Unsung Heroes: Brian Harrell

When I think about the context behind what an unsung hero is, I think of someone who goes above and beyond. The dedication they show to students is driven by their genuine desire to help students succeed.

I would like to nominate Brian Harrell, M.A., Writing Center specialist, as an unsung hero of NEOMED.

Having walked past the Writing Center many times – with many of us knowing the room as a place you can grab a candy from the bowl during study breaks – it wasn’t until my third year of medical school that I realized the vital role Brian Harrell plays. Whether it was helping with applications for away electives or with multiple parts of the ERAS [Electronic Residency Application Service] process, Brian was always willing to go above and beyond. He often put students’ needs before his own personal time with family to ensure deadlines were met and students had the guidance they needed. 

Brian also provided feedback on resumes, and many of us in our third year looked to him for advice on proper formatting or simply to have a second set of eyes on our work. He was always willing to meet over Zoom to ensure all concerns were addressed and to help develop plans to ensure student success.

His hard work, compassion, empathy and dedication to students at NEOMED go far beyond this nomination. 

--Submitted by Marlene Konner, M4

To nominate someone to be featured, send an email to thepulse@neomed.edu with the words “Unsung Hero” in the subject line. Tell us a little about your nominee – just a sentence or two about what they are doing to bolster our University and/or the community.