Yale Urology Celebrates Indispensable Staff Member

No current administrative staff member has been here longer. She has supported nearly every Yale urologist and has stepped in as interim overseer many times—for grand rounds, the residency program, and recruitments.

This month, Jodi Canapp officially celebrates her 10^th year at Yale – all in the Department of Urology. As senior administrative assistant, she has been integral support to the only two chairs the department has ever had.

“Jodi is an exemplary assistant whose work has impacted the faculty, staff, residents, and patients … There are few people I have met who have demonstrated her level of commitment. Her attention to detail is unparalleled,” says Peter Schulam, MD, PhD, who was the inaugural chair of Yale Urology and now serves as global head of medical affairs for MedTech.

“Working with Jodi is a pleasure,” says current Chair Isaac Y. Kim, MD, PhD, MBA, who came to Yale in September 2021. “Her commitment and institutional knowledge have been invaluable to my work and that of the department, but perhaps more important, she does her job with kindness and humility.”

Jodi came to Yale from the University of Maryland in 2013 when her boss at the time, Toby Chai, MD, convinced her to follow him. While she had a clinical scheduling background, Chai recalls being especially impressed with her commitment to service.

“When I hired Jodi to work with me as my administrative assistant, she had just come back to the U.S. after a year in Namibia, Africa, taking care of children infected with HIV,” says Chai, who was Yale Urology’s vice chair of research from 2012 to 2019. Currently, he is chair at Boston University’s Department of Urology.

Jodi’s direct supervisor is Margaret DeLuca, urology’s division administrator, who started at Yale in June of 2021. “It took me just a few days to realize the depth and breadth of her experience and impact. I knew we had to try and keep her… She has truly been invaluable to leadership and departmental growth.”

Jodi has proved to be a go-to for peers, as well. Alaine Nellis Savage, also a senior administrative assistant in the department, says Jodi’s impact to the team is beyond measure. “Having seen the department grow over the last 10 years, she has a pulse on everything. She is always so willing to answer questions, share best practices, and give advice. And she brings great perspective to any issue. She is stellar at confidently taking action and getting things done. We truly don’t know what we would do without her!” exclaims Nellis Savage.

Hear, hear, Jodi. Hear, hear!