Kaitlyn Chavez

I attribute my success to the people who have believed in me and the unwavering strength of my family. Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to have leaders who took a chance on me—even before I fully believed in myself. When I worker in the CVICU at Brooke Army Medical Center, my NCOIC noticed how energized I was by a council project and said, “You really love this stuff.” He encouraged me to explore nursing leadership and even brought me information about nursing administration programs—something I didn’t even know existed at the time. That moment changed the trajectory of my career. My journey has been shaped by leaders who trusted me, invested in me, and gave me opportunities to prove that their confidence was well placed.

But the foundation of my success is my family. I could not have done any of this without them. I had small children throughout much of my journey, and balancing motherhood, graduate school, and leadership roles was incredibly hard. There were many moments when giving up would have been the easier choice, but my family never let me. My parents stepped in constantly—picking up the kids, helping with homework, making sure I had the space to study or take exams.

My grandmother played a huge role as well. She sat with me while I studied for my NCLEX, quizzing me, encouraging me, and reminding me that I could do it. When it came time to take the exam, she drove hours to the closest testing center just to be there with me. That kind of love and commitment is something I carry with me every day.

And my husband has been my steady anchor. He rearranged his work schedule, stepped in with the kids, and held everything together when I had to be away for school, meetings, or community events. His strength allowed me to pursue mine.

My success has never been mine alone. It has always been a team effort—a family effort. Every milestone I’ve reached is tied to someone who lifted me, believed in me, or made sacrifices so I could keep going. My appreciation for my family runs deep, and they are the reason I am where I am today.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is to lead with fairness, consistency, and a genuine commitment to listening. Those principles have shaped every part of how I show up as a leader. I was taught early on that servant leadership isn’t about doing the work for people—it’s about understanding what they need to be successful and finding ways to support them in their roles.

My team includes many young women who are just beginning their careers and others who are very tenured. Parts of my team are right out of high school, working their first job, still figuring out what leadership or healthcare even looks like. Taking the time to sit with all of them in one‑on‑ones, step into their workspace, and meet them exactly where they are has been invaluable. It’s taught me that serving people looks different depending on their role, their experience, and their stage of life. What a new team member needs is very different from what a tenure team member may need- and it’s my responsibility to recognize that.

Being fair, being consistent, meeting people where they are, and leading with a servant’s heart—those are the pieces of advice that have stayed with me and guide my leadership every single day.

My biggest advice is to always stay grounded in what feels right for you and for the patient. In healthcare, it can be easy to slip into the mindset that it’s “just a job,” but at the end of every task…whether it’s hands‑on care or something as simple as documenting in the chart—there is a real person on the other side who is depending on you. Never lose sight of that. The patient is always the end user, and one day that patient could be your own parent, sibling, or child. Keeping that perspective will guide your decisions and keep your heart aligned with your purpose.

Hold tightly to your “why.” This field will challenge you. Nursing school is rigorous, the work is demanding, and there will be moments when you question whether you can keep going. But you are stepping into a profession where you will one day be someone’s light, the reason they feel safe, the person who brings calm in their hardest moment. That is powerful. That is purpose.

Your journey may not look exactly the way you expect. Mine didn’t. You will be shaped by experiences you never saw coming, and those experiences will refine your calling. Let them. They will make you stronger, more compassionate, and more capable of leading with heart.

So my advice is this: stay connected to your why, remember the humanity behind every task, and keep going even when it’s hard. You are stepping into a profession where you will make

One of the biggest challenges—and opportunities—in healthcare right now is keeping pace with rapid technological advancement. Innovation is happening every day, but the real work lies in thoughtfully integrating those tools into clinical practice in a way that enhances care, supports teams, and improves outcomes. The technology exists; the challenge is operationalizing it effectively.

Another major challenge is the growing workforce demand. We’re experiencing a significant shift as many seasoned nurses move into retirement while a new generation enters the profession. That creates a wide gap between those exiting and those just beginning their careers. Healthcare is a highly specialized field, and it takes years of education, training, and clinical preparation before someone is ready to practice safely. The desire to join the profession may be immediate, but the pathway to competency is long—and that lag creates real pressure on the system.

So we’re navigating two parallel issues: having enough people available to enter the workforce, and ensuring they are fully equipped with the skills, experience, and support they need to be successful. These dynamics shape our daily reality, but they also present opportunities to rethink how we train, develop, and retain the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Compassion is one of my core values, both personally and professionally. I believe that when you lead with compassion—toward the work and toward the people it impacts you create the conditions for real success. It fuels purpose, connection, and accountability.

Integrity is equally important to me. Without integrity, you can’t truly stand behind your decisions or your leadership. It’s the foundation that allows others to trust you, follow you, and feel confident in the direction you’re setting.

I also deeply value teamwork. I say often that “teamwork makes the dream work,” because I’ve seen firsthand how collaboration, shared ownership, and openness to different perspectives can transform outcomes. Diverse viewpoints challenge us, stretch our thinking, and ultimately help us grow. When we welcome perspectives we agree with and those we don’t, we build stronger solutions and a stronger path forward.

Together, compassion, integrity, and teamwork shape how I show up, how I lead, and how I build environments where people can thrive.