"Pivots and pauses are something to embrace, not fear," according to Terry Shaw, president and CEO of AdventHealth.
Mr. Shaw shared Sept. 19 on LinkedIn that he never saw himself becoming chief executive when he first started at the Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based health system 40 years ago, but he stayed open to any pauses or pivots that led to the next step in his career.
"Looking back, saying yes to opportunities that sent me in unexpected directions broadened my horizons more than anything I could have planned myself," he wrote.
Mr. Shaw then turned to his online followers and inquired about their career pivots and pauses: "Where did you start, and where have you ended up?"
Six hospital leaders' responses:
Amanda Maggard. President and CEO at AdventHealth Celebration (Fla.): I started as a journalism major in college and later added a marketing degree. My journey with AdventHealth began as a summer intern.
Michael McAndrew. Former CEO at Christus Mother Frances Hospital Sulphur Springs (Texas): A friend called me to tell me that my hometown hospital was hiring for "stat lab techs" and they would train. After doing it for a few years while in college, I fell in love with healthcare. I was an English major. People would ask what I could do with an English major. Almost anything was my response.
Royce Brown. President and CEO at AdventHealth Lake Wales (Fla.): I started my career in golf after college and quickly realized that I wasn't making a difference. I shifted my career and got a job as a patient registration coordinator at Centra Care almost 19 years ago. I would have never dreamed it would lead to being a CEO in beautiful Lake Wales and having the honor of rebuilding the trust of a community in their hospital.
Jessica Baird-Wertman. COO and Vice President of Primary Care at AdventHealth Orlando (Fla.): I started out many years ago as a temp doing data entry for credentialing applications for physicians and advanced practice providers. Wound up in operations for primary care offices.
Kevin Rinks. CEO at Ascension St. Vincent's Clay County Hospital (Middleburg, Fla.): Staff accountant —> CEO.
Jill Piazza. Vice President of Operations at AdventHealth Population Health Services Organization (Orlando, Fla.): I started as a manager of rehab services at AdventHealth DeLand (Fla.) 21 years ago. As a newer grad PT, I never thought I'd be working in a company wide role as a population health executive today!