Her Story
About Kathryn
Kathryn Carvalho serves as Supply Chain Manager and SPD Manager at Sutter Health in Los Banos, California. She began her career there in 1990 as a maintenance secretary and advanced into supply chain after four years, later taking on management of sterile processing as well. With 36 years of experience, her responsibilities include overseeing supply chain operations, sterile processing of hospital instrumentation, durable medical equipment, and crash cart processing. A high school graduate who completed some college coursework without earning a degree, Carvalho is actively involved in community organizations including the Spirit Club for 30 years, Relay for Life with the American Cancer Society, Milliken Museum, Golden Agers, and the Northwest Women's Organization. She values strong ethics, commitment to the community, strong leadership, and integrity, and she credits her success to flexibility, embracing change, and positive communication while aiming to mentor new staff and leave a positive footprint at the hospital.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kathryn
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say flexibility, embrace change, and communication, positive communication. I want to leave an impression and a footprint, mentoring new staff.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Strong communication. If you don't have that, every day you have to communicate. There are several, imagine a hospital, and it's continuous.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Definitely embrace change, because you will have changes continuously. But again, that goes hand-in-hand with growth. And some people struggle with that.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Growth. We're constantly wearing several hats. The hospital is at max capacity since 1967, and we're in the process of a new hospital, so you have to be flexible.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Strong ethics, commitment to the community, strong leadership, integrity. We have a mission here at Sutter which you end up taking over to your personal life.
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