Allyson Carr

I began my healthcare career as a physical therapist assistant and spent many years as a clinician before advancing to director of rehab in post-acute care. After 17 years in that world, I reached a point where I knew I wanted more - more autonomy, more say, and the ability to really change healthcare for the better. I saw people in administrator roles who seemed to just be answering to the man, being reactionary to Medicare and Medicaid cuts rather than being innovative and putting patients first. My husband found a master's program in healthcare communications at Northwestern, and even though I didn't know what I would do with that degree, I loved healthcare and felt communication was one of my strengths from managing and communicating with patients, families, and interdisciplinary teams. Through that program, I found my current position at Jarrard Inc, where we partner with healthcare leaders and health systems across the country to make healthcare better. I came into this role with zero experience in communications or marketing, so my recent promotion to Associate Vice President at the end of last year really validated that they like me and I'm doing good work. I'm 44, a mother of two, and I've only lived in Texas for 4 years after my husband got a job here. I work from home, so I'm in my office all day by myself, which makes networking especially important to me. I still learn every day in this role - when I first started, I was learning a hundred things a week, and there's always more to learn.