The Machine Behind the Scenes...

Jennifer Weber, Program Administrator, moved to Colorado as a teen and considers herself a Colorado native.  Her career with the University of Colorado began as a summer two week temporary employee for the Chairman of Medicine which became an amazing career opportunity.  After15 years she had the opportunity to stay home with her young children and support her husband with his new business.  In September, 2009 she returned to the University and joined the Internal Medicine Residency Training Program. She was excited to return to the Department of Medicine and work trainees. Jennifer and her husband, have three grown daughters. She enjoys gardening, canning and spending time with her family and being a grandma.

Kendra Burghardt, Primary Care Track Residency Coordinator, is a Denver native, though she has lived briefly in Oregon and New Mexico. She worked at the University of Colorado doing Graduate Medical Education work for about 15 years before pursuing opportunities working with underserved populations. She is passionate about both human and animal welfare initiatives. She is excited to be back working at CU and Denver Health. She lives at home with her two rescue cats, Clover and Ivy. She has one child – they live in Portland, OR. She enjoys hiking and spending time in nature, eating out and trying new cuisines, photography, and baking. 

Nicole Canterbury-Passoth, Assistant Program Administrator, graduated from West Virginia University with BA degrees in Foreign Language and Political Science along with a minor in Business Administration. She then attended Cleveland State University where she completed a Master of Nonprofit Administration and Leadership (MNAL). Following her education, Nicole worked for a marketing firm, managing the fundraising campaigns of various local and national nonprofit organizations. She eventually found her way to the University of Colorado, where she assists the Internal Medicine Residency Training Program as Assistant Program Administrator. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys reading, arts and crafts, traveling, and spending time with her husband and dog. 

Elle Contreras, Recruitment Coordinator, grew up just outside of Chicago in Oak Park, Illinois. She moved to Colorado in 2013 where she attended Colorado State University and studied Biological Anthropology. Since graduating in 2017, she has spent time working in both higher education and health care. She loves melding her two passions for science and people by working in health care administration. In her spare time, Elle enjoys exploring what Colorado has to offer with her husband and son, traveling to visit family and friends, trying out new breweries and coffee shops, and chasing her two cats around the house.

Akemi Iwanabe, Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program Coordinator, grew up and worked in Japan. While working for an American company in Yokohama, she had an opportunity to work for their global project and was transferred to the US office in Lakewood, CO. She met her husband, step-son, and became a Broncos fan! When the company closed its Asian market and downsized, she went back to school and graduated summa cum laude earning her B.S. in Management from Metro State University. Akemi joined the Division of General Internal Medicine and worked for the Primary Care Internal Medicine Program as a coordinator for 10 years. After enjoying working with the Primary Care team, she took the opportunity to join the combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program. She continues to be a part of the residency education team within the two strong CU categorical programs and the Med-Peds family!

Matthew Konjoian, Coordinator, Student Education and Advising, was born and raised outside of Boston, Massachusetts, and received a BA in History from Brandeis University. He then moved to Washington, DC, and attended The George Washington University where he received a Masters in Public Administration. After graduation, he stayed in Washington, DC and worked for a national energy-related trade association. There he met his wife Alexis, a Colorado native, and moved to Denver to live closer to her family. Since moving to Colorado, Matthew has done contract work with the University of Colorado Denver and the US Small Business Administration prior to joining the University of Colorado School of Medicine full-time. Outside of work, Matt enjoys playing golf, running, hiking, traveling, and relaxing in his backyard. He also enjoys following politics, news and is a passionate Boston sports fan while still respectfully supporting Denver teams. 

Kendra Lewis, Academic Coordinator, a native of Littleton, Colorado, moved to Nebraska to pursue her higher education. There, she focused on studying special education, pursuing her passion for working with students who have special needs or disabilities. After completing her studies, Kendra embarked on a teaching career in Nebraska, dedicating five years to educating and supporting students in the classroom. Kendra’s desire to stay working in education led her to working for the University of Colorado. In her free time Kendra enjoys watching hockey games, being outdoors, and spending time with her husband and son. 

Mary Meadows, Residency Education Coordinator, graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder with a BA degree in Business Administration.  After graduation, she married and had two children, both of which are now grown.  During 20 plus years in senior account management, Mary gained experience in business management, office administration, marketing, training, and advising.  In 2011, Mary earned her Master of Science degree in Higher Education with an emphasis in Adult Teaching and Learning. In October 2018, she joined the Internal Medicine Training Program as the Residency Education Coordinator. Mary is a Colorado native. She enjoys traveling, reading, bowling, camping, and spending time with family. 

Jefferson Velasco, MedHub Coordinator, graduated from the University of Colorado Denver with a BA in Business Administration, double majoring in marketing and management. Shortly thereafter, he got a job at University Hospital working the desk at the internal medicine clinic at Anschutz. Eventually, he found himself in a supervisor role at integrative medicine for a short stint before finding the opportunity to come work for the University in his current role with the residency training program. A self-proclaimed music junkie, you can always count on finding Jefferson outside of work at a concert or listening to live music somewhere with people he cares about. Stop by his office, and you’ll find he’s always listening to music there as well. He also loves getting out to see the beauty that this state has to offer. He enjoys his early morning weekend hikes with scenic views and any trails that take him along water.