Staff Spotlight: Joanna Duncan, PhD, CPC – Chief Operating Officer

This month, we sat down with Onpoint’s Chief Operating Officer, Joanna Duncan, PhD, CPC, to learn more about her and her role. Her dedication, leadership, and passion for excellence have been instrumental to Onpoint's success. From overseeing operations to fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, Joanna's impact is felt throughout every corner of our organization. We hope you enjoy hearing more about her and her great work!

⚡ Lightning Round ⚡
Describe yourself in 3 words
Practical, persistent, loyal

Coffee or tea?
Coffee in the AM, tea in the PM

Cats or dogs?
Dogs

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Spidey-sense

What's your go-to karaoke song?
I wouldn’t want anyone to be punished by having to listen to me sing!

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Tacos

About Yourself  
Tell us a bit about yourself. What do you like to do outside of work? Any hobbies or hidden talents that your team might not know about?
I enjoy being on the lake, especially in the mornings when it’s quiet and calm – and sitting under the stars in the fall next to a fire. No hidden talents – yet!

How would you describe your role? What skills do you rely on most?
As COO, I oversee a multidisciplinary team of analysts, engineers, and project management professionals. While my day-to-day activities vary pretty widely, I’m responsible for driving process improvement across Onpoint and identifying areas for increased efficiency, enhanced data quality, and expanded communication. I see the biggest part of my role as building our next generation of leaders and ensuring that the Onpoint team continues to set the bar for excellent service delivery. The skill that I rely on most is problem-solving.

What are some highlights of your work – both in your role and with your team?
I value the relationships with our clients, especially those where we are embraced as a partner to help them make a difference. With my team, I value their commitment to supporting each other and our clients.

About Working at Onpoint 
Why did you decide to work for Onpoint?
Prior to joining Onpoint, I worked as a senior scientist for a company developing pollution control technology for power plants to reduce flue gas pollutants – for example, acid gases, mercury, particulate matter – that are linked to climate change and impact human health. While I really enjoyed the engineering work, Onpoint provided me with the opportunity to shift into the healthcare space to support a new mission.

What do you enjoy most about working at Onpoint?
Onpoint’s staff is a group of dedicated, smart, fun, authentic people that care about our clients and each other. They work hard to make an impact every day, which is rewarding to watch and inspires me.

What excites you most about the company’s future?
The team continues to raise the bar and innovate. Every time we give them a seemingly impossible challenge, they knock it out of the park. I believe in our team and their potential to solve hard problems, and I can’t wait to see where they take us next.

About Leading 
What is an essential skill or quality that you believe all leaders should have?
Calmness in the face of adversity

What advice would you give to someone just starting in your field?
Work hard, embrace uncertainty, and challenge the status quo.

For more information about Joanna, visit our "About – Management Team" page or connect with her on LinkedIn.