Deidra Franklin

What motivates me is getting to the top, but not just for glory or financial gain. It's about knowing everything so that when I get there, I can truly know how everything moves and I know all the loopholes. That motivates me to aim higher because I feel like most people at the top have these expectations but they don't really know what the day-to-day is like. You can see the numbers, but you don't really know what it takes to make those numbers. So that drives me to keep going, because I know once I get there, I'll be well-rounded. I'll understand the full picture from the ground up, which will make me a better leader who truly understands what my team is going through.

The best career advice I ever received was from someone who told me to look at myself as a bucket at every job. He said to let them give me everything they've got, and if by the time I'm done it's still not full, just take it to the next place. He told me to just be a bucket and take it all in, because some of this stuff you can't learn anywhere else and it would take years to learn if you go to school. His advice was to take in all I can and take it to the next place until I feel like I'm really contributing to something. That really resonated with me because it's about learning everything you can while you can, soaking up all the knowledge and experience available, and then moving forward when you've gotten everything you can from that position.

I would say to set your own expectations instead of what other people see for you. See it for yourself. As long as you can see it for yourself, then you can obtain it or work for it. But don't ever let anybody tell you what you can and can't do, because that's just at face value. People can say it all day long, but use that as motivation or a driving force, but don't use it as a limitation at all. If something fell into your thoughts and into your brain as something that you may want to do or may be interested in, that means something. You didn't think of it for no reason. You didn't just fall into that interest for no reason. So trust yourself and pursue what calls to you, regardless of what others might say about your capabilities.

Structure. I think healthcare right now, it's always been a revolving door, but now more than ever, it lacks structure to really platform people who are making a difference or making strides in certain areas. It doesn't have the structure to hold them up or to get them where they need to be. The system needs serious reform to support the people who are actually doing the work and making an impact, but the infrastructure just isn't there to recognize and elevate them properly.

I really value empathy, having it and showing people the benefits of having it. I do believe it's a driving force. Like when people call and fuss at these insurance people, they feel like nobody's really moving anything, and I think it's because a lot of people lack empathy. But once you try to place yourself in their position, you find yourself working harder. So I would say empathy is crucial, and then seeing your obstacles as more of a challenge than a brick wall. Those two values guide everything I do, both professionally and personally, because empathy drives me to work harder for my patients and seeing obstacles as challenges keeps me motivated to find solutions.