Vice president and chief executive officer
Charleston Oncology
Please share advice you would give as a mentor to women new to the health field.
Be honest – especially when you don’t know something. Say it plainly, then follow it with, “but here’s how I’m going to find out.” That simple habit will earn you more trust than trying to look like you have every answer. Be accountable when you make mistakes. People don’t need perfect leaders; they need leaders they can trust. Own your part; don’t blame circumstances or other people and apologize when necessary.
How would you describe your journey to becoming the health leader you are today?
I started with little direction and stumbled into health care by chance. My sophomore year of college, I took a job as a file clerk in a rheumatology clinic, not knowing that decision would change my life. The physicians, managers and staff there were brilliant, kind and generous with their mentorship. They let me grow from file clerk to receptionist, then to billing assistant and eventually into supporting the office manager – all before I finished college.
My journey has also been shaped by the people I’ve had the privilege to walk alongside. I’ve been welcomed into sacred, scary, sweet and deeply personal moments – holding hands during cancer treatment, sitting with someone in their grief or helping someone find the support that rebuilt their confidence and changed their life.
Those experiences taught me that leadership isn’t about having all the answers – it’s about showing up authentically, stepping into the messy parts of life with people and believing wholeheartedly in their ability to grow.
What routines and habits help you prepare for, or recover from, a day’s challenges?
One of the most grounding habits I practice is asking myself, “What story am I telling myself?” Our minds can create narratives or assumptions that simply aren’t true. Taking a moment to challenge those internal myths keeps me centered, calm and clear-minded.
Outside of work, I replenish my energy through the things that bring me joy: the symphony, live theater, concerts, travel and – most recently – sewing, which has become a surprisingly peaceful and creative outlet.
If you could change one thing about health care, what would it be?
I would build more adaptability into the system. Health care is full of unpredictability – patients decline suddenly, staff call out, technology crashes and life unfolds in real time – yet the system often expects rigid perfection. If we embraced the truth that flexibility is essential, not optional, the entire system would function with more humanity. Adaptability creates sustainability, and sustainability allows us to deliver care with compassion instead of exhaustion.
