Chief executive officer
Palmetto GI
Please share advice you would give as a mentor to women new to the health field.
I have been in the medical field for over 25 years and continue to love every minute of it. Like any leadership position, it can be challenging at times, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.
My advice is this: Don’t be afraid to speak up. If you find yourself in a board meeting surrounded by senior leaders – the CEO, COO or VPs – share your ideas and perspectives with confidence. They may not always agree, and your idea may not be implemented right away, but that’s not the point. What matters is that you had the courage to contribute.
By speaking up, you demonstrate leadership, confidence and commitment to your team and organization. Your peers and other managers will respect you for it, and you’ll know that you’re leading by example and using your voice to make a difference.
To the women just beginning your careers in health care: Never underestimate where hard work, integrity and perseverance can take you. Don’t be afraid to speak up, to share your ideas and to take up space in rooms where you once felt you didn’t belong. You do belong.
How would you describe your journey to becoming the health leader you are today?
I started my career at the very bottom – a young, married mother from a small town who moved to a big city at 23 years old. I had work experience, big goals and a strong work ethic, but no college degree. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that one day I would become a CEO.
That journey began when I became the secretary to my mentor, hero and friend, Dr. Brian Kaplan. Dr. Kaplan pushed me, challenged me and believed in me – even when I didn’t always believe in myself. He encouraged me every single day to grow, to learn and to never settle. Because of his guidance, I earned my BSHA and worked my way up the leadership ladder over the next 22 years, gaining experience in ambulatory multispecialty management, overseeing multiple departments, budgets, providers and staff.
After more than two decades with Dr. Kaplan and GBMC in Baltimore, I took a leap of faith and moved to Charleston, where I now have the honor of serving as CEO of Palmetto GI. I am beyond grateful to work with such an incredible, professional gastroenterology team and to continue doing what I love every day.
To Dr. Kaplan: Thank you for never giving up on me, through the good times and the hard ones. And, no, I’m still not getting my master’s degree. So please stop texting me about it.
