Voices of ASHRM
ASHRM spotlights individual risk professionals and the incredible work they do every day. Voices of ASHRM highlights individual members and their diverse experiences in the risk management field. We aim to celebrate and inspire current ASHRM members and future risk professionals, plus broaden awareness of the risk profession.
Julia Clement, BSN, RN, CPHRM
Clinical Claims Risk ManagerCommunity Health Network
Indianapolis, IN
How, in your opinion, can risk management make the most impact in a health care organization?
Having your door always open enables Risk to be visible. We encourage people to call us: if caregivers stop asking questions--due to complacency, mistrust, or fear of speaking up--our organization will become less safe for everyone.
Marilyn Costache
Chief Risk OfficerMoffitt Cancer Center
How do you keep your team motivated despite competing priorities, conflicts, and obstacles?
I keep my team motivated despite competing priorities, conflicts, and obstacles by being transparent and genuine. Open and honest communication is key to building relationships, resilience, and overall trust. When you do this all the time, your team will stand by you through good and difficult times.
Christina Edwards, MSW, LCSW, CPHRM
Director, Clinical Risk ManagementDavita Inc.
What are you most proud of as a health care risk professional?
I know that what I do as a Risk Professional is important and matters. I have the honor and the privilege of working on a team of risk professionals who supports clinic teams and patients across multiple states. I am the listening ear when a clinic has concerns with behavior management or when they are fearful because they are unsure what to do in a crisis.
Josh Floyd, PhD, MSCM, CPHRM
Why risk management? What makes you get up and go to work?
If I can go to work and help one person have a better day, it is worth it. As a risk professional, I have the unique ability to alter someone's path and perception of health care itself by being an ethical and trusted member of the organization. I wake up every day to try and make a difference in someone's life.
Beth Gasiorowski, JD
Market Director of Patient Safety and RiskHilton Head Regional Healthcare
How, in your opinion, can risk management make the most impact in a health care organization?
I believe risk professionals make the greatest impact in providing sound, critical, and logical advice to our organizations. We are a resource to assist in difficult decision-making with our expertise. We touch everyone in and out of the organization with our impact. My nickname is "The Mayor."
Sheri Gibson, BSN, RN, CPPS
Risk ManagerAdventHealth
Deland
Why risk management? What makes you get up and go to work?
I love Risk Management, my team, organization and leaders. Every opportunity I have to effect positive change, support others, teach, and have integrity to do the right thing is a good day as a risk professional.
Alisha Green, BSN, RN
Risk ManagerUVA Health Prince William Medical Center
What are you most proud of as a health care risk professional?
As a health care risk professional, I am most proud of the impact that I can have on our patients and team members by working with them to create a safe and proactive environment.
Why risk management? What makes you get up and go to work?
Risk Management allows me to use the skills and knowledge that I have gained over the years to assist our organization in being the best in the area. I get up in the morning knowing I will have an opportunity to create a positive impact on our patients and team members. As a risk professional, I have the chance to learn something new every day!
Tony Hill, MS, BA, RN, CSP, CPHRM, CPPS
Director - Patient Safety Clinical Risk ManagementParkland Health
Dallas, TX
How, in your opinion, can risk management make the most impact in a health care organization?
Don't EVER forget the divine mission we have been charged with... to work for the well-being and safety of our patients and each other.
Karen Holden, MPA, CPASRM
Director of Compliance, Privacy & RiskCarolina Meadows
What are you most proud of as a health care risk professional?
I am most proud of helping individuals become the best version of themselves on a daily basis. I work in a senior community, and being able to ensure the safety and well-being of each senior is a priority for me.
Why risk management? What makes you get up and go to work?
I enjoy risk management because it allows you to oversee the entire organization. You truly make a difference daily for residents, families, and staff members.
Deanna Howell, MSN, RN, CPPS
Risk ManagerAdventHealth
New Smyrna Beach
Why risk management? What makes you get up and go to work?
Risk Management always keeps me on my toes and keeps me connected to all disciplines in health care. As soon as I think I know a little bit about the field, I am presented with new situations. This drives me to use my resources in all areas and keeps me in the learning phase. More than anything, I get up and go to work so that I can be a resource for the team. I can assist the staff, patients, and families with reaching a resolution, and I can help facilitate changes to make health safe and trusted for everyone.
Mary Frances Lewis, RN, MSN, CEN, CPHRM
What are you most proud of as a health care risk professional?
Health care risk professionals have a sense of self-worth by being able to identify and resolve everyday events pragmatically. Risk has caused me to become a very abstract thinker while being able to discern a realistic (i.e.., “doable”) way to offer solutions to issues and/or opportunities.
Heather Meyer, MBA, BSN, RN, C-LNC, CHSP, CPHRM
National Team Lead and Senior Risk Consultant Risk Mitigation and Response Services
Constellation
How, in your opinion, can risk management make the most impact in a health care organization?
The in-direct impact is a lasting impact. Risk management helps shape the future of health care delivery by being experts on the risk that directly impacts organizational and patient outcomes.
Dorothy Rice, RN, BSN, MBA
Director of Quality, Patient Safety, & Risk ManagementAdventHealth
Ottawa
Why risk management? What makes you get up and go to work?
I love what I do! Somedays can get stressful, but I truly look forward to going to work daily and to improving upon the opportunities identified to make it the best hospital and patient experience that one can have.
Judith R. Sands, RN, MSL, BSN, CPHRM, CCM, CPHQ, ARM
Clinical Consultant & Author
Why risk management? What makes you get up and go to work?
Risk management is the "proactive conscious" of the organization. Enterprise risk management provides the framework for the risk professional to have an extensive impact on the organization, breaking down silos and building a more cohesive culture. Patient safety and risk mitigation energize me; whether working in a facility, consulting, or educating, it is never boring, and there are always new issues and hazards to address. In addition, the implementation of new and safer technologies, process changes, and educational strategies keep me learning and sharing.
How, in your opinion, can risk management make the most impact in a health care organization?
The risk manager must foster trust through relationship development, collaboration, and transparency. The risk professional must be seen as the trusted individual with whom information can be shared and whose discretion can be respected. The risk professional must have the emotional intelligence and tact to address the issues and concerns with respect. The risk professional always stands up for what is right, keeping patient safety and risk mitigation as guiding principles.
Kelly Saran, MS, RN, CPHRM, CPPS
Administrative Director | Patient Relations & Clinical Risk Adjunct Clinical Instructor School of Nursing University of Michigan/Michigan Medicine
What are you most proud of as a health care risk professional?
Ability to use successful mediation techniques to ensure patients/families' (and attorneys) experiences are heard, as well as to support involved clinicians in the setting of unexpected outcomes.
Julie Ann Schneider, MSHSA, CPHRM
Director, Risk Management and Regulatory AffairsUCI Health
Why risk management? What makes you get up and go to work?
I LOVE health care risk management, particularly in the acute care hospital environment. I have been a health care risk manager for nearly 25 years, and I am NEVER bored! There is always something new! Just when I think I have seen it all, I am once again surprised. The ever-changing legal and regulatory landscape coupled with advancements in health care delivery allows for constant learning. I often say that work is almost a hobby for me. Even if I won the lottery, I think I would still work in health care risk management!
Teresa Schneider, BS, RPSGT, CPHRM
Risk Management CoordinatorSt. Joseph Medical Center
How, in your opinion, can risk management make the most impact in a health care organization?
I feel that one of the most important functions I perform is to be an advocate for increased reporting of safety events and near misses. We have started a great catch program that recognizes employees who have proactively prevented patient harm. Members of our C-Suite are very supportive of these recognitions and show up to make a presentation to the employee. Risk management can make the most impact through activities like this because they highlight the importance of reporting.
Mary Jo Thompson, RN, MBA, CPHRM, CPPS, FASHRM
Director, Clinical Risk Management
How, in your opinion, can risk management make the most impact in a health care organization?
There will inevitably be emotional highs and lows when human lives are involved. Bad outcomes can be tragic, disappointing, or sad. I like to describe risk professionals as a neutral: someone the organization can turn to and who can look at a situation objectively and methodically to avoid unnecessary chaos. Risk professionals have the skill to look at the bigger picture and protect the organization's assets. These assets include the employees (human capital), patients (consumer), and finances (short-term - claims and long-term - reputation), among others.
Wadie Abu-Rahmeh, MSN, MBA, RN, CPHRM
Executive Director, Risk Management & Patient SafetyAdventHealth Integrated Health Services
Central Florida Division
What are you most proud of as a health care risk professional??
An airport control tower coordinates the safe arrival and travel of aircraft in its airspace with the support of sensors, radar, and a multi-disciplinary team of subject matter experts. Risk Managers are privileged to be the protectors and the ultimate control tower. We care for people and those who care for them.
Why risk management? What makes you get up and go to work?
I'm a nurse of 28 years who is an eldest son, brother, husband, and father. So caring and protecting people is in my blood. Having the opportunity to develop systems and processes that support our organization and front-line caregivers at the sharp end is not only a duty but a privilege. Risk management only increases the opportunity value.