Exploring Finance at UVA: Kim Blowe

Welcome to 'Exploring Finance at UVA'! This is a recurring blog feature that will highlight finance professionals from across Grounds, beyond UVAFinance. Meet a diverse array of staff members and delve into their roles and insights in the world of finance within the greater UVA framework.

If you or someone you know would like to be featured in Exploring Finance at UVA, please email bv8h@virginia.edu

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Kim Blowe, Director of Finance for the Department of Medicine

Kim Blowe

What do you do as Director of Finance?

I work within the School of Medicine under the Department of Medicine.
Our department covers a wide range of specialties within internal medicine: cardiology, hematology, endocrinology, infectious disease, and many others. Imagine managing multiple businesses with very different needs, all under one umbrella. We have over 1,000 people, including physicians, nurse practitioners, trainees, and support staff, who keep us running. My job is within the Chair’s office, and I work to ensure that all these diverse areas come together under one unified budget, planning strategy and financial outlook. Essentially, I oversee our department’s financial operations, making sure we’re good stewards of our resources, managing complex revenue streams, and handling financial reporting and risk management. It's essential that we allocate and plan our funds appropriately.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

The people, hands down. I work with an incredible team of diverse and talented individuals. I’ve been in this field for 35 years, working with different state agencies, and I can say that the success of what we do hinges on collaboration. I rely heavily on the folks in the cost centers, administrators, and my own fiscal team. The collective talent and commitment of these people make what I do not just possible, but rewarding.

Who do you work most within Central Finance?

I work closely with several folks in Central Finance. Danielle Hancock has been one of my go-to contacts for various needs. Carlos Rodriguez in Payroll is also great, especially when it comes to handling adjustments and cost allocations for our employees. Addie Coe is my procurement expert—I can always count on her. Wanda Breeden is fantastic when it comes to managing the many gifts we receive. I also work with the development team and the Medical School Foundation. On the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) side, Jim Bowen and Mike Priddy help us stay in compliance.

What rhythms exist in your work? Is there a busy season?

Absolutely! We have two major busy seasons. July is our only lull, where things are a bit quieter. But from August through December, it’s all-out craziness as we work to ensure everyone is in place, and all variances are accounted for, so we can land on budget. Budget season is from January to May, and it’s particularly challenging because it involves aligning timelines and requirements from UVA, the Medical Center, and the University Physicians Group (UPG). It’s a long, intense period, but crucial for our department’s financial health.

How does your work further UVA's mission?

Kim's office, where the magic happens!

Our work is deeply aligned with UVA’s mission, particularly through the ASPIRE values—accountability, stewardship, respect, integrity, and equity. In finance, integrity is critical; people need to trust that we are handling funds appropriately. Stewardship is at the heart of what we do. We manage a $244 million budget, and it’s my responsibility to ensure every dollar is accounted for and used wisely. This stewardship allows us to support our faculty in providing clinical care, education, and research. I’m also committed to continuous improvement—whether it’s through better use of our systems like Workday or ensuring transparency in our financial processes. I dedicate a lot of time to training new fiscal team members and making sure everyone is equipped with the knowledge they need.

What's something interesting or funny about your team?

Well, I’m the extrovert of the group—only one other team member shares that trait, while the rest are introverts. And I love introverts because they’re such deep thinkers! We’re also all animal lovers, and we’ve actually assigned our work talents to different breeds of dogs, which is pretty fun. For example, one team member is a phenomenal problem-solver—our go-to sleuth for any issue. We call her our Bloodhound. Another team member is meticulous in monitoring our funds and deficits—she’s our German Shepherd. We have a Jack Russell who handles all procurement and supports several cost centers, coordinating everything with boundless energy. Our St. Bernard stays calm and cool during the most chaotic budget seasons, while our Greyhound completes tasks with speed and grace. And then there’s me—I’m the Rottweiler of the group, strong and protective, ensuring that everyone is taken care of and that we get the job done.