Her Story
About Anne
My career in nutrition began when I was a young teenager working as a volunteer in a hospital diet office. I watched the dietitian come in and thought to myself, 'I want to do that.' I pursued a coordinated undergraduate program in college, completing a 5-year program in 4 years, and graduated in the 80s. Since then, I've been working in nutrition my whole entire career, just in different segments. I've worked in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, community nutrition, doctors' offices, and even had my own private practice. Currently, I manage both a diabetes center and a bariatric program for a hospital on the ambulatory campus, which is outpatient. I work with 3 bariatric surgeons, and we maintain all the standards so that we have a bariatric center of excellence accredited by MBSA. I also manage the diabetes center where we see over 1,200 people annually for outpatient DSME, or diabetes self-management education. I have a staff of 3, and we do a lot for quality improvement, inpatient consults, outpatient education, and group classes. I'm a self-starter who requires very little direction, and I focus my skills and my staff's skills based on outcomes. My experience across different environments has allowed me to see what other people are doing and piggyback off that.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Anne
01What do you attribute your success to?
Following your passion is the biggest key to success. I was told early on to follow my passion and help others, and that if you take care of your people, your people will take care of your clients. I have just really learned to be a good listener, and listening skills help me follow my passion. I'm a self-starter and require very little direction. I've been in the field for a long time, so I focus my skills and my staff's skills based on outcomes, and I think that's where my strength is. I also have a lot of experience in a lot of different environments, so that lends to seeing what other people are doing and being able to piggyback off that.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I was given when I was first starting out was to follow your passion and help others. If you take care of your people, your people will take care of your clients. I have just really learned to be a good listener, and listening skills help me follow my passion.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The best advice I try to give my younger staff that comes in is not only listen to your patients, but be willing to go the distance for them. As healthcare providers, we have to be advocates for our patients, and everybody today is so afraid of doing something that is not their job. When we all do the same thing, or don't do the same thing because it's not our job, we're really not advocating for our patients.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
We have daily challenges, and now with AI, it becomes very difficult. I think since COVID, it's hard to get people to come into any office anymore. They want to do everything from home, and we lose the personal touch from the patient. Challenges for us seem to be really insurance-related, because a lot of what people do regarding healthcare has to do with insurance reimbursement. If you're not reimbursed for services, then the patients generally don't come in, so it's been hard for us to really assert our value. Although we've had about 40% growth over the last year, so I think that speaks volumes in what we're able to do, because it's all word of mouth. There's really very little marketing with hospital outpatient services. It's all patients who come in, have a great experience, and then go back out and tell somebody else.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Professionally, I'm a self-starter, and I require very little direction. I focus my skills and my staff's skills based on outcomes, and I think that's where my strength is. I believe in being a good listener, and listening skills are crucial. I think it's important to follow your passion and help others. If you take care of your people, your people will take care of your clients. As healthcare providers, we have to be advocates for our patients and be willing to go the distance for them.
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