The Machine Behind the Scenes...

Jennifer Weber, Program Administrator, began her career at the University of Colorado in the Department of Medicine in 1985 where she remained for 14 ½ years. In 2000 she left to help her husband with his business and stay home with her young children. In September, 2009 she returned to the University and joined the Internal Medicine Training Program. Jennifer and her husband, Gary, have three daughters. She enjoys gardening, canning and spending time with her family.

Nicole Canterbury, 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 fiancé 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 as a medical scribe. She loves melding her two passions for science and people by working in health care administration. In her spare time, Elle enjoys traveling to visit family and friends, crocheting, spending time with her cats, playing board games and cornhole, and exploring what Colorado has to offer with her husband.

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. Recently she had an opportunity to move to the Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Program. She looks forward to joining a strong team and continuing to be a part of the residency education program within the Med/Peds family! 

Matthew Konjoian, Coordinator, Student Education and Advising, was born and raised outside of Boston, Massachusetts, and received in 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 almost three years ago to live near 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 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. 

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. 

Ava Russell, Senior Academic Coordinator, grew up in upstate New York and graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a BA in English Literature. She lived in Boston for six years, where she worked in editorial for the clinical decision support resource UpToDate and then decided to transition into higher ed administration, working in faculty support at Harvard Business School. In 2020, she and her husband decided to trade the coast for the mountains and relocated to Denver, and she started working in the Department of Medicine. Outside of work, she enjoys art/design, reading, and getting outdoors.

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.