Helping Residents Thrive, One Step at a Time
For Regina “Gina” Eva Maria Besaw, the journey to UNC Radiology began thousands of miles away in Munich, Germany. Today, as the Diagnostic Radiology Program Coordinator and Grand Rounds Coordinator, Gina plays a vital role in helping residents navigate one of the most transformative periods of their careers. But her path to Chapel Hill has been anything but ordinary.
Born and raised in Munich, Gina grew up with one younger sister and a curiosity about the world beyond Germany. As a teenager, a family trip across the western United States left a lasting impression. She was fascinated by the country’s vast landscapes and cultural diversity—something she rarely experienced growing up.
In 2001, Gina came to the United States as an au pair for what she expected would be a one-year adventure. After returning to Germany to finish college, life took an unexpected turn. She had met her future husband during her time in the U.S., and in 2005 she made the decision to move back permanently.
Though she still considers Germany home in many ways, Gina makes it a priority to return whenever she can. “I usually try once a year to go back to Germany. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.”
Finding the Perfect Fit
Gina’s connection to graduate medical education began long before she joined UNC Radiology. During her former husband’s residency training, she became close to the program coordinators and admired the work they did behind the scenes.
“That was always something that I thought I would like to do as a job,” she says.
When she returned to North Carolina with her children, she applied for positions throughout the area. During her interview with UNC Radiology, she was asked what role she would choose if she could have any job in the department. Her answer came easily: residency program coordinator.
“At the time, that role wasn’t available, so I started in an administrative position,” Gina says. “About a year and a half later, a coordinator position opened up, and that’s how I ended up where I am.”
The move back to North Carolina was driven largely by family. Gina saw the state as a place full of opportunities for her children, with strong schools and colleges. It also brought her back to a place she had fallen in love with years earlier while visiting a friend who attended Duke University.
“I visited Chapel Hill when I was still living in Germany and thought it would be really cool to either go to school here or work here someday,” she says.
Supporting a Life-Changing Journey
Ask Gina what she loves most about her role, and the answer is immediate: the residents.
“Education is an area where you can really shape people’s lives,” she says.
Few people witness the remarkable growth that occurs during residency as closely as program coordinators. Gina enjoys watching residents evolve from newly graduated medical students into confident physicians, leaders, and educators.
“When they first start, they’re still so fresh,” she explains. “Then you see them graduate fully trained and ready to lead. It’s such a crazy transformation in a very short period.”
While faculty members teach the clinical skills, Gina sees her role as ensuring residents have everything else they need to succeed.
“I can’t teach them radiology,” she says with a smile. “But I can help with all the other things that are important along the way.”
She describes coordinators as somewhat “motherly,” serving as problem-solvers, organizers, advocates, and supporters. It’s work that often happens behind the scenes but leaves a lasting impression.
“Most people remember their program coordinator forever,” Gina says. “Especially if it was someone who really helped them.”
No Such Thing as a Typical Day
Although residency administration follows an annual cycle of recruitment, onboarding, scheduling, graduation, and accreditation requirements, Gina insists that no two years, or even two days, are exactly alike.
“There’s always something new,” she says.
Whether organizing recruitment events, helping chief residents, planning weekly conferences, managing moonlighting payroll, or ensuring compliance with accreditation requirements, Gina is constantly adapting to new challenges and opportunities for improvement.
One aspect she particularly enjoys is developing creative solutions to unexpected problems.
“Every time I think I’m going to have a quiet day and finally organize my folders, something exciting pops up that needs to be handled first,” she says.
That flexibility and freedom to innovate keep the work engaging. “You’re encouraged to troubleshoot, come up with ideas, and find better ways of doing things.”
Travel, Adventure, and Problem-Solving
Before joining UNC, Gina worked as a travel agent in Germany, a role that still influences her work today.
“My favorite thing is figuring out difficult or tricky travel situations,” she says.
Whether arranging complex conference itineraries or helping faculty navigate international travel plans, Gina enjoys piecing together logistics in the same way others might enjoy solving puzzles. While her current role is less about travel planning due to the limited travel of her residents, when it does come up, she throws herself into it wholeheartedly.
“It doesn’t feel like work,” she says. “It feels like I’m planning my own adventure.”
When it comes to her personal travels, there is one destination that stands above all others: the Dolomites in northern Italy.
“I love that you can be in the mountains and then five minutes later be in a city,” she says. “You get the best of both worlds.”
Her travel bucket list still includes Andalucía in southern Spain and Portugal, destinations she has recommended countless times but has yet to experience herself.
Family at the Center
Outside of work, Gina’s life revolves around family. Together, she and her husband are part of a busy blended family with eight children.
“Most of my time is occupied by taking care of the kids and the dog,” she says.
She loves cooking, baking, and gathering people around the table. Feeding others, she says, brings her genuine happiness. When she gets the chance, she also enjoys kayaking and taking weekend adventures to recharge.
As her children grow older and become more independent, Gina is beginning to think about what comes next.
That mindset inspired the title she would choose for her autobiography: To Be Continued.
“There’s always something else coming up that I didn’t anticipate,” she says. “I feel like there’s still so much more to come.”
The Heart of Who She Is
If there is one quality Gina values most in herself, it is her sense of fairness.
“I always want things to be fair,” she says. “Everybody deserves to be treated fairly.”
It’s a trait that has occasionally made her the person willing to voice what others are thinking, but nobody wants to say aloud. While those moments can be uncomfortable, she believes standing up for people is worth it.
Friends would describe her as funny, caring, and thoughtful, qualities that shine through in both her professional and personal life.
And if she could have one superpower?
“Teleportation,” she answers without hesitation. “So, I could get to my family quicker wherever they are.”
Perhaps that answer says everything you need to know about Gina. Whether she’s helping residents navigate training, coordinating grand rounds, planning complex travel arrangements, or preparing meals for a house full of family, she is always focused on supporting the people around her.
Thoughtful. Caring. Dedicated.
For UNC Radiology, Gina is much more than a coordinator—she is a trusted guide helping others along their journey, even as she continues writing the next chapter of her own.