What was your first job in healthcare?
My first job in healthcare was as a medical assistant in a private practice dermatology office. The job consisted of scribing physician notes, turning over rooms, assisting in dermatologic procedures, and labeling specimens. I learned about healthcare management during my time as a medical assistant and was able to work with my office manager to learn administrative projects. I enjoyed those enough that I was determined to go to Graduate School for my Master of Health Administration.
What is a trait you admire most when you see it in your colleagues?
I admire people that truly do the right thing. The people I admire most are ones that will follow the true north and do the right thing based on the context and circumstances, and not always what was easy, popular, or matched policy perfectly.
What is your favorite book that gave you insight into your career?
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi was a beautiful book and touched me to the core. I learned about the challenges families face when they have family members going through terminal illness.
What is a career achievement you are most proud of?
Obtaining my FACHE. I finished Graduate School and went straight into a fellowship at Yale New Haven Health to continue my learning. It wasn’t until I obtained my FACHE board certification that I truly felt like my education was complete. I particularly enjoyed the process because it included community service, a knowledge exam assessment, and letters of recommendation. If you compare it to a college degree, I feel like the FACHE requires a lifestyle of service–more than strictly academics.
What does it look like for you to ‘unplug’ from work?
My daily routine for unplugging from work includes a brief reflection of duties and assignments outstanding before I leave work. It then continues during my commute home where I continue to reflect on the day and then start to decompress by listening to radio or podcast. It concludes when I get home and put my cell phone in my dresser drawer. Not having the visual cue reminder of my cell phone has been helpful to unplug.
What do you think are the greatest challenges/opportunities for the healthcare industry right now?
The greatest challenge in my sector of medical practice operations is trying to adapt to the market pressures on staffing and expense costs. This challenge brings with it opportunities to think about doing things differently than what has brought us to this point. I do like waste reduction and this market forces us to reflect on our current practices, eliminate waste, and standardize.
What do you believe is the greatest benefit you have gotten from being an ACHE member?
The greatest benefit of being an ACHE member to me is the ability to listen to real time industry experts share their insights for problems I’m encountering in my daily work. It is helpful to hear what works in other companies and try to bring that back to my everyday employment.
