Bio – Michelle Sainté Willis

Michelle Sainté Willis joined the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS) in 1990. She provides expertise and leadership in all areas of operations and resource management for the Department of Medical Education and all programs related to the MD degree. She is an active participant in the creative and strategic vision for the Department and has contributed to the growth and success of the medical education program, including the transformation of technical and educational space into a 21st century technological hub.

Ms. Sainté Willis spearheaded the restructuring project that led to the creation of the Office of Enrollment services which includes Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrar, Housing and Benefits for all students in all programs in the institution.

Ms. Sainté Willis was part of the team that created the Center for Multicultural and Community Affairs and has taken a leadership role in the expansion of programs and processes to recruit, retain and support students from communities underrepresented in medicine.

Nationally, Ms. Sainté Willis is an active member of the AAMC Group on Business Affairs, is an invited speaker on topics related to medical education financing and operations, medical school recruitment, retention, diversity and leadership development. She is co-Founder of the Administrative Leadership Collaborative in Academic Medicine and has presented nationally on medical education operations; program development and innovation; pipeline and diversity programs; and mission-based budgeting. Her professional interests include cultivating educational leadership, systems improvement, organizational development, diversity and inclusion, strategic visioning, and the expanded access for students, staff, and faculty to careers in the health professions.