Rhonda Reeder

I attribute my success to always learning and being willing to change what I'm doing every seven years. I believe in continuously educating myself and staying current in my field by reading extensively - I follow numerous industry publications including the Journal of Healthcare Management, the Air Medical Journal, and the Journal of Emergency Nursing. This commitment to ongoing learning and my willingness to reinvent myself professionally has kept me engaged, relevant, and effective throughout my career. I don't let myself get stagnant; instead, I embrace new challenges and opportunities for growth on a regular basis.

One of the best pieces of career advice I’ve ever received is simple, but it has stayed with me throughout my entire journey—never forget where you came from.

For me, that means staying grounded in the experiences that shaped me early in my career… the bedside moments, the challenges, the lessons learned the hard way. Those experiences continue to guide how I lead, how I make decisions, and how I show up for others.

When you stay connected to your roots, it keeps you humble. It keeps you focused. And most importantly, it keeps you anchored in your purpose. No matter how your role evolves or how far you advance, remembering where you started ensures you never lose sight of who you serve and why your work matters.

That perspective has been one of the most important drivers of my success—and it continues to guide me every day.

If there are a few principles that have guided my career, they really come down to three simple ideas: never stop learning, don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself, and never forget where you came from.

Throughout my career, I’ve made a deliberate choice to keep growing—to stay curious, to seek out new knowledge, and to challenge myself to evolve. Healthcare is constantly changing, and I’ve found that being willing to adapt—not just once, but over and over again—has been critical to staying engaged, relevant, and effective.

But just as important as growth is staying grounded. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received is to never forget where you came from. For me, that means remembering the bedside, the patients, the families, and the early experiences that shaped who I am. That perspective keeps me humble, keeps me focused, and reminds me why this work matters.

So when I think about advice—especially for young women entering this field—it’s this: commit to being a lifelong learner. Stay curious. Invest in yourself. Be willing to step into new challenges, even when they feel uncomfortable. And don’t be afraid to redefine your path along the way.

Because your willingness to grow will build your confidence. Your ability to adapt will define your success. And staying connected to your purpose will ensure that, no matter where your career takes you, you continue to make a meaningful impact.

That combination—growth, reinvention, and staying grounded—has shaped my journey, and it continues to guide me every day.

One of the greatest opportunities in healthcare today lies in transforming care delivery and improving outcomes through stronger collaboration, more efficient workflows, and a continued emphasis on quality and accreditation standards. As the industry evolves, there is significant potential to drive meaningful, system-wide improvements that enhance both patient care and operational performance.

At the same time, a persistent challenge remains the advancement of women into senior leadership roles. While progress has been made, barriers still exist, and addressing them is critical—not only for equity, but for strengthening leadership diversity and driving innovation across healthcare organizations.

Together, these challenges and opportunities call for a more intentional focus on leadership development, collaboration, and accountability to ensure we are building a more effective and inclusive healthcare system for the future.

The values that guide both my professional and personal life are integrity, honesty, and openness. For me, integrity means doing the right thing consistently—even when it’s difficult or when no one is watching. It’s the foundation of trust, and trust is essential in healthcare, where decisions impact lives and relationships matter deeply.

Honesty goes hand in hand with that. I believe in being transparent, direct, and accountable, whether I’m leading a team, partnering with stakeholders, or navigating complex challenges. Clear and honest communication builds credibility and fosters stronger, more resilient teams.

Equally important is being open—open to new ideas, different perspectives, and continuous growth. In a field as dynamic as healthcare, that openness allows me to learn, adapt, and collaborate more effectively. It also helps create an environment where others feel valued, heard, and empowered to contribute.

Together, these values guide how I lead, how I build relationships, and how I approach every decision. They’ve been central to earning trust, driving meaningful outcomes, and staying grounded throughout my career.