Rachel Hoaglin

I attribute my success to my mother. She was my best friend, my twin, and we did everything together. She was in healthcare and went to San Francisco State University, and I watched her experience in the healthcare industry, which inspired me to enter the field and start from the bottom, working my way up. She taught me so much about this profession, and even though she passed away 22 years ago, her influence continues to guide me every day. Beyond my mother, I've had incredible mentors like Dr. Clement Jones, the spine surgeon I worked for, who taught me the three A's - be accountable, be allowable, and be acceptable. Karen Schiffman, the first pediatrician I worked for, also shaped who I am today. She worked me so hard that some days I would be in tears, but then she would give me a hug and say she was just trying to train me and teach me, not be mean. I've taken what she taught me into my current position, and I realize I got one of the best teachers in her.

The best career advice I ever received came from Dr. Clement Jones, the spine surgeon I worked for. He taught me the three A's: be accountable, be allowable (allow things to happen), and be acceptable. This advice has stayed with me throughout my entire career and guides how I approach my work every day. Beyond career advice, I also carry with me something deeply personal that has shaped how I work and live. When my mother passed away 22 years ago, a friend's mother told me something that changed my life: 'Do not let anybody tell you how you're supposed to feel. Nobody knows how you will feel. You experience and view and feel whatever you need to.' So many people were telling me how I should be responding and feeling, but she gave me permission to honor my own experience. This taught me to accept what I can and leave the rest, to do what I can and know that's the best I can do. That philosophy extends to everything I do, both professionally and personally.

One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is navigating the complexity of health insurance, which can be difficult for patients to understand and access. Additionally, the emotional impact of school shootings on children presents a profound challenge — the fear and anxiety that many children carry significantly affect how we provide pediatric care. Addressing both the logistical and emotional aspects of care requires sensitivity, clear communication, and a commitment to supporting families through difficult circumstances.

The values most important to me are acceptance and doing my best with what I have. I live by the principle to accept what I can and leave the rest, to do what I can, and know that's the best I can do. This philosophy came from a profound lesson I learned when my mother passed away 22 years ago. A friend's mother told me, 'Do not let anybody tell you how you're supposed to feel. Nobody knows how you will feel. You experience and view and feel whatever you need to.' That changed my life because so many people were telling me how I should be responding and feeling during my grief. I also carry with me the three A's that Dr. Clement Jones taught me: be accountable, be allowable (allow things to happen), and be acceptable. These values guide everything I do. I believe that whatever I'm supposed to do will be there when I need it, and if something isn't available or offered to me, I'm not supposed to do that. This faith in the path opening before me at the right time has guided my entire career and life journey.