Her Story
About Cheryl
Cheryl Joyner is a seasoned healthcare operations leader with more than two decades of experience driving excellence in patient access, revenue cycle management, and healthcare administration. As the Patient Access Manager at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, she oversees critical front-end operations that shape both the patient experience and organizational performance. With a strong foundation in business administration, including an MBA from Albertus Magnus College and ongoing doctoral studies at Post University, Cheryl combines strategic thinking with operational expertise to improve access to care through people-centered leadership, process optimization, and continuous innovation.
Throughout her career, Cheryl has built a reputation for developing high-performing teams by prioritizing mentorship, coaching, and employee engagement. She believes that organizational success begins with investing in people, fostering a workplace culture where employees feel supported, empowered, and connected to a shared purpose. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes improving systems rather than assigning blame, enabling teams to deliver compassionate, efficient, and patient-focused care while achieving measurable operational improvements. Her experience spans patient access, insurance verification, scheduling, billing, accounts receivable, and healthcare operations, making her a respected leader in revenue cycle optimization.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Cheryl is deeply committed to lifelong learning, diversity and inclusion, and community service. She serves as Secretary of the Board for the Wallingford Family YMCA, where she contributes to strategic planning and community development initiatives. A certified professional in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion through Cornell University, she is passionate about creating inclusive environments that encourage growth and collaboration. As she continues her doctoral journey, Cheryl remains dedicated to advancing healthcare leadership, mentoring future professionals, and improving patient outcomes through compassionate leadership, operational excellence, and continuous professional development.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Cheryl
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my commitment to mentoring and coaching rather than simply managing people. I strive to invest in my team by supporting their growth, encouraging their ideas, and helping them achieve their goals. By creating an environment built on trust, collaboration, and empowerment, I encourage innovation and confidence. I measure my success by the success of those I lead, believing that when my team thrives, I thrive as well.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to focus on your abilities, confidence, and professionalism rather than gender expectations. Advocate for yourself, know your value, and strive to be recognized for your skills and contributions. At the same time, lead with integrity and treat every opportunity as a chance to earn respect through your work. One of the most important lessons I've learned is to never lead or respond from emotion. When faced with a difficult situation, take time to reflect before reacting, and always make decisions based on policy, sound judgment, mentoring, and coaching. That approach builds credibility, trust, and strong leadership.
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