Kimberly Long 0:00

I am so excited to have Deborah Flores with us today. She's a seasoned healthcare executive with over 20 years of healthcare executive level leadership experience. Welcome, Deborah. Thank you.

Debra A. Flores 0:14

It's great to be with you.

Kimberly Long 0:15

Good. I I wanted to get some of your expertise in a couple of areas. And so if you'll just sort of share, tell us a little bit about your journey to the executive level and some of the defining moments that shaped your trajectory.

Debra A. Flores 0:31

So let me start with this. In thinking about the journey, it began really early on. Because when I think about the skills and talents and abilities that are necessary to be an executive, I'm kind of like, I had it. I had those skills and I had those talents early on in my career. But one of the defining moments was realizing that I had those skills and talents, you know, and abilities. And I'd say that first defining moment came about when I was a manager-level leader in physical rehabilitation services. And the leader of the program told me she was heading back to California from Virginia. And she said, you can do this job. And I was like, really? Because I had been in leadership maybe as a manager for about a year or so. But I stepped right into her shoes, and the rest has been history. So that was one moment wherein somebody believed in me and they believed that I had the skills and what it took to be able to do that. And then as I, you know, reflect on the journey to the last role that I was in as a senior vice president, there were different moments in time wherein I really had to step up to the plate in whether it was a personal crisis or just things that were going on in healthcare. So an example of another defining moment was when I lost our first child and then had a terrible, terrible experience with healthcare. I developed a hospital-acquired infection. I was discharged too soon. Um I ended up in the hospital for um over a week. I ended up with CD if you name it, and it happened to me. And I really loved the organization that I was with, and that's where all of this happened. So I had to lead and still support and be positive and all of that after going through my own personal crises. So being able to do that was another defining moment because sometimes, you know, as an executive and as a leader on that path, there are things that may happen that wherein you have to take that in, but then still be able to compartmentalize and move forward. And um still, you know, it could be in an organization that you're a part of. And for me, that was the case, but I still, you know, stayed the course and then figured out ways and things that I could do to help improve care within that organization. Other defining moments that um I can think of, we've all faced the COVID, COVID, and all the skills and talents and stretching that it took to be able to lead during those times. Uh, another defining moment. And then another one was my leap from the East Coast to the West Coast. And it was later on in my career. And some folks were like, Are you serious? Are you gonna take a leap like that? And you're in the latter part of your career. And it was yes, because I'm always seeking, always have a desire to know and to learn and to grow. And sometimes stretching yourself may mean taking on an assignment or an opportunity that really takes you out of your comfort zone, maybe even 3,000 miles away. So um, those are just some of the moments that I would say are defining moments. And um the executive journey, as I look back on it and reflect, it's just been great. It's been great because I've just grown and developed as a person.

Kimberly Long 4:24

Oh, I think that is lovely. And, you know, I think about preparation. You had an opportunity to experience health care as an executive, as you know, to deal with loss and a lot of things like that. And, you know, there's a lot of preparation that happens when people are in nursing school. And there's a need for alignment so that they can be better prepared for the realities of healthcare. From your perspective, what are some of the greatest opportunities that we have to better align what's happening in the hospital with what's being taught in the academic settings to prepare?

Debra A. Flores 5:04

Yeah, that's a great question. And I think there are just so many opportunities out there. First of all, we need more strategic alignment, not just happenstance, but I believe that the academic world as well as the clinical sites need to be in relationship with one another in a very thoughtful manner. They need to understand what's one another's challenges as well as the strategic path that each are on. And I guess an example of that is if you have a facility that's going that's on a magnet journey, and um there's there's specific activities that are going on with that within that facility, the facility has a responsibility to make sure that the instructors and the the academic leaders know that we're on a magnet journey. This is what we're gonna be exposing our students to, this is what we're gonna be expect of them, and vice versa. If a school, the school's curriculum is really important for the educators within the clinical sites to understand curriculum, not to the point where they can actually be instructors, but they need to have a good working knowledge of what the instructors are trying to instill in the students, and you know, that's just the the beginning of it. I just see so many opportunities for more internships, partnering together, not just summer internships, but there are students who are willing to do evening shift work within facilities, and so I just see exposure, more exposure, more partnering as just great opportunities, and not just and not just when someone is actually in nursing school, the exposure earlier on is important. So, as an example, I grew up in New York and we had a high school called Clara Barton. Now, I did not attend Clara Barton, but that school actually took students into the hospital settings in high school. But for me, the high school program that I was in did the same thing. So as a high school student, like from ninth grade, you know, I had experience and exposure to healthcare. And so the earlier partnering, I just think there's just so many opportunities there.

Kimberly Long 7:39

Oh, yes, absolutely. I agree with you. And also, I think we recognize that, you know, regulations and legislative acts and things like that impact what we do, you know, in healthcare and even in the academic settings. How can leaders more effectively influence legislative and regulatory decisions that impact nursing and healthcare delivery?

Debra A. Flores 8:05

I believe it starts with being knowledgeable about what is actually, you know, going on legislatively. Because I will tell you at different points in my career, you're tied up so much in the day-to-day, you're not even looking at you know some of the broader legislative implications for what we do. So I think being knowledgeable is really important. Knowing who the influencers are in your community is really important. Those who are actually the legislators and regulators, as well as those who influence them, to make sure that you have clarity around the agenda and also knowing what's important to them and being willing to educate them. So once um I did become actively involved and engaged, I did a lot of educating and um hosting different events at the facilities I have responsibility for, wherein legislators got a chance to hear, you know, what's actually going on and be present and get the deeper understanding and also inviting their aides in, you know, as well. Normally they were, you know, present too. But it's um really, I'd say number one, be knowledgeable, number two, be willing to partner and um engage um differently, and not just when there's an issue, but to also, you know, connect and stay connected on a regular basis with those who are making some of those decisions.

Kimberly Long 9:38

And sort of get ahead of things, you know?

Debra A. Flores 9:40

Yes, yes, be more proactive versus reactive because when you're in relationship with a legislator or any influencer, it's so much easier to tackle an issue because you're not just waiting, you know, till an issue develops. You just know, you know, the how one another moves and all. And it just makes it so much easier, you know, to work together to influence.

Kimberly Long 10:04

Indeed. Deborah, thank you so much for taking some time to spend with us. I am so excited that we had some time to talk with you, and I want you to to just think about maybe other things that we can partner with together. But I just want to thank you for taking some time this morning or this afternoon for you to share some of your expertise and experience with us. Thank you so much.

Debra A. Flores 10:30

Well, truly my pleasure, and I look forward to future conversations.