Her Story
About Catherine
I've been working in the medical field for many years, starting with education continuity where I served as a coordinator for education. When I got the opportunity at Memorial Hospital West, I accepted it immediately because I was studying to work as a healthcare administrator. I started as a secretary, but I was the right hand of the director, and he saw my capacity to be very organized and detail-oriented. Within a year, he promoted me to be a project specialist for compliance in facilities, and that's when I started working with healthcare compliance facilities. My first boss was my mentor at the beginning, and later the COO of the hospital saw my potential and thought I was going beyond my role. I was assigned leadership relationship assessments and continued growing. I eventually mentored one of my co-workers who started with no experience in facilities or hospitals, creating a two-month mentoring program where I showed them how to start as a project and address all the standards required by jurisdiction authorities. After training this person, I created an assistant position. As the youngest in my department and the only woman, it was a challenge to get along with the guys and set limits, but I became the person carrying the team, encouraging them to grow, educate, and work as a team. I started teamwork and team player activities to make the team stronger. I'm now implementing programs in the college I just graduated from, recruiting students to work as volunteers or interns in my department, and training them to join associations related to engineering and facilities healthcare. Patient safety is my passion, and I love to share it with my colleagues and team members from other departments.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Catherine
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Never give up, it's never too late to educate yourself. If you are confident and really good at something, don't hide it and don't be shy. You can show it as an incentive for yourself and for your leadership. If you have a strength in something that you think would be beneficial for the department or the company, you can start it as a project to show to your leadership. I learned that the leaders and mentors, the good leaders, will always support you. So never be shy, it's never too late for growing, and it's never too late for learning.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't ever be shy and don't be intimidated. Women, we are strong, we definitely have a lot of strength to show. We are the soul who cares and knows how to take care of the team and any member. We have the kindness in every part of what you're involved in, whether it's your society, your family, or your workplace. You're always the kind one. And you will always have another woman to encourage you and support you.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
First, facilities is a field that is mostly male. There are very few women who are part of this field, and this has been a challenge. Being the youngest of my department and being the only woman, it was a challenge to get along with the guys and set limits. But at the same time, I was the person carrying the team, encouraging the team to grow, to educate, and to work as a team. I was the one starting the teamwork and team player activities to make the team stronger. Another challenge is encouraging young generations to come into this world, because this field is not very well known in colleges and universities. I'm now starting to implement programs in the college that I just graduated from, recruiting students to work as volunteers or in internships and mentorships in this department. I'm training these students and trying to make them join associations related to engineering and facilities healthcare.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say team player. I'm a person that I love to help, I love to teach, and I love to support every single member on my team and outside. Because I enjoy, I really enjoy my field. Patient safety is my passion, and I love to share it with my colleagues and with other team members from other departments. I'm always happy to help and answer questions and guide the members to keep patient safety on point.
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