Her Story
About Ada
Ada Ortega is a senior manager with the Clinical Engagement Team at Superior HealthPlan, where she has worked for 13 years, including nine years in leadership. She leads a team of nurses, coders, and other healthcare professionals who educate primary care providers on quality improvement across the state of Texas. With over 20 years of experience as a nurse, she transitioned from direct patient care to this role, starting as a clinical nurse liaison and playing a key part in growing the team from five to nearly 40 professionals. She earned her Master's in Nursing Leadership from Grand Canyon University to strengthen her leadership skills and holds a CPHQ certification as a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality from NACU. She is also a member of the Texas Nurses Association. Ada attributes her success to a strong work ethic, seeking mentorship, asking questions, building connections outside her department, and continuously learning beyond her immediate scope. She values family above all in her personal life and emphasizes making a difference while advocating for oneself professionally.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ada
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a strong work ethic, leaning on others for guidance and mentoring, asking lots of questions, making connections outside my department, and continuously learning things outside my scope to make myself more valuable.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I really feel that as a young nurse entering the healthcare field, I wish I had better training in emotional intelligence. I think all nurses should have that training because there can be interpersonal communication challenges, and without strong self-awareness and emotional intelligence, it will be very challenging to move ahead.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my personal life, family is number one - no job is more important than your family. Professionally, I value doing everything you can to make a difference in your job while advocating for yourself and knowing that you bring value to the company. Having an excellent work ethic and maintaining that is key.
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