As the branch chief of grants, Carmel (Kiki) Halloun, works in the office of the chief operating officer (OCOO), in the procurement and grants division (PGD).  This division is responsible for promoting excellence and cooperation among ONC program offices, federal partners, contracting partners, and grant recipients, and to use data analytics to inform effective and efficient agency-wide financial decision making.

Tell us about some of the projects or initiatives that you lead.

In addition to managing ONC’s grants/cooperative agreement portfolio and providing cradle-to-grave grants management (pre-award, post-award, and award closeout), with my amazing team, my other responsibilities include liaising across the department and working on various department-wide initiatives. Recent initiatives include the integrated project team that assists with closing out the back log of grants across HHS; working with the HHS division of workforce development team to help develop a grants management curriculum for the department’s grants management specialists; addressing and implementing trending policy topics with other grant making organizations; partnering with our program staff to develop funding opportunities, grants policy development, and internal and external grants training; and ensuring overall compliance with HHS policy.

What led you to your career here at ONC?

Prior to ONC, I served in different roles within the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as a contractor starting in 2005, becoming a federal employee in 2009. After converting to my federal position, my mentor suggested ONC as a great place to expand my knowledge of grants and to be part of a new grants management division responsible for the administration of over $1.7 billion in American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding. I’m always in awe of the great work ONC does to advance healthcare across the nation.

What are some skills or strengths that you contribute to your work at ONC?

I came to ONC after serving as a grants management advisor in my previous position, which involved being organized and detail oriented, and familiar with grants management policies. I believe that one of the most important qualities to have in a position like mine is to build relationships and be able to communicate effectively across various levels in the government.

What is something you’ve accomplished at ONC that you’re most proud of, and why?

I’ve been provided with many wonderful opportunities to work with a variety of talented individuals across ONC and HHS.  One of the projects I’m most proud of is the first project I worked on at ONC, the Regional Extension Center (REC) program. The focus of this program was to provide on-the-ground technical assistance for a wide range of small public and private healthcare providers, medical practices and community health centers lacking resources to implement and maintain EHRs. These providers generally served those who lack adequate healthcare coverage and/or medical care. This program allowed me to see ONC’s bigger mission but also gave me insight into the important work I would be doing at ONC.

Another proud moment has been watching the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) activities grow from an idea discussed in many an ONC conference room, into one of the biggest and most significant efforts to advance interoperability of electronic health information and provide patients secure access to their electronic health information when and where it is needed.

What would you say is the best or most interesting part of working for ONC?

The people at ONC, the people who benefit from the wonderful things being done at ONC, to all the people who help make those wonderful things happen. The talent of our ONC team is undeniably special.  It is truly a joy to work with so many remarkable individuals. My son grew up within the walls of ONC. Not everyone can say that about their place of business.  It’s not just work – it’s family. We are all on the same mission to make this world a better place – one standard, one grant, one contract, one rule, one electronic health record at a time.

How would you characterize ONC’s success?

Henry Ford said: “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” ONC serves as a central driver for many new and innovative things across our field. As long as our mission and goals stay the same – to benefit the American people, success is sure to follow.

Tell us about a project you are currently working on and how it fits into ONC’s mission.

The most recent project that has my heart is the Public Health Informatics & Technology Workforce Development Program (PHIT). The 10 recipients of program funding will form multiple consortia to collectively train more than 5,000 individuals over a four-year period. This interdisciplinary approach in public health informatics and technology will offer students educational opportunities who wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to study in the public health informatics field. The program has gained so much traction since being implemented. It is very satisfying to hear how excited the grant recipients are to learn and share their success stories. It is heartwarming and makes me proud to serve.

What are the core values of ONC that are important to you?

The teamwork and diversity are most important to me. We will do whatever it takes to get the job done, no matter the ask. The innovation behind ONC’s mission is also important to me. It really is an honor to see and be part of all the innovative things ONC has done and continues to do.