BRENDA
WALTZ Brenda Waltz has come a very long way in the medical field since her days as a ward clerk/transcriber in Enid, Okla., during high school. As she retires, she feels “blessed” to have served as chief executive officer for five facilities in five cities. Medicine and administration has been a constant strand in her life. “I worked during my college years in medical records and also as a nurse technician,” Waltz says. “Once I graduated from nursing school, I worked several staff RN positions, was a surgical services director and became a chief nursing officer.” Her entire career has been spent at parent comBrenda Waltz in Ephesus, an ancient Greek city pany Hospital located in Turkey. Corporation of America, Nashville, Tenn. Waltz is proud of improving the quality of care in facilities across the Southeast because of her clinical expertise. “All of my hospitals have received numerous clinical and quality awards,” she says. “Most recently, Garden Park Medical Center was awarded as a Top Performer on Key
Medicine, administration run in her blood Quality Measures from The Joint Commission, which is an accrediting body for hospitals for five consecutive years which is truly outstanding which few hospitals are able to achieve.” Waltz also shared about what she has learned and what’s next with Gulf Coast Woman. GCW: What are the most significant lessons on leadership you have learned? Waltz: Hire people that are much better than yourself. This only makes you look better as a leader. Treat others as you expect to be treated. GCW: What was most challenging and how did you overcome? Waltz: I was sent to one of my five hospitals to either “make it better or close the doors.” As a leader, I have always enjoyed a challenge and the option to “close the doors” was not even something I considered. In less than three years, I had grown the earnings in that facility, increased employee and physician satisfaction, and earned numerous quality awards and put that hospital back in a competitive position in that market. That facility continues to do well in all aspects and I am proud of what I was able to accomplish during my tenure at that facility. GCW: What’s next? What’s on your bucket list? Waltz: I am planning to do a lot of travel. I will be traveling to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Kenya. I also plan to spend quite a bit of the time in Destin. I have only been able to be present on my mother’s birthday one time in 27 years and I am flying to Oklahoma to surprise her for her 83rd birthday and will then travel with her to Branson, Mo., for a week. My son will be a senior in high school next year and I plan to be a “hands-on” mom for his last year at home, which makes me very excited! My husband has done a fabulous job during my career being a stay-at-home dad, but it is my turn to be mom full-time. Family, friends, health … what else matters?
‘I am planning to do a lot of travel’ 16
MAY-JUNE 2017