Her Story
About Kernetha
I'm the manager of patient transport at one of our Advocate Health hospitals in Milwaukee, where I support a team of about 90 to 100 transporters at a large location. I've been with Advocate Health for 18 years as of last month, and I've kind of just worked my way to management through various roles. I started as a CNA back in 2008 with the goal of becoming a nurse, because that's what I knew about healthcare - be a nurse or a doctor. I did that for 7 or 8 years, but then realized I wasn't sure if nursing was exactly what I wanted to do in healthcare. I knew I wanted to be in healthcare, but I took on roles to challenge myself and to make sure I wasn't missing anything. I've worked through the business side of healthcare as an administrative assistant, was a clinical office assistant for a short time, and then became a supervisor of the concierge team, which handles the outside of the hospital or front entrance transporting operation. Now I'm managing internal transport. I'm still figuring out what I want to be when I grow up, but my approach has been to take opportunities not because they looked familiar, but because they challenged me.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kernetha
01What do you attribute your success to?
Honestly, my mom. That might sound cliche, but she was a single mom and was just very strong in everything she did. She is a mom of 6 kids and came from the drug life - she was a recovering addict, and she still is to this day. She's written 4 books and has a tremendous list of obstacles that she's overcome. She is one of the strongest people in my life, and I would say that I'm a mama's girl, for sure. I call her and talk to her every single day. She babysits my kids - I trust her with my everything. She's just my pillar, one of my pillars.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My best advice is don't limit yourself. That might sound cliche, but the way I got to where I am is not being afraid to take a chance on something that I really wasn't looking forward to, or even seeking out. When I started as a CNA, my career goal or my plan was simply to be a CNA so I could get my experience and become a nurse, because that's what I knew about healthcare - be a nurse or a doctor. But after doing my role as a CNA for 7 or 8 years, I realized I wasn't sure if nursing was exactly what I wanted to do in healthcare. I knew I wanted to be in healthcare, but I took on roles to challenge myself, literally, and to make sure that I'm not missing anything. I took opportunities not because they looked familiar, but because they challenged me. So I would just say don't limit yourself.
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