What was your first job in healthcare? My first job was during high school. I worked
as an assistant to the office manager in a primary care office during my junior and senior
years of high school. I never thought that job would launch me into the healthcare
industry and career I have today.
What is a trait you admire most when you see it in your colleagues? What I admire
most in my colleagues is their unwavering integrity and positivity in their leadership.
Their commitment to creating a collaborative and supportive work environment
profoundly influences me as a leader. This leadership style inspires confidence and
dedication among the team and fosters a workplace where everyone feels valued and
motivated to contribute their best.
A successful day at work is: A successful day at work for me is when the efforts I
have put in positively impact the people around me—whether it’s my colleagues,
patients, or their families. My work involves many individuals, and if I have made
someone’s job easier, more enjoyable, contributed to a smoother process, or improved
our patient’s experience, then I feel accomplished. Knowing that I have played a role in
making a positive difference makes the day truly successful.
What is a career achievement you are most proud of?
I am most proud of two key accomplishments in my career.
The first is being promoted to Site Administrator for Rockville General Hospital.
Having started as an office supervisor in the rehabilitation department at this very facility,
it is incredibly fulfilling to see how much I have grown and progressed over my 26+ years
with my organization. The second achievement was being asked to lead the development
of two new service lines—Neurosciences and Complex/Post-Acute Care—that had not previously existed.
In these roles, I have been fortunate to work with dedicated colleagues to improve the
quality of care we provide to our community. This includes the implementation of a
palliative medicine program, creating a nurse navigation team for complex and chronic
care patients, and developing a patient access center that centralizes access to primary
care services and provides outreach to patients overdue for preventative services. We
have also made substantial improvements in patient care processes, workflows, and
documentation. It has been incredibly rewarding to expand access to care and to
provide much-needed services to our community.
What does it look like for you to ‘unplug’ from work? Along with spending time with
my family, I also enjoy a good dose of retail therapy, much to my husband’s chagrin. It is
a terrific way for me to unwind and take my mind off work
What is your greatest motivation? My greatest source of personal motivation for
working hard is my family. Professionally, I am driven to make healthcare as accessible
and seamless as possible, ensuring that patients feel at ease and well-cared-for
throughout their experience. The sense of pride I feel in accomplishing my goals and the
knowledge that my work positively impacts those around me—including our patients and
my coworkers—fuels my dedication.
What do you think are the greatest challenges/opportunities for the healthcare industry
right now? I think one of the greatest opportunities for today is the ability to provide in-
home health services to support patients with chronic or complex needs. Providing care
in a patient’s home not only improves health outcomes and reduces costly hospital
readmissions but also eases the burden on caregivers. In-home medical care helps
manage conditions more effectively and enhances overall health.
Healthcare reimbursement remains a significant challenge. The complexities of
reimbursement processes, including navigating ever-changing regulations and dealing
with varied payer policies, create administrative burdens and financial uncertainty. These
reimbursement challenges not only hinder facilities' financial health but also impact
patient care quality, leading to delays in treatment and increased frustration for patients
as they struggle with access to necessary services.
What drove you to pursue Fellow status? Pursuing FACHE status was driven by my
commitment to furthering my professional development and enhancing my leadership
capabilities in healthcare. Throughout my career, I have always sought to expand my
knowledge and skills, and achieving FACHE status felt like a natural progression. The
FACHE credential is a mark of excellence that reflects my dedication to the field and my
desire to contribute to the success of my organization and the healthcare industry.
What do you believe is the greatest benefit you have gotten from being an ACHE
member? The greatest benefit of being a member of ACHE is the access to a wide
breadth of educational programs that support my ongoing professional development.
ACHE offers invaluable resources that help me stay current with industry trends and
sharpen my leadership skills.
What advice do you have for young professionals considering a career in healthcare?
It is important to remember that success does not come easily. You need to invest
significant time and effort to achieve your goals; don’t expect things to be handed to you
or to come naturally. Healthcare is a complex field with many facets, so stay humble and
open to learning. Recognize that you don’t know everything and be receptive to the
guidance and support from those around you. Overconfidence can hinder your growth,
so stay engaged and continually seek out new opportunities to learn.
