Honoree: Kathleen Dowler, RN, BSHA
Kathleen Dowler, RN, BSHA
Director, Community Integration
Catholic Healthcare West
As director of Community Integration for Catholic Healthcare West’s two hospitals in the East Valley, Kathleen Dowler’s role is defined by the hospitals’ missions of serving the poor and disenfranchised, and collaborating with colleagues in the community.
Dowler manages six departments at Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert medical centers, employing a staff of 65, including several managers, nurses, administrative staff, and program coordinators. She is directly involved in creating outreach programs to provide health care services to children and families who would otherwise not be able to receive that care. Dowler also builds relationships with the local social services community to discover ways the hospitals can partner with them.
A registered nurse since 1984, Dowler worked for many years in various maternal child health roles for Chandler Regional Medical Center. In 2002, she became manager of community education, and was promoted to director of community integration in 2006. In just three years, she has expanded existing programs and developed new ones, including a diabetes center, sick kid care, new mom and breastfeeding support groups, a safe sitter class, and prenatal education for teens and Spanish-speaking mothers-to-be.
As part of working with the community, Dowler also is a member of such groups as the National Association of Maternal Child Nursing and the Safe Kids Car Seat Safety Coalition. Last year, she was named the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year.
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Finalist: Bryan Gibson
Bryan Gibson
President, South and Southwest Region
Southwest Ambulance/Rural Metro
Bryan Gibson, president of the South and Southwest Region for Southwest Ambulance/Rural Metro, directs multi-region operations and provides valuable management insight to more than 5,700 personnel.
He also implements innovative business development plans and performance measures, and has earned a reputation as a significant contributor to business growth. A certified paramedic, Gibson has more than 24 years of experience in emergency medical services dating back to the start of his career in Booneville, Miss. Under Gibson’s leadership, Southwest Ambulance improved customer service to hospitals, care facilities, fire departments and communities. He introduced a system whereby all medical supplies on an ambulance are sorted into sealed bins and replaced at the start of every shift. Gibson also finds time to volunteer. He is an Explorer Program leader for the Boy Scouts of America and serves on the Mesa Arts Center Foundation Board.
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Linda McCoy, R.Ph., Pharm.D.
Director of Pharmacy
Yavapai Regional Medical Center
As director of pharmacy for Yavapai Regional Medical Center, Linda McCoy coordinates and implements patient-focused pharmacy services, is responsible for the department’s daily operations and manages 39 employees.
McCoy’s vision for her department, her hospital and Arizona’s patients is creating an effective and safe environment in which patients can heal. Although she heads the pharmacy department, McCoy maintains a broad knowledge of operations throughout the hospital, including the continuing development of medical and nursing policies and procedures, medical staff bylaws and medical staff committee structures. Throughout her career, which began at Brown County General Hospital in Georgetown, Ohio, McCoy has seized every opportunity to improve patient safety and ensure that Arizonans receive the best care. In addition, McCoy also devotes significant time outside of her workday to advance patient safety initiatives.
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