With a career spanning over 25 years and a wealth of experience in the healthcare, government, and technology sectors, Dr. Deborah Hawkes has become a leading force in transforming organizational culture and empowering individuals.

Dr. Hawkes brings invaluable expertise to her role as COO at CAN, where she is deeply committed to establishing, overseeing, and implementing strategies and processes that foster an exceptional culture and a team of professionals. Her extensive educational background includes a PhD in Human Services and an MPhil in Philosophy from Walden University, an MBA from the University of Phoenix, and a BS from Purdue University.

Before joining CAN, Dr. Hawkes held influential positions as Vice President at Altisource and Change Healthcare, where she focused on optimizing people, processes, and systems. Her impressive career has seen her excel in diverse roles and locations, ranging from human resources and operations to quality assurance, organizational development, and training. Notably, she is also a highly skilled Six Sigma Master Black Belt, further demonstrating her commitment to excellence.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Dr. Hawkes finds joy in traveling with her loved ones. However, her passion for making a positive impact extends to her community, where she dedicates her time to mentorship, coaching, and public service. Her memberships in Delta Sigma Theta and various other organizations are a testament to her unwavering dedication to serving others.

Driving Operational Excellence

As the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at CAN Community Health, Dr. Hawkes plays a crucial role in providing executive oversight and leadership. Her responsibilities encompass major administrative decisions, policy implementation, and the overall management of the organization’s daily operations.

In addition, Dr. Hawkes serves as a chief advisor to the President and CEO of CAN Community Health. Her role involves providing guidance, insights, and recommendations to support the strategic direction and decision-making of the company’s top leadership.

Bridging the Gap Between Operations and Human Resources

Dr. Hawkes has divided her career evenly between Operations, which encompasses Ops, Six Sigma, and Quality, and Human Resources, including OD, Organizational Effectiveness, Training, and HR. With a background as a PhD behaviorist, her expertise greatly benefits her in effectively leading large groups of people. She holds an MBA alongside another master’s degree in ethics, which proves valuable in decision-making, particularly in areas such as compliance and employment. What sets her apart is her unique ability to seamlessly transition between leading quantitative functions like operations and quality, and qualitative functions like people and culture. Her extensive work experience and education have shaped her into a well-rounded business executive proficient in both business strategy and managing individuals.

Interestingly, Dr. Hawkes had previously expressed reluctance to serve as a Chief Operating Officer (COO), fully aware of the comprehensive nature of the role and the numerous challenges it entails. This serves as a valuable lesson for younger leaders to avoid making definitive statements about what they will never do. It’s important to approach such decisions with caution and remain open to unforeseen opportunities and growth.

Holistic Leadership

Dr. Hawkes holds a significant leadership role encompassing various crucial aspects within the organization. She is responsible for overseeing medical administration, which includes medical, dental, and behavioral health services. Additionally, she leads clinical administration, which involves managing nursing and clinical operations, as well as prevention, outreach, and business community initiatives. As part of her responsibilities, she also oversees human resources, ensuring a focus on people and cultivating a positive organizational culture. Moreover, Dr. Hawkes is responsible for marketing and community affairs, which involves community engagement and communications to effectively reach the public, patients, and clients. Lastly, she oversees clinical research and medical education to drive innovation and enhance the organization’s medical expertise.

These multifaceted roles require Dr. Hawkes to effectively manage the organization’s public image, patient and client experiences, and the development of its healthcare professionals. Her leadership in these areas is vital for promoting a well-rounded approach to medical administration, clinical operations, and overall organizational success.

High-Performing Executive Leadership Team

As an experienced healthcare executive, Dr. Hawkes recognizes the importance of having an exceptional executive leadership team in place. This team comprises individuals with significant industrial and functional expertise, enabling them to effectively manage the organization and maintain its high performance.

With a long-tenured experience leading key functions within various industries and organizations, Dr. Hawkes brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. In addition to her own extensive experience, she has cultivated a strong network of industry experts. This network serves as a valuable resource, providing reliable and up-to-date best practice consultation and support.

Dr. Hawkes firmly believes that the right combination of talented individuals, a strong professional network, a clear focus, and well-designed systems is essential for achieving desired results. By emphasizing these elements, she ensures that the organization operates efficiently and effectively, driving positive outcomes and contributing to its ongoing success.

Transforming Healthcare

CAN Community Health stands out as a unique organization that diverges from the typical model of hospitals or health systems. Its services are dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, research, case management, and wellness of AIDS/HIV, STDs, Hepatitis C, and other infectious diseases. The organization’s primary goal is to establish a medical home for its patients and clients, which necessitates a profound commitment and alignment with its mission.

CAN Community Health’s leaders exhibit a distinctively altruistic nature, characterized by compassionate and self-sacrificing leadership styles. Each member of the executive team possesses a deeply personal reason for choosing to work in the healthcare field and specifically with CAN Community Health. Their motivations are driven by a genuine desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those they serve.

The organization has received notable accolades this year, including being recognized as the Best Place to Work, Best Nonprofits to Work For, and a Business of PRIDE honoree. These achievements are a testament to the exceptional care that CAN Community Health provides to the community, its patients, and its employees. They reflect the organization’s unwavering commitment to a servant leadership culture, where the well-being and support of others are paramount.

Dynamic Leadership

Dr. Hawkes incorporates constructive, innovative, and energetic styles into her leadership strategy by maintaining flexibility and adapting to the specific needs of each situation. She understands the importance of managing the moment and making decisions that will yield the best results.

Exceptional decision-making is Dr. Hawkes’ strongest leadership trait, which she largely attributes to high emotional intelligence and having solved large-scale business problems. She consistently demonstrates qualities such as curiosity, analytical thinking, directness, fairness, and aspiration. These characteristics contribute to her ability to make sound and informed decisions.

Dr. Hawkes intentionally surrounds herself with leaders who possess admirable traits that complement her own strengths. She actively seeks out individuals who exhibit different leadership qualities, embracing diversity of skills and perspectives. Building strong teams is a source of enjoyment for her, and she continuously searches for something unique to enhance the collective capabilities of the group.

The most valuable feedback for Dr. Hawkes is when other leaders express that they have benefited and grown from working with or under her leadership. This feedback validates her commitment to empowering and developing others, highlighting her dedication to creating a positive and impactful work environment.

Strategic Excellence

CAN Community Health relies on a strategic plan to guide its growth and expansion efforts. This plan serves as a roadmap for the organization and its employees, outlining the path to achieve their objectives. To ensure alignment, all executive goals at CAN are derived from the strategic plan and cascaded throughout the organization. Regular tracking of goal performance on a quarterly basis allows for monitoring progress and making necessary adjustments when required. Recognizing the need for adaptability, CAN treats the strategic plan as a living document and is not hesitant to pivot and modify goals and objectives when needed. This approach enables CAN Community Health to stay responsive to changing circumstances and effectively pursue its strategic direction.

Pioneering Leadership in Times of Crisis

Dr. Hawkes recognizes the shifting role of healthcare COOs in the face of the pandemic. They are tasked with managing a range of challenges, including a hybrid workforce, the return to physical business locations, exhausted clinic staff, supply chain disruptions, rising pharmaceutical costs, a housing crisis, competitive healthcare worker retention, socio-political complexities, and increased patient demands. Among C-Suite roles, the Chief Operating Officer shoulders a great responsibility in handling these crises.

The COO of the future not only possesses adeptness in leading organizations through challenging times but also finds enjoyment and thrives in difficult situations. Emotional intelligence and the ability to advocate for patients and employees distinguish the traditional COO from the COO of the future. Inspiring today’s workforce hinges on fostering collaboration, ideation, and accountability through honest communication. These qualities and approaches are pivotal for a successful COO in today’s dynamic landscape.

Expanding Healthcare Services and Commitment to Community Care

CAN Community Health is committed to providing a diverse range of healthcare services to the communities it serves. These services include case management, medical care, dental services, behavioral health solutions, testing and prevention services, pharmaceuticals, and other forms of treatment. The organization is also actively involved in public health education, research and education initiatives, patient assistance programs, and various human service efforts, such as food and clothing drives during emergencies like Hurricane Ian.

While currently headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, CAN Community Health has experienced the impact of Hurricane Ian on both its patients and employees. The organization took the lead in providing assistance to those affected by the hurricane, extending aid from Cape Coral in the south to Palmetto in the north. Recognizing the rapidly growing and dynamic nature of the Tampa Bay area, CAN has made the recent decision to relocate its headquarters there.

CAN Community Health’s reach extends beyond Florida, as it has locations along the eastern seaboard, reaching as far north as Denville, New Jersey, and as far west as Phoenix, Arizona. The organization continues to expand its presence and strives to provide communities and patients with a reliable medical home.

Website: https://www.cancommunityhealth.org/