Theresa Sullivan
EXPLORES
NEW TERRITORY
in Moses Lake
We sat down to talk with Samaritan’s new chief operating
officer, Theresa Sullivan, on the first truly cold day of fall.
She laughed as we piled our coats, scarves and gloves onto
the extra chair in her office. “When is it going to get cold
here?” she asked jokingly.
✦
Sullivan comes toMoses Lake
after serving Cuyuna Regional
Medical Center, in Crosby, Min-
nesota, for 21 years. Having lived
in Minnesota, she doesn’t seem
daunted by the sudden dip in
temperature.
As our interview begins, we
find out that not much fazes
her—Sullivan speaks about rising
through the ranks of an expanding
health care system, starting as an
administrative assistant, earning
two degrees, and becoming chief
operating officer over multiple
facilities and departments like
it’s something done every day.
Sullivan brings to Samaritan a
wide variety of experience; she’s
well-versed in rural health, phy-
sician recruitment and retention,
service line development, and
infrastructure.
GETTING TO KNOW EVERYONE
When asked about her average
day at Samaritan, Sullivan smiles
and lets us know that she’s still in
an orientation phase. She feels her
key responsibilities are connect-
ing with staff and building rela-
tionships that allow providers and
employees to be successful every
day, as well as removing road-
blocks to that success when nec-
essary. Animatedly, she expresses
her enthusiasm for health care
and the opportunity for growth
in the community.
“I’m very passionate about ru-
ral health care and the opportunity
for people to receive care close to
home,” she says. “If it is reason-
able for people to receive care
in their local community, where
people they know can take care
of them, where they have family
and support systems, that’s really
important—something I want to
strive to be a part of.”
CARING FROM THE INSIDE OUT
Her enthusiasm is contagious as
she outlines her vision of being
visible and approachable, not only
within the walls of Samaritan, but
in the community as well. Sullivan
says she feels that encouraging
providers and staff to identify and
embrace the mission and values of
the organization will spread into
the community. “If employees
and providers feel good about the
work that they do, that’s going to
come out in the care they deliver,”
she says.
Engaging people’s hearts is her
philosophy. Allowing that feeling
to transfer into the care given is
where service reaches beyond
what’s expected.
READY TO VOLUNTEER
As she
settles in to her new role and new
community, Sullivan looks for-
ward to taking part in the many
volunteer opportunities Moses
Lake offers. In the past, she’s
spent many hours working with
the chamber of commerce, area
high schools, the community col-
lege, and youth in the creation of
career academies and job shadow-
ing opportunities with health care
providers.
Spending time being active in
her community is very important
to her. She speaks fondly of being
able to have a hand in the brand-
ing of her previous community,
Cuyuna Lakes. Sullivan says it
will be key to her professional role
and her personal life to be just as
involved here in Grant County.
FEELING AT HOME
After just 30
minutes with Sullivan, her warm
and genuine personality shines
through. We wrap up the last few
minutes of our time together chat-
ting about the recreational activi-
ties she and her family enjoy. She
is excited to be just a drive away
frommountains, hiking, camping
and cross-country skiing—she
mentions dirt bike racing and
quickly points out she is happy
to remain a spectator while her
youngest son engages in that par-
ticular sport!
Welcome to Samaritan, Theresa
Sullivan. We’re happy to have you
with us.
WELCOME: Theresa Sullivan, chief operating officer, clinical and
ancillary services of Samaritan Healthcare, looks forward to being
involved in the Moses Lake community.
THERE SA
SULL I VAN
JUST
THE
FACTS
Education:
■
■
Bachelor’s degree in orga-
nizational management and
communication, Concordia
College–St. Paul, Minnesota
■
■
Master of business
administration degree in
medical group management,
University of St. Thomas–
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Professional
experience:
Cuyuna Regional Medical
Center, Crosby, Minnesota,
1992–2013
■
■
Chief operating officer,
Hospital Services
■
■
CEO, Longville Lakes
Clinic
■
■
Director, Northern Health-
Care Partnership
Professional
certification:
■
■
Fellow of the American
College of Healthcare
Executives
Community
involvement:
■
■
Brainerd Lakes Chamber
of Commerce
■
■
Bridges Academy & Work-
place Connection
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Moses Lake, WA
Permit No. 61
Samaritan Healthcare
Foundation
801 E. Wheeler Road
Moses Lake, WA
98837
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