Susan Burgess is director of University compliance, a new position that is responsible for the development, implementation, operation and oversight of an enterprise-wide program to ensure the institution’s adherence to its legal, ethical and regulatory obligations.
A recognized expert in the field of corporate compliance and auditing, Burgess came to UNC Charlotte from the University of Florida Health System, where she was director of corporate compliance. She also held the position of vice president of corporate compliance and chief privacy officer at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System and was the associate dean for administration at the Drexel University School of Medicine.
As director of University compliance, Burgess will establish and chair a University Compliance Council that will create methods to improve efficiency and quality of services and reduce vulnerabilities to fraud, waste and abuse. Another aspect of the duties of the director is to promote an institutional environment that supports observance of the highest ethical standards of conduct by those who work for the University or on its behalf.
Burgess said her short-term goals are to learn about existing departmental compliance activities, inventory compliance program elements currently in place and to perform gap analyses to determine other aspects of a formal University compliance program that will be needed.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a Juris Doctor from Temple University. In her 20-plus year career, Burgess has reviewed and monitored ethics, compliance and audit matters and has worked closely with employees, faculty, senior administrators and boards of trustees regarding regulatory compliance issues and organizational policies and procedures.