On Wednesday, March 19th 2025, the Wake Forest Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Workforce Development Team launched a new seminar series, Leadership in Focus. This virtual series is designed to increase leadership skills awareness and exposure to effective strategies through insightful interviews with leaders who will share their real-world experience. Each in-depth interview is facilitated by Dr. Amy Wallis, professor of practice in organizational behavior and ethics at the Wake Forest University School of Business.
The first session featured Dr. Jamy Ard, Professor and Vice Dean for Clinical Research at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Dr. Ard conveyed his experiences, challenges, and solutions in leadership - including growing his leadership capacity, and strategic thinking. His journey, from a small town in northern Louisiana to the forefront of academic medicine, is not only impressive but also instructive for aspiring leaders across industries.
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Dr. Ard’s story begins in Grambling, Louisiana. From an early age, he was drawn to a career in medicine, for its potential to combine scientific curiosity with a commitment to service. After attending Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia for his undergraduate degree, his interest in obesity medicine took root during his time in medical school at Duke University from involvement with weight management programs there, early in his career. It was a field that felt both intellectually stimulating and socially impactful. His early experiences with research—including work on the original DASH diet studies—helped set the stage for his lifelong commitment to evidence-based solutions in medicine and public health.
While Dr. Ard acknowledges the role of timing and luck in career advancement, he is quick to note that preparation, self-advocacy, and relationship-building are what create those lucky moments. “You have to advocate for yourself,” he says. “There are times when it’s good to keep your head down and do your work. But there are times when you have to step up and identify yourself.” This evolution required overcoming his own natural tendencies toward introversion—learning when and how to speak up, even when it was uncomfortable.
Representation and Mentorship: A Personal Mandate
Throughout his career, Dr. Ard has championed the power of representation. "Representation matters," he insists, particularly in spaces like academia, where unwritten rules and invisible networks often determine success. Without visible role models or mentors, people from nontraditional backgrounds can find it difficult to imagine themselves in leadership positions.His own mentors were pivotal in helping him understand not only the scientific terrain but also the unspoken norms of leadership and career progression. Today, he pays it forward by mentoring others.
Learning to Lead
Dr. Ard admits he didn’t always think of himself as a leader. "I figured out I was a leader when you all invited me to this conversation," he jokes. But the truth is, leadership followed him—class president in high school, club president in college, and eventually leadership roles in medicine and academia. The transition from team member to team leader, particularly managing people formally, came with challenges. “Where do you set the line between being accessible and holding people accountable?” he reflects. “That’s something I had to learn—and still navigate.”For Dr. Ard, leadership is a discipline—one that can and should be studied. He credits his participation in the Dannon Nutrition Leadership Institute as a turning point. Immersed with peers and exposed to experts, he explored leadership theory, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking. The experience helped him not only grow but also teach others—something he believes reinforces his own learning.
He urges aspiring leaders to be proactive: seek out leadership training, study great leaders, and develop self-awareness. “Leadership is a skill set. You can learn it, hone it, and get better at it.”
Mentorship Models and Leading with Awareness and Humility
Mentorship, Dr. Ard says, should be multidimensional. He keeps a roster of mentors categorized by focus—content experts, strategic advisors, personal life mentors, and peer confidants. This layered approach ensures no single individual carries the entire burden of mentorship, while providing him with diverse perspectives.“Some of the most important people in my network are peer mentors. They keep me grounded, give unfiltered feedback, and help me strategize.”
Perhaps one of the most resonant themes from Dr. Ard’s conversation is the role of self-awareness in effective leadership. “I know I have blind spots,” he says. His awareness is both personal and situational—attuned to how his identity shapes the way he’s perceived and how he interacts with others. That awareness, coupled with a comfort in vulnerability, helps him build trust and foster inclusive environments.
Dr. Ard ends with a call to action: “Now more than ever, we need people willing to be voices for others—leaders who are thoughtful, inclusive, and reflective.” He emphasizes that not all leaders look the same, and being the loudest voice in the room doesn’t equate to being the most effective. For those reluctant to step up, he offers reassurance: “There’s risk involved, yes. But there’s also immense reward. Helping a team do more than they thought possible—that’s worth it.”
Watch the entire interview here. Please join us for our upcoming Leadership in Focus sessions. More details can be found here. If you would Iike to be interviewed or would like to recommend someone, please reach out to Amy Dawson at apdawson@wakehealth.edu.