Rachel Ciarello

I attribute my success to my passion, and willingness to go above and beyond in every role I've held. From the very beginning, starting as a dietary aide straight out of high school, I was always doing more than what was expected of me. People in leadership appreciated my work ethic and leaned into helping me develop my skills, which allowed me to move forward even without having a college degree. I was very mature in the sense that I didn't want to waste time and money going to school without knowing it would result in what I was hoping for, so I entered the workforce instead.

Each role I carried, whether it was dietary, reception, admissions coordinator, or director of admissions and marketing, I was always striving for more. I was discovered by many mentors along the way who saw something in me before I truly saw it in myself. They would say, 'Rachel, you know what you would be great at? How about you try this role?' at times there was apprehension, but their belief in me pushed me at every turn. I've been self-taught from that first day to today, and really navigated through the healthcare industry in such a way that every next opportunity brought me to a higher level of achievement. I always had a woman who was a little bit older in every position who said, 'I see something in you, I believe in you, I recommend this for you,' and I've carried that with me through my career. Now I do that for the rising stars I see as well. I always remember the ability they saw in me and it was transformative.

If you have a genuine, true passion that turns into a purpose and you share that with everyone, you can be self-made. The proof is in my work history and what I continue to do. My diligence coupled with dedication has outweighed what a college education could do, and I'm proud to share that with everyone I cross paths with.

"When someone sees something in you... believe them and never burn your bridges."

I was told this when I tried to quit dietary only 6 months in. I no longer wanted to wear a hair net and push a mop, I wanted to be front and center and work more closely with the residents I served meals to. My boss at the time said, "Rachel, this is a small industry never burn a bridge if you want to succeed, and always have something lined up before you just quit!" At 18, I thought, sure Brenda and thanks!!! Within the next few weeks, I became the full time receptionist! All other roles followed through the same way to this day with that advice. It's served me very well throughout my work history.

"Never doubt yourself, always dress for the part you want, not the one you have, be transparent, humble, stay true to yourself and always pay it forward!"

Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work alongside inspiring mentors and leaders who encouraged me, challenged me, and helped shape my professional path. I've been very lucky that they have all been female leaders, especially when you move into more leadership roles within healthcare where you tend to see so many men sitting at the table. At times, I was even challenged that I didn't carry a degree to match my expertise. This female influence taught me the importance of paying that guidance forward. Mentorship has become one of the most meaningful parts of my work because I know how life-changing it can be when someone believes in your potential. I love to give that back to the communities I work with and women in particular. When you're in a room full of women influencing each other and really giving that support, it's an amazing accomplished feeling, especially when you have a plethora of experience and knowledge that by far surpasses anything you can learn in a book.

Healthcare is facing significant challenges today. Workforce shortages, staff burnout, and changing workplace expectations continue to affect organizations across the country. Changes in work expectations and workplace culture, especially since COVID, have made work from home more appealing to many. A lot of healthcare workers during COVID experienced the worst of the worst, and some of them refused to continue to stay in the field. Truthfully, some people just got very used to the work from home proposal from certain companies, so they feel that's more manageable for them as an individual versus being on-site and in person.

The work ethic has also changed. At the start of my career, there used to be more of a camaraderie, more team support. People didn't call out just because it was a sunny or snowy day. They said, 'Oh my goodness, I'm an essential worker, it's imperative that I'm there.' Now people are sort of lacking that empathy and for those that really can't take care of themselves. These realities have made workforce development more important than ever. I believe we must be intentional about identifying talent early, providing quality training opportunities, and creating environments where healthcare professionals feel supported and valued.

We work hard to speak with the younger generation to tell them, if you have a certain feeling within you, a certain passion and level of commitment to take care of others and be very selfless, this is the field to enter. It's not just sign up for a class, it's, is this really something you can commit to and be dedicated to for years to come? There is an interest to take the class and an interest to go into the field, but we need to make sure people understand this isn't a field you can necessarily go into for the dollars. You definitely have to have that willingness to want to reach and help others because you give so much of yourself.

In addition to my professional responsibilities, I have been honored to contribute to my community through leadership and board service.

I co-founded Endurance Home Care in Stamford about 2 years ago, helping two brothers who had the devotion and vision to open a home care agency but didn't necessarily know the in's and out's of the industry. Based on my experience in the field, I was able to share information that proved to be invaluable and have been very proud to take part in this new endeavor.

I also serve as a board member for TriCircle, which is a wonderful nonprofit organization offering hope and recovery grief support for those that are subject to mental illness, suicide, and overdose. We're celebrating 10 years in the making, and it's wonderful to be a part of those efforts and initiatives .

I'm also honored to sit on the Health Council Advisory Board, for New Haven Public Schools. We're focused on creating strong pathways for individuals as an option aside from the traditional college route. This is a huge stepping stone for juniors and seniors to get their foot into the healthcare world. Same way I began over 25 years ago.

These experiences have deepened my commitment to building stronger communities through collaboration and service. Every day is an award to me, truly. I know what I carry and I know what I bring to those that I connect with, and that's enough for me. Taking an individual who starts with 'I don't think I can do it' and 'I don't have the means to,' being able to provide those resources and steer them through the journey, and watching them at the finish line with that certificate in hand and family supporting them, and the testimonials given from beginning, middle, and end is more than a gift. It's truly rewarding. It's kept me thinking