Page 11 - MidWeek - July 27, 2022

JULY 27, 2022 MIDWEEK 11
O n July 1, Hawai‘i Pa- cific Health named Dr. Shilpa Patel its chief quality officer. She assumed the role from Dr. Melinda Ashton, who retired June 30 after a 25-year career at HPH. Patel brings a wealth of clinical, administrative and educational leadership experience to the position. She joined HPH in 2004, has served as physician liaison to the organization’s department of safety and quality since 2015, and in 2021 became associate chief quality officer. Patel continues to care for patients as a pediatric hospi- talist at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Chil- dren. She will also continue to mentor the next generation of physicians as professor of pediatrics at University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s John A. Burns School of Medicine, where she formerly served as director of the pediatric resi-
DR. SHILPA PATEL, chief quality officer of Hawai‘i Pacific Health Interviewed by Don Robbins
A Passion For Keiki And Quality Care
from Vassar College. She re- ceived her medical degree and completed her pediatric resi- dency training at University of Vermont’s Robert Larner College of Medicine.
create a healthier Hawai‘i.
My journey to becoming a physician has not been linear. Right out of college, I lived and worked in Thailand with the Peace Corps for two-and- a-half years. After that expe- rience, I was determined to apply a belief that I still hold to be true: giving a person agency over their health and body allows them to practice that capacity in other parts of their lives for betterment and posterity.
cal students and young doctors training to be pediatricians as well as junior faculty — do- ing this is a professional and personal highlight because of the multiplicative effects of positive mentorship.
Another thing I enjoy about being a pediatrician is work- ing with parents and families, who will do almost anything to help the children in their lives. Lastly, I really admire pediatricians and specialists who work with children — they are smart, fun, caring people who are willing to in- vest energy and time now to make a brighter future.
dency program.
Patel earned her bachelor’s
I work with an incredibly dedicated team of data ana- lysts, process-improvement experts, project managers and clinicians (nurses, doc- tors) to bring information to our medical center and clinic teams so that we can direct our improvement efforts to help
I think mentorship is one of the keys to success in any field. Having experienced the power of mentorship first- hand, I now welcome opportu- nities to mentor others. I have the privilege of helping medi-
There are many things I love about being a pediatrician. One is the kids themselves. Children are amazingly resil- ient. Given enough support, time, science and love, chil- dren will often bounce back from even the most serious illness or accident.
We know so much more about how to stay healthy de- spite high community prev- alence of viruses (not just COVID-19). Thanks to the combined efforts of science, public health and sound judg- ment, let’s use that knowledge to make sure our children can flourish.
degree in cognitive science
In this article, Patel pro- vides additional details about the deep devotion she has for her work.
What I love most about my career is that all the paths I have taken in the past have prepared me for the path I am currently on: helping lead our health care system’s efforts to provide people with the pow- er, information, and resources to live healthy, safe and pro- ductive lives. It is a privilege todowhatIdoandtoworkfor Hawai‘i Pacific Health.
What do you do in your role as a chief quality officer?
The chief quality officer (CQO) is essentially respon- sible for making sure patients receive outstanding care at our medical centers and clinics so people can live their healthi- est lives. CQOs help bring a systems-based way of think- ing and approach to health care systems so that medical teams can function well and accomplish the important tasks of healing patients. As the CQO, I oversee the effort that allows us to measure how we are performing — what are patients telling us about their experiences at our medical centers and clinics? How do
Dr. Shilpa Patel (right) speaks with Kirsten Pennaz, director of clinical operations at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children. PHOTOS COURTESY HAWAI‘I PACIFIC HEALTH
What should parents know to prepare their kids for the new school year?
our patient outcomes compare to other medical centers in the region and country? How can we continue to improve?
I felt that people who work in health care have a unique opportunity to help people when they are not just very vulnerable (i.e., from illness), but also when they are feeling well.
What are you most passion- ate about regarding working in the field of pediatrics?
My advice to parents this summer is to get their children fully vaccinated so that they have a better chance of hav- ing a healthy, uninterrupted school year.
What would you like readers to know about you?
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