GIA Member Spotlight

Jamal D. Lopez, JD, CDP, SHRM-SCP (he/him)
Executive Director of Professionalism and Faculty Development
Weill Cornell Medicine

We caught up with Jamal Lopez to discover more about him, what he’s up to, and what we can learn from him.

Briefly describe your current role.
In this role, I collaborate closely with leadership at WCM and Ithaca to develop, implement, and review policies related to professionalism and faculty development. I maintain strong engagement with department chairs and other leaders, both individually and through the Community of Faculty, to foster collaboration and ensure effective communication across all missions. Additionally, I oversee the design and evaluation of faculty development programs, establishing processes and metrics that promote efficacy and continuous improvement. My responsibilities also include managing the annual operating budgets for professionalism and faculty development initiatives. To ensure alignment and synergy, I partner extensively with the Office of Faculty Affairs, creating a cohesive approach across all three offices.

Briefly describe your career journey and what led you to institutional advancement in academic medicine.
As an underrepresented minority who grew up in Brooklyn, New York during the 1980s, my career journey has been both challenging and remarkably diverse. I have worked across multiple industries, including law enforcement as a federal police officer, fraud investigations, social work, capital planning, workplace investigations, and human resources management. The common thread throughout these roles has been a deep commitment to service and an unwavering passion for helping others. In my current position, I have the privilege of supporting faculty who operate in the high-stakes, highly emotional arenas of research and patient care. Helping them develop and leverage essential soft skills so they can consistently show up as their best selves is, for me, the ultimate honor.

What achievement in your current job are you proud of?
I am most proud of developing the institution’s inaugural Professionalism Program—a non-punitive initiative designed solely to support faculty. Its purpose is to raise self-awareness and provide practical tools for self-regulation, all while driving meaningful culture change.

What success have you achieved with limited resources?
When it comes to personal success achieved with limited resources, my education stands out the most. I hold a master’s degree in human resources and a law degree with a concentration in labor and employment law. Because of financial constraints, I worked full-time while attending school at night. From earning my associate’s degree to completing my law degree, my academic journey spanned more than 20 years—and I am proud to be the first in my family to graduate from college.

What is a challenge that you/your unit/your institution are/is facing and how are you addressing it?
The most significant challenge ahead is driving lasting culture change in 2026 and beyond. The post-pandemic world is markedly different and characterized by heightened stress levels, reduced patience, and elevated expectations. At WCM, we recognize these realities and are taking a proactive approach to support and develop our faculty and staff, ensuring they have the tools and resources needed to thrive in this evolving environment.

What was a mistake you made and how did you learn from it?
That’s a tricky question because I honestly don’t think that way. When I make a mistake, I focus on forgiving myself, learning from it, and recovering quickly. This mindset has helped me view mistakes as blessings necessary for growth and opportunities for course correction. I believe that if something happened, it was meant to happen, and there’s an important lesson on the other side that I need to reach to become better.

What is the best career advice you were given and how have you used it?
My favorite word in the English language is perseverance. Our lives and careers will bring both good and difficult moments, and perseverance is what carries us through. Someone once told me, “Don’t leave regret unaddressed, because when you do, it becomes a prison.” We can’t go back and change the past, but we can choose how we learn from it. The past should serve as a school for continued growth, not a prison of self-condemnation.

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