TEACH Team

Contact Us!

TEACH
213 South Jefferson Street
Suite 900
Roanoke, VA, 24011
540-855-6861

teach@carilionclinic.org

Dr. Whicker completed both her Master of Education in Training & Development and her Doctorate of Education in Adult Learning at North Carolina State University. She began working in medical education in 1999 at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, where she stayed until she left her position as Training & Development Manager for Wake Forest University Physicians in 2004. In 2004, she moved to Duke University Medical Center, where she worked in the Department of Pediatrics for 10 years. She moved from her position as Duke Pediatrics’ Director of Education Development in 2014 to join the Office of Continuing Professional Development (OCPD) at Carilion Clinic and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, where she is currently Senior Director of OCPD, Assistant Dean, Faculty Development, and Director of Teaching Excellence Academy for Collaborative Healthcare (TEACH). She is currently also serving as the interim Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs though which she is able to have an even broader focus on faculty success. 

Mariah entered the world of medical education fresh after graduating with a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University. Her journey began with a position as Innovation Project Manager in the Duke Office of Graduate Medical Education. In this role she worked to support the successful development, implementation and evaluation of innovative educational research projects aimed at enhancing resident training and the quality of GME programs. Additionally, she played an integral role in the promotion of education research and scholarship. During her time at Duke she also completed the AAMC Group on Educational Affairs (GEA) Certificate of Medical Education Research (MERC) to further her medical education skill set.

In Spring of 2016 Mariah joined the Office of Continuing Professional Development (OCPD) at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. In her new role she hopes to support faculty in the planning, implementation and assessment of faculty development curricula, advance the QI efforts across the institution, and foster the continued growth of teaching scholarship. She also hopes to support the already impressive efforts of the Teaching Excellence Academy for Collaborative Healthcare (TEACH). Mariah is truly excited to be a part of the OCPD team and the Carilion Clinic at this time of growth and innovation. She is certain this role will allow her the opportunity to continue cultivating her skills as an educator while furthering the faculty development mission of the OCPD.

Dr. Harednt earned a bachelor’s degree in Written and Oral Communications from Hollins University, an M.S. in Counseling and Student Personnel with a concentration in Community Mental Health from Oklahoma State University, a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration, and a Ph.D. Certificate in Nonprofit & Nongovernmental Organizational Management from Virginia Tech.

Dr. Harendt is excited to utilize her skills and knowledge as an educator and researcher to support the OCPD team and Carilion Clinic colleagues’ growth aspirations and faculty development.

JT Addair joined the Office of Continuing Professional Development (OCPD) in February 2024, bringing a fresh perspective and enthusiasm for professional development in the healthcare system.  JT is new to the field of medical education, however he brings leadership and professional experience from previous positions serving as a College Adviser in the Virginia College Advising Corps (VCAC) as well as serving as Assistant Camp Director for Girl Scouts of North Carolina Coastal Pines.

JT earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Virginia Tech, majoring in Public Relations, and minoring in French.

JT pioneered in leading a team to create VCAC Year in Review as Editor-in-Chief as a gift to other advisers to commemorate their service term with the Virginia College Advising Corps.  JT has also strived to uplift communities of first-generation college students during his undergraduate career at Virginia Tech, successfully creating and serving as the President for First Generation at Virginia Tech (1G@VT).  

Michele Richardson (Bachelor of Music Education, Longwood University) joined the TEACH/OCPD team as Administrative Coordinator in October 2025, bringing a strong background in healthcare customer service and a passion for supporting professional development. Prior to this role, she served as a Healthcare Administrative Associate for Carilion Clinic Urogynecology, where she provided vital support to clinical operations and patient care coordination. Michele has also worked with Advanced Home Healthcare as a customer service representative, further deepening her experience in patient-facing roles.

Beyond healthcare, Michele has over a decade of experience in leadership and organizational roles, including serving as Office Manager and Director of Music Ministries for multiple churches. She has also contributed her talents as Volunteer Coordinator for the Patrick Henry High School Band Boosters and as Secretary for her college chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota Professional Music Fraternity.

One of Michele’s proudest accomplishments was helping launch a new contemporary worship service. This year-long initiative involved planning, visiting other contemporary services, coordinating musicians and AV teams, and ultimately leading the worship service—an experience that reflects her creativity, collaboration, and commitment to meaningful community engagement.

Michele cares deeply about creating meaningful experiences and supporting others in their growth. She finds deep fulfillment in helping people connect with resources and opportunities that empower them to thrive, and she believes her role with TEACH and OCPD will allow her to continue serving the medical community in an impactful and meaningful way, in turn allowing our educators to impact their students in the same ways.