Age: 40
Hometown: Broadview, Montana
When she was in high school, it was a school-to-work program that directed Kendra Eaton into healthcare. The ambitious teen chose surgery and became fascinated by the vocation. Since then, her passion has remained in the medical field. Now, she is Executive Director of Operations and Specialty Clinics at St. Vincent Healthcare.
You have gone from surgical tech to a director’s role while attending college, how did you balance work and school?
I love what I do. It is hard work and very rewarding at the same time. We get to participate in people’s lives at their most vulnerable. Although I am not in direct patient care, I am here to make sure our teams have all the resources and tools in which to make them successful.
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I decided to get my bachelor's in health administration when I took the director’s role. Once I realized that I can do school, work and home, I decided to keep going. Education in healthcare is important and now with the opportunities to do it remotely, it makes it a lot easier. I oversee multiple specialty clinics at St. Vincent Healthcare and work with a great group of people that make it all work.
What is the most rewarding/important aspect of your occupation?
Connecting with patients and their families. I will always find a way to stay connected to that aspect of my work. It allows us to keep grounded in our decision making and when it is stressful, it is always good to keep them the center of what we do.
What is the most challenging aspect of your occupation?
Healthcare is complicated and dynamic. It takes a lot of teamwork to make it work and sometimes getting everyone to row the boat in the same direction takes a little more effort, but the reward can be huge.
Who is your greatest mentor/inspiration?
My parents are my inspiration. They were a very young couple when they started their family. They are hardworking, honest and all-around great supporters of their friends and family.
Do you have a motto that you live by?
Be kind, work hard, stay humble, smile often, stay loyal, keep honest, never stop learning, be thankful always and love.
What advice would you give to anyone wanting to start new business or excel in a business or field?
When times are hard, look back and see what you can learn from it. Stay true to your beliefs and persevere.
How do you view failure and success?
You need both in your life. If you are afraid of failure, you will never take the risks and miss accomplishing great things.
What do you do for fun?
I enjoy my family. So be it time on the farm with my parents or running around for sports with my boys, that brings me the most joy.