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Q: Tell us a little about your professional
background.
A: I have 20 years of experience in nursing,
and, of those, 18 were in leadership at large
academic medical centers. Most of my
experience was in critical care and cardiology.
Most recently I was a Senior Director of
Nursing at Cleveland Clinic.

Q: Did you always know you wanted to be
a nurse?
A: I wouldn’t have said so, but just recently
my sister said something to me that made
me think about how nursing was probably a
natural way to fulfill my purpose. She told me,
“My childhood memories all involve you
helping everyone else. You were always
looking for innovative ways to make things
better, and you were always taking care of
people, making sure everyone else was okay.”
It sounds simple, but my sister is right: I really
do love helping people. It’s what brings me joy
and gives me a sense of purpose. And she’s
right that I’m always looking for new ways to
make things better. So I guess it makes sense I
ended up in nursing leadership.

Meet Our New VP, Q: How do you see those nursing leadership
experiences helping you in your new role at
Kim Kotora Healthnetwork Foundation?

A: In the ICU, you have to think fast and act
decisively and stay calm when lives are at
im Kotora is a perfect addition to
K our team here at Healthnetwork’s stake. Critical-care nurses treat patients at high
risk for actual or potential life-threatening
headquarters on the Chagrin
River in Northeast Ohio. We could health problems and also tend to the emotional
well-being of the patients’ families. It is so
not be happier to welcome her on board as our important not to lose sight of the human
new Vice President! Kim has a confident, yet being on the other side of what you are doing.
humble approach to leadership that puts The “situation” you’re triaging is someone’s
everyone around her at ease. Her 20-year mother, father, child, or best friend. So there’s
background working in large hospital systems also this deeply human element and you
makes her a valuable resource for all of us, have to be able to communicate and interact
especially our Medical Coordinators who take with the patient and family with compassion
your calls and emails. Kim joined our team less and empathy. It’s an interesting blend of
than a year ago, and we already love her—we strategy and empathy, of critical thinking
know you will, too. and compassion.

12 Healthnetwork Foundation | www.healthnetworkfoundation.org