Why were you interested in pursuing healthcare recruiting as a career?
While at a previous position at Sierra Health Services (a health plan with multiple lines of business and the first managed care organization in Las Vegas), I had a team of 120 people. The aspect of my role I enjoyed the most was recruiting and hiring team members that were leaders of the multiple departments that I was in charge of. When a change in my family situation occurred, I reached out to Paula Morgan, my prior boss at Sierra Health Services, and she asked me if I would want to work for her again at her new firm. I jumped at the chance as she was an amazing person and mentor.
Can you walk us through your career journey?
While in college, I joined Sierra Health Services—and I spent 15 years there working hard and receiving multiple promotions. I started as an executive administrative assistant (for Paula) and moved up to a project coordinator for Utilization Management in the Health Services division. From there, I became Director of Operations for the Self-Funded Division before being promoted to Vice President, Workers Compensation. Joining MCR in 2000 was one of the best decisions I ever made.
What are your current primary areas of responsibility at MCR?
I have been serving in the role of co-managing partner for the past five years as part of our succession planning—and as of this year, I continue to be a principal and SVP of business development.
How has the healthcare landscape changed from the start of your career to today?
Since starting in executive search in 2000, there have been many changes in healthcare—from extensive digital transformation and technology (telemedicine, EHRs, AI) to policy/legislation like the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid expansion and a shift toward preventative and value-based care. These have been exciting times and as I look back on it, the healthcare leaders we have worked with through the years have had immense impact on the healthcare landscape.
What do you feel is different about you in particular within your role that helps you guide your clients to success?
With 25 years of working in the search business with multiple clients and hundreds of candidates, I have truly learned the industry from the inside out. This has given me perspectives on leadership, culture, and best practices from successful companies. It’s a depth of knowledge that you gain through working with so many companies and leaders across the spectrum of healthcare—it’s invaluable to ensuring you are asking the right questions of the candidates for your clients.
Why should healthcare organizations choose MCR to help fill their critical hiring gaps?
All of us at MCR know the business from the inside out and some of us have worked in healthcare, as well—so we know the pressures that leaders face every day; we also understand healthcare organizations’ mission to deliver quality care to patients and members. Due to our experience and people focus, we continue to talk to candidates placed 10 – 15 years ago because we understand the value of networking with folks we’ve known for years & years. Many of these contacts have become friends who we reach out to within our invaluable network—they are always ready to help with sourcing or sometimes, they are interested in becoming a candidate themselves.
Another factor is our speed—we’re quick because we know the market, we can present candidates quickly, and we have the extensive network of contacts that spans from coast to coast. We develop trusting relationships with our clients so we can execute with precision speed and personalized attention.
What are your hopes for the healthcare industry in the future?
MCR has had a 30-year history of building strong relationships with our clients and candidates across the country. In addition to this very important practice, we will continue to:
- Embrace technological innovation leveraging AI and data analytics (without forgetting the most important part, the human element)
- Expand our already extensive network of healthcare leaders through personal outreach
- Provide thought leadership to assist our clients/candidates and continue our best practices of being efficient, responsive and insightful
With our deep industry knowledge and specialization, we want to be the firm healthcare companies and boards think of when they are looking for ‘C-suite’ to director level talent.
What’s something interesting about you that clients may be surprised to learn?
I married my high school sweetheart and we have been together for almost 39 years. There’s never a day when we don’t laugh or dance together around the house.
