Jennifer Doran is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in healthcare, healthcare technology, customer service, and the Medicare risk adjustment industry. In her role as the Senior Director of Practice Strategy & Operations at Hartford HealthCare, she brings her expertise in operations and team leadership to drive strategic initiatives and optimize healthcare practices. Jennifer’s experience in business development, strategy, and her expertise in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) make her a valuable asset in the healthcare field.
Below are highlights of the interview:
Can you please provide a brief overview of your professional background and experience in the industry?
I’ve worked at Hartford HealthCare for sixteen years, where I’ve supported many different leadership roles. As a senior director of Digestive Health and Surgery, I support business development, operations, and strategy across our system and collaborate with many internal and external partners in our mission to refine and expand services across the state and the communities we serve.
Tell us about Hartford HealthCare and its mission. What inspired you to start this company?
Hartford HealthCare’s mission is to improve the health and healing of the people and communities we serve. Their vision is to be the most trusted provider of personalized coordinated care. My mother has worked in healthcare management since I was very young. After completing my undergrad, I was considering returning to school to get my master’s in special education, but instead I decided to focus on business and health administration given my passion for leadership and advocacy. Being able to support my community was something I felt a connection to at an early age, and I was a natural leader early on. I am thankful to be able to work for an organization that invests in its staff’s development. It is an essential part of my job to support my team and the patients we care for. Growing up in Hartford, it was natural for me to choose a healthcare system that I felt was a groundbreaker and led the healthcare market in our state. I take pride in HHC’s values and mission and the work they do to drive change and improve health disparities and equity. It is an honor to be part of the ongoing revolutionary work our providers, nurses, leaders, and colleagues do day in and day out.
What strategies do you employ to ensure that Hartford HealthCare remains competitive in the market?
There are many levels and dynamics in healthcare, and trying to be competitive in the standards of care coordination, expanding resources, developing improved access strategies, and supporting consumers in the evolving market needs comes with an added layer of omplexity. Hartford HealthCare remains competitive in the market by always putting the patient first.
How do you foster a culture of innovation and adaptability within your organization, considering the rapidly changing landscape of the business industry?
Healthcare is ever-evolving and has many facets. Partnerships with the different educational institutions, community leaders, IT partners, and many other vital collaborations allow for innovation and adaptability to the many markets and needs we support across the system. Being agile with ongoing change, advancement, and development equips our healthcare system to continuously evolve, which is needed in the healthcare market. Our patients, consumers, and customers expect and deserve the best. Working in a multidisciplinary care environment and supporting a large, comprehensive service line like digestive health has given me exposure to the many dynamics and range of healthcare. Especially at HHC, where I support the service line across the state, I am thankful that Hartford HealthCare has a key focus on being a change champion and driving innovation across any area they can, with an ongoing effort to foster an environment of trust, equity, and empathy, which are part of our core values. The core values that are embedded at every level is to do the kind thing, the just thing, the best thing, the right thing, and the safe thing.
What steps do you take to attract and retain top talent in the industry, and how do you encourage professional growth and development within your organization?
Our colleagues take pride in our leadership behaviors and embedding our values in everything that we do to support HHC and the communities we serve. Hiring right the first time is a key principle our teams try to focus on, and coaching and mentoring our teams daily is a vital component of retaining top talent. I am extremely honored to collaborate with over two hundred colleagues across the system in my Colleague Resource Group Co-Chair Advisor role, and that body of work supports our system’s ability to develop, encourage, and engage.
How do you address the increasing importance of digitalization and technology in the sector, and how does it influence the company’s operations and customer experience?
Technology continues to be a key focus, especially in our efforts to advance healthcare delivery. Systems to assist with scheduling, decrease wait time, and provide tools to improve efficiency and innovative medicine are all key goals for our healthcare system.
As Senior Director of Practice Strategy & Operations of Hartford HealthCare, what is your overall vision for the company’s future, and how do you plan to achieve it?
As a member of the leadership team and supporting a large service line at Hartford HealthCare Medical Group, I continue to drive sustainable change. Focusing on health equity and how we can use efficient and effective tools, systems, technology, and partnerships is a key component to success.
What advice would you give to aspiring leaders or individuals looking to join the industry?
Find your voice and never give up. Take control of your journey and invest in yourself. Education and ongoing learning are vital. Stay true to who you are and what you believe in.
Please Visit: https://hartfordhealthcare.org/
