Director of Quality Assurance
What is your role at Community Healthcare System?
I am director of Quality Assurance for Community Hospital.
How long have you been employed here?
I started at Community Healthcare System on April 10, 2023.
What was your inspiration for getting into healthcare?
When I was 15, I had three emergency bowel obstruction surgeries. I was in the hospital for a month and ICU for 14 days, septic with necrotic bowel. I had two nurses, Nicole and Patti, who inspired me to pursue a career in nursing. I still keep in touch with them today. I have been a nurse since 2009 and a nurse practitioner since 2014. While I was in grad school, I got into hospital leadership at Memorial Hospital in Springfield, Ill., where I used to live. Originally, I was in charge of Cardiac Quality. I then was given the opportunity to start a structural heart program. After success with getting those clinical programs started, I was tasked with establishing a comprehensive stroke center. Once that goal was met, I missed my nursing roots. I began practicing as an orthopedic nurse practitioner with a Fellowship-trained sports medicine surgeon. I love orthopedics, but as my daughters got more involved in activities, I realized I was missing out on important events in their lives. I decided to get back into hospital leadership to help blend my love for my family and my passion for healthcare. While I may not be a clinician in this new role, it is my responsibility to help Community Healthcare System achieve a quality of care that our patients can trust in and count on.
What is a typical day like for you?
My wife works the night shift as a neonatal ICU nurse, so if my schedule allows, I help with the morning shuffle of our daughters – Quinn, 7, and Hadley, 9 – as much as I can. My days vary, but I am responsible for quality within Community Hospital. In healthcare, we tend to think of quality in terms of many different metrics. However, I believe the quality of our relationships as human beings and our interactions with each other are the lost elements in healthcare.
What are some of your interests outside of work?
I am into endurance sports. I have completed multiple marathons, ultramarathons and endurance-related cycling events.
What do you enjoy most about working at CHS?
The people, without question. I cannot stress enough how impressed I have been with the level of empathy, generosity and patient-centered focus at Community Hospital and throughout Community Healthcare System.