As nurse educator, she helped launch initiatives including the CNA Academy and Nurse Residency. As the first director of Gaylord’s Center for Education, she leads the transformation of clinical and non-clinical education, and fosters interdisciplinary excellence within Gaylord and across the broader healthcare community.
What have been your significant contributions to your organization in the past year?
This year, I became director of Gaylord’s Center for Education, leading a team of interdisciplinary clinical educators and expanding Gaylord’s educational programming.
The CNA Academy graduated 40 students and earned approval from the Connecticut Office of Higher Education, while the Nurse Residency Program welcomed its largest cohort to date. I was instrumental in leading the implementation of an online learning management system that offers thousands of clinical and non-clinical courses.
My work to unify education across disciplines has strengthened professional development, streamlined continuing education, and established a robust training calendar with plans underway to share Gaylord’s expertise externally.
Tell us about a challenge in your job that you were able to overcome.
Staff education has always been a priority at Gaylord Hospital, but without a centralized home, efforts were spread across multiple departments, creating redundancies and limiting efficiency.
I have worked to unify these efforts by breaking down silos and building a coordinated, interdisciplinary approach. This model fosters collaboration, creates new efficiencies and ensures that all staff members have access to high-quality, integrated learning and professional development opportunities.
What’s your next major goal?
My goal is to keep growing Gaylord’s education programs by expanding residency and fellowship opportunities and creating new interprofessional training programs. I want to build a strong pipeline that prepares skilled, compassionate clinicians for the future. while strengthening our partnerships with academic and acute care organizations.
How are you involved in the community?
I serve as chairperson of the Connecticut Hospital Association’s healthcare educators group to address clinical education priorities across the state.
Fun Fact
I became director of the Center for Education only a few months before welcoming my second daughter. Now, as a mom of a five-month-old and a three-year-old, my favorite role outside of work is enjoying motherhood and soaking up every moment with them!