Whiddon COM staff present communication workshop at national conference
Posted on July 6, 2026 by Marketing and Communications
Marcina Lang, MPA, senior manager of College of Medicine support services, and Amanda
Arnold, M.S., RDN, LD, education and training specialist in Faculty Affairs and Faculty
Development, presented an interactive workshop at the 2026 S.P.A.C.E. (Staff Professionals
Across the Continuum of Education) Staff Track Conference, an annual virtual conference
held June 26. This year's theme was "Humanizing The Continuum: From Support to Strategic
Voice."
Lang and Arnold's session, "Tension to Trust," explored communication barriers and conflict commonly encountered in academic health professions settings, where staff professionals often serve as key connectors among faculty, learners and institutional leadership.
Drawing on their experience facilitating communication skills training throughout the Whiddon College of Medicine, Lang and Arnold introduced participants to an evidence-informed framework for transforming conflict into opportunities for stronger communication and collaboration. Through realistic workplace scenarios and live discussion, attendees developed practical strategies they could apply in their own organizations.
“Presenting at S.P.A.C.E. gave us the chance to take skills we use every day here at the college and share them with a much wider community,” Arnold said. “It was rewarding to know that the same tools helping our teams navigate tough conversations could resonate with staff professionals across academic medicine.”
The S.P.A.C.E. Conference brings together staff professionals from across the medical education continuum for interactive workshops, scholarly presentations and networking opportunities that support professional development and collaboration.