Molly Aileen McIntyre
Molly McIntyre is a Life Enrichment Director at Shawnee Gardens Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center and a dedicated healthcare professional with nearly 17 years of experience serving individuals across a continuum of care. She began her career as a nurse’s assistant in an assisted living community, where she first discovered her calling to support older adults with dignity and compassion. She later advanced to working on a traumatic brain injury unit and went on to serve in Level 1 trauma and neurology unit within the hospital setting, including Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Her extensive clinical background in high-acuity and neuro-focused environments shaped her deep understanding of complex medical needs, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the critical importance of patient-centered care. Through her work in neurology and brain injury care, Molly recognized that healing extends far beyond physical treatment. She saw firsthand that many individuals—particularly those navigating cognitive decline, trauma recovery, or end-of-life transitions—require meaningful psychosocial engagement, emotional support, and authentic human connection alongside clinical intervention. Guided by this insight, she intentionally redirected her professional path toward Life Enrichment and Holistic Care. For the past three years, she has served in Life Enrichment Leadership Roles, overseeing the mental and emotional well-being of approximately 110 to 170 residents at a time. She designs and implements comprehensive Enrichment programming, fosters community partnerships, leads interdisciplinary collaboration, and creates individualized experiences that honor each resident’s story, preferences, and legacy. Molly leads with heart-centered conviction, integrity, and unwavering faith. She brings spirituality into her work in an inclusive and compassionate manner, believing that God is present in all people and speaks through every culture and faith tradition. She views spirituality as a source of comfort, hope, and peace—especially for residents and families navigating profound life transitions. Her leadership is rooted in empathy, perseverance, and servant-hearted dedication, ensuring that every individual entrusted to her care feels seen, valued, and enriched each day. Through her work, Molly continues to cultivate communities where compassion is intentional, and every life is honored with dignity and purpose.
- To me, it's all one thing - Work. Work to me is a mindset, what we are willing to keep we must put in the work, Willing to take on any obstacle without fear, Optimistic things will work out if we continue to press on, Responsible for our words and actions, Kind in what we do for the betterment of others.
• Johnson County Community College
• Kansas College of Nursing
• Olathe North High School
• Compassionate Service Award
• StarFish Project
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my Mother Lori. She has been the foundation of who I am and what I have been able to accomplish in my life and career.
I have many strong women in my family who lead their lives with the conviction of taking care of others. The foundation has been my Grandmothers all who lead with legacy that follows Shirley and Verda. Following their lead all of my aunts are in that realm, Sherry, Sally, Debbie, Kimmy, and Shirley. Each of these women have had a lifetime commitment in their Careers and independent lives of taking care of others. Each lead or have led in their fields; Social Work, Healthcare, Education, fostering community support for the Intellectually Disabled. My cousin who has made a profound impact not just locally but globally leading with faith and extending that compassion and love across the globe.
My Mother-in-law who has faced some of the most difficult obstacles in life but had Faith and continued on building and paving her own way. She has committed her life to her family and has never given up even during the most challenging of times.
There are many women who I admire and look up to. I had amazing teachers starting from a very young age, beautiful souls have always surrounded me. One of the most inspiring women I have ever met was my elementary school music teacher, she spoke to people's souls through the power of music through her faith she brought EVERYONE together, it was truly a magical thing to see, she deserves awards in heaven!
Some of our family friends are amazing Leaders in their established domains, I have many strong women who I have made relationships within my surrounding community, the number of strong women in this world is truly admirable we are truly unstoppable banded together.
The outpouring of love from women across the span of my life until now is unmeasurable and gives me continued strength and faith that leading with love is the only way
I am blessed to be surrounded with such supportive, STRONG, Independent women, together we can accomplish the unimaginable.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Love everyone. That's the best advice I've ever received.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't give up; don't stop even when it's hard. We're all capable of difficult things.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I am committed to reaching more people so we can build meaningful and impactful communities that fully capture the meaning of Life Enrichment.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Accepting others for who they are and loving everyone. What matters to me is what I'm doing with my ability and capability that God gave me on a daily basis. It all boils down to conviction of what's important, treat other the way you wish to be treated we are all in this together. To me, it's all one thing - work. Work to me is a mindset, what we are willing to keep we will have to put in the work, Willing to take on any obstacle without fear, Optimistic things will work out if we continue to press on, Responsible for your words and actions, Kind in what you do for the betterment of others. These are the key values in which I live by and some days I fail, but I always continuing on and trying to remind myself to do better the next time.