|
 |
DENNY DENARVAEZ:
Enjoying The Best of Both Worlds
|
By Christine
Imbs
It’s often said you should find your passion and then pursue
it. But Denny DeNarvaez, the new CEO at St. John’s Mercy Medical
Center, didn’t find her passion. It found her.
“I didn’t plan on a career in healthcare. It was a happy
accident,” she says laughing. “Opportunity knocked and
I answered the door. Now I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
But at one time she did. After graduating from Drake University
in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with a BA in Accounting, DeNarvaez landed
a job as a CPA. She had worked for five years in public accounting
when her firm took on International Medical Centers as a client.
They were so impressed with her work, they offered her a job.
“They made me an offer I couldn’t refuse,” she says
smiling. “It was my very first healthcare experience and it
was great exposure. They not only had the hospitals, but the first
HMO in the state of Florida.”
Eventually, Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami recognized her talents
offering her a taste of the healthcare field outside of the world
of finance. “It was complex, and had all the things you’d
like to sink your teeth into when you’re in this kind of field,”
comments DeNarvaez. “I guess you could say, it was my learning
lab.”
Soon other doors opened. She spent nine years at Florida Medical
Center, first as its CFO and eventually as CEO. Then she was with
Allina Hospitals and Clinics for five years. Three of those years
were spent as president of Allina’s Abbott Northwestern Hospital,
the largest hospital in Minneapolis.
“I may not have considered a healthcare career in the beginning,
but I believe I’ve landed exactly where I was meant to be,”
DeNarvaez comments. “It’s a true blending of both my parents’
strongest traits. So it’s the best of both worlds.”
She adds that her financial, business and strategic abilities were
inherited from her father. Her mother, a former nurse, taught her
about compassion. DeNarvaez also says she is the greatest influence
in her life.
“The one thing I hope I can always stay true to is my mother’s
philosophy of doing to others as you would have them do unto you,”
she says. “And Mom’s gone through some heart-wrenching
situations. But she always managed to stay upbeat. It’s amazing
how she could remain so positive. So she’s been a real inspiration–an
eternal optimist. So am I. People will tell you I still believe
in Santa Claus.”
As for what she hopes to accomplish at St. John’s Mercy, DeNarvaez
says she wants to be part of developing a total healing environment
that is patient-centric. It was something she envisioned while at
Abbott Northwestern.
“Of course, St. John’s has a long-standing tradition in
this area. So the foundation’s already been laid and it’s
a solid part of the culture. And that’s more than half the
battle,” she says. “There’s a saying that culture
eats strategy for lunch. It’s very true. You can have the strategy
in place, but if the culture isn’t supportive it’s a 20-year
ride. It won’t be as difficult for us to accomplish this goal
nor will it take that long.
|
TalkingPOINTS
|
BORN:
Ontario, Canada
FAMILY: Married with two
sons, both living in Montana.
EDUCATION: Bachelor of
Business Administration in Accounting from Drake University
in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
HOBBIES: Sports activities
– golf, hiking, biking, tennis
FAVORITE BOOKS: “A
Time to Kill” by John Grisham, but she loves all his
books.
FAVORITE MUSIC/SINGERS:
Loves contemporary music and especially enjoys listening to
Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion
BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Raising her two sons.
THOUGHTS ON ST. LOUIS:
Loves the Midwestern family values that exist here and that
there’s a lot to do, from professional sports teams to
cultural venues.
BIGGEST ST. LOUIS SURPRISE:
Wine country |
|
|
|
|
|
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
|
