Her Story
About Jonae
Jonae Santos, MBA-HM, BSN, RCIS, is a healthcare leader specializing in cardiovascular and cardiac catheterization laboratory operations. She currently serves as Associate Director – Cardiovascular Lab at Banner Health in Phoenix, Arizona, where she provides leadership for cardiovascular laboratory operations and a multidisciplinary team focused on safe, high-quality patient care. With more than two decades of nursing experience and extensive experience in the cardiology procedural environment, Jonae brings a strong combination of clinical expertise, operational leadership, workforce management, and team development to her role. Jonae began her nursing career after earning an Associate Degree in Nursing in 2004 and developed a passion for cardiology during nursing school. She subsequently built extensive experience in the procedural cardiology environment and completed travel nursing between 2011 and 2013, strengthening her adaptability and clinical versatility. In 2013, she earned her Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) credential from Cardiovascular Credentialing International. She later earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management from Western Governors University, pursuing advanced education to strengthen her ability to lead, mentor, and positively influence the next generation of nurses and cardiovascular professionals. Throughout her career, Jonae has combined clinical knowledge with leadership, medical technology, education, and organizational expertise. Her professional experience includes leadership roles at Banner Health and Abrazo Health, as well as clinical specialist positions in the medical device industry with Abbott and Haemonetics. She attributes her success to hard work, determination, continuous learning, and her passion for nursing and helping others. Guided by integrity, honesty, transparency, compassion, and respect, she is committed to operational excellence, patient safety, collaboration, and making a meaningful difference in healthcare each day.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jonae
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hard work, determination, and the will to keep pushing forward. I have always believed in never giving up and remaining eager to learn new things. Continuing my education, maintaining my passion for nursing, and having a genuine desire to help people in need have been important factors in my professional growth.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is to be teachable, always continue learning, and consistently self-evaluate. Every day is an opportunity to become a better person and healthcare professional than I was the day before. I also believe that receiving constructive feedback is essential in any job because it helps us recognize areas for growth, improve our skills, and become more effective in what we do.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women entering healthcare and leadership not to let fear or insecurity impede on what they hope to accomplish. Let courage and being teachable help pave the path to your career. Lead by example, embrace challenges, and use those challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Some of the greatest accomplishments come from people stepping outside of their comfort zones. Confidence, continuous learning, and the willingness to step forward as a leader can make a meaningful difference throughout one’s career and may have an even greater impact on those around you.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest opportunities in my field is to continue advancing operational excellence, effective workforce management, and strong collaboration. My goal is to help ensure that cardiovascular procedures are performed safely and to the highest standards of quality while supporting my team in delivering the right care to as many patients as possible.
Throughout my 22 years as a nurse, I have had the privilege of witnessing significant advances in cardiovascular technology and medicine. These advancements continue to create meaningful opportunities to improve patient care, enhance outcomes, and positively impact the lives of our patients.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me, both personally and professionally, are integrity, honesty, accountability, respect, and faith. I believe these principles guide how I treat others, make decisions, and carry myself in every aspect of my life. I strive to lead with integrity, be honest and accountable for my actions, show respect to everyone I encounter, and remain grounded in my faith. All of these help shape the person I am today and the healthcare professional I aspire to be.
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