chance to interact with other Institutes or the NIH OD. Participation in the program has: 1) allowed me to feel a part of the NIH as a whole; 2) given me a much better idea of my career potential at NIH; 3) afforded me with a fairly good look at how top level decisions are made, what influences them, and the basic premises behind how NIH is run; 4) provided me with an insight into NIH decision making which I have been able to share with coworkers and supervisor; 5) given me contacts at all levels of NIH which have already proven very useful in my current position; and 6) allowed me to see the value of my skills in other programmatic arenas. Participation in the Management Cadre Program has not only enhanced my current job performance, it has been a vital part of my career development. I would recommend it to anyone."

— MCP Participant, Class of 1998

"Everyday I'm discovering new ways I benefit from having participated in the MCP: I gained a much broader perspective of how the various components of NIH function and integrate, how NIH interacts with other DHHS bureaus, Federal agencies, and Congress, and how decisions affecting NIH operations are made and influenced by each of these. Contacts- I interviewed managers in a variety of positions, in various ICs and OD Offices who spoke freely and candidly about issues confronting NIH. My shadow assignments exposed me to different management styles and approaches to problem solving. I met some wonderful, competent, positive-thinking people, and have already benefited many times in my job from the contacts I made. Mentors- I was fortunate to find two mentors who were supportive and available whenever I needed their advice or guidance. I would like to keep this relationship will continue even after the program is over. Opportunities- I was able to do two details in areas totally unrelated to my current job. This gave me the opportunity to try out something different, demonstrate my capabilities and discover how my skills could be transferred into other areas. The details also gave me opportunities to identify the kind of work I do/don't enjoy doing without having to make a long-term commitment. Training- I had the opportunity to learn many skills necessary to be a competent manager, including the role of NIH and Congress in budget formulation and execution, personnel management policies and procedures, how to mentor, and advanced computer skills. Confidence- I have gained confidence in myself, and my ability to do a variety of different things. In addition, I have learned how to manage my own career, even after the program is over."

— MCP Participant, Class of 1998

"Searching for a mentor was a very valuable experience for me. It was a little intimidating for me to approach "high level" staff, but what I learned in the process was that 95% of these "high level" people were wonderfully receptive. This experience has given me confidence in approaching people at higher levels."

— MCP Participant, Class of 1998

"I gained new appreciation for NIH and its mission by experiencing the organization from outside my current job assignment."

— MCP Participant, Class of 1998

"I benefited from:

• Networking: support of LDC, willingness of senior level NIHers to meet, provide candid information and advice, and take an interest in my career development. Because of this program, I have interacted with senior people from every IC at NIH. Excellent visibility as a direct result of participation in this program.

• Exploring: chance to explore and pursue functional areas outside my job. Has enabled me to learn (hands-on) about critical NIH functions that interest me. I moved from HR to a detail in a planning and science policy office to general administration for a large Institute to program analysis in an extramural division. Not likely this would have happened without participation in the program.

• Understanding: the big picture of NIH ranging from Congressional operations to budget issues; from the operation of the clinical center to the animal facility. Learn about organizational missions including Genome, NIEHS, and CSR. Learn about roles -- Director of an IC, ORS function for NIH, Legislative Officers, Community Liaison, Architects, etc. etc.

• Focusing: program requires participants to hone in on their career objectives and to make them happen. Requires more than "doing your job on a daily basis." Future oriented. Prepares you for leadership by opening doors to information that does not fall within the PD."

— MCP Participant, Class of 1998