Career Journey
Hospital Administrator Shares Her Journey
and Offers Tips to Stay Safe During a Global Pandemic
An interview with Denise George, President of Northern Dutchess Hospital
January 2021
January 2021
Photo Courtesy: Northern Dutchess Hospital
About Denise:
With more than 20 years of healthcare management experience, Denise George is responsible for all operations at Northern Dutchess Hospital, where she has worked since 1999. Under her leadership as president, Northern Dutchess Hospital opened a transformational $47 million patient pavilion in 2016 and completed a $1.7 million expansion of the Emergency Department. In 2019, she was named interim president of Sharon Hospital in Sharon, CT. She also served as senior vice president of Health Quest.
Denise began her career at Northern Dutchess Hospital as vice president of clinical services and chief nursing officer. Prior to joining Northern Dutchess Hospital, she was the Hudson Valley region’s operations and quality manager at Kaiser Permanente, a large U.S. healthcare system.
Denise earned her bachelor’s degree from Hunter College in Manhattan, NY and her Master of Public Administration from New York University.
Denise began her career at Northern Dutchess Hospital as vice president of clinical services and chief nursing officer. Prior to joining Northern Dutchess Hospital, she was the Hudson Valley region’s operations and quality manager at Kaiser Permanente, a large U.S. healthcare system.
Denise earned her bachelor’s degree from Hunter College in Manhattan, NY and her Master of Public Administration from New York University.
Karen Shan, contributor, asked Denise about her journey from a career as a nurse to hospital administrator, how the coronavirus pandemic has affected her work environment, and how others can continue to stay safe.
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You went from being a registered nurse to becoming the President of Northern Dutchess Hospital. That’s an impressive journey. What was it based on, and how did you move from one position to the next?
Truth be told, back when I graduated high school, women became secretaries, nurses or teachers. I had volunteered at a hospital and enjoyed the work, so nursing it was. I went to St. Vincent’s Nursing School and Hunter College, afterwards landing at different New York City hospitals, including St. Vincent’s Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering. With a decade of experience doing bedside and managerial nursing roles, a female mentor encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone. I was somewhat shy. I headed back to school for my master’s in public administration and landed at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, working in various administrative roles, including quality. New to the Hudson Valley, I joined Northern Dutchess Hospital in 1999 as chief nursing officer, becoming president eight years later. |
2017 Women in Business Honoree:
Denise believes open communication is key to successful teamwork. (Photo Courtesy: Northern Dutchess Hospital) |
Medical-Surgical Floor in Northern Dutchess Hospital's Sosnoff Pavilion
(Left to Right): Denise, Dutchess County Health Commissioner, A. K. Vaidian, M.D., MPH, and Carol Wayno (with Dutchess County Department of Health) (Photo Courtesy: Northern Dutchess Hospital) |
What does your current position entail?
Hand-in-hand with my leadership team, I oversee the day-to-day operations of the hospital and develop strategic initiatives in alignment with our larger healthcare system, Nuvance Health. Denise offers some examples.
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How has the COVID-19 pandemic altered the ways that you currently lead – and expect to later lead – the hospital’s teams, from administration to medical professionals, cleaning crews, communications personnel and all others?
Now more than ever, my leadership is about helping the employees continue to do the great job they have always done. They’re dealing with pandemic exhaustion and the challenges of their personal lives. It’s about being there for them and their needs.
Communicate. Communicate. Communicate. That’s even more true during a pandemic - and being visible.
These days, you must be resilient to meet new challenges head on.
In-person restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have made our essential need to stay connected with others difficult. How are you cultivating and balancing your professional, community and personal relationships?
Like the rest of the world – virtually. That’s really all we can do safely. Luckily, we do have this technology and are able to connect with our work peers and community boards as well as our family and friends. “You’re on mute!” is my new favorite phrase.
Do you have any tips for the general public or for business owners to keep themselves, their employees and their families safe?
Most of the COVID-19 spread seen in the second wave is attributed to gatherings with family and friends. It’s certainly tempting to get together with others, but we need to limit our close contacts to people in our immediate households. Business owners have my sympathies. It’s been very difficult. The uncertainty of whether they will be shut down and at what level is daunting. They just need to constantly remind their employees to be safe: Wear a mask. Wash hands. Social distance. Help is coming with the vaccine.
Feel free to add anything else!
Don’t delay care. We saw in the first surge that people with chronic diseases put off care for months, and others delayed preventive care such as mammograms, physicals and vaccines. Take advantage of a virtual visit, if you prefer, and stay on top of your health.
Where do you find sanctuary?
I love to garden. And running. I’ve been reaching for my sneakers to clear my head. Cooking is another outlet and being stuck at home has encouraged me to try Middle Eastern cuisine. My two grown daughters, Jenna and Julia, and my two dogs, Ruby and Maisy, also keep me grounded.
Now more than ever, my leadership is about helping the employees continue to do the great job they have always done. They’re dealing with pandemic exhaustion and the challenges of their personal lives. It’s about being there for them and their needs.
Communicate. Communicate. Communicate. That’s even more true during a pandemic - and being visible.
These days, you must be resilient to meet new challenges head on.
In-person restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have made our essential need to stay connected with others difficult. How are you cultivating and balancing your professional, community and personal relationships?
Like the rest of the world – virtually. That’s really all we can do safely. Luckily, we do have this technology and are able to connect with our work peers and community boards as well as our family and friends. “You’re on mute!” is my new favorite phrase.
Do you have any tips for the general public or for business owners to keep themselves, their employees and their families safe?
Most of the COVID-19 spread seen in the second wave is attributed to gatherings with family and friends. It’s certainly tempting to get together with others, but we need to limit our close contacts to people in our immediate households. Business owners have my sympathies. It’s been very difficult. The uncertainty of whether they will be shut down and at what level is daunting. They just need to constantly remind their employees to be safe: Wear a mask. Wash hands. Social distance. Help is coming with the vaccine.
Feel free to add anything else!
Don’t delay care. We saw in the first surge that people with chronic diseases put off care for months, and others delayed preventive care such as mammograms, physicals and vaccines. Take advantage of a virtual visit, if you prefer, and stay on top of your health.
Where do you find sanctuary?
I love to garden. And running. I’ve been reaching for my sneakers to clear my head. Cooking is another outlet and being stuck at home has encouraged me to try Middle Eastern cuisine. My two grown daughters, Jenna and Julia, and my two dogs, Ruby and Maisy, also keep me grounded.
Karen Shan is an award-winning writer who has enjoyed sharing news, insights and trends through her articles for Professional Office Design, Interior Design, the Poughkeepsie Journal, the Beacon Dispatch, Hudson Valley magazine and Hudson Valley Parent, where she also was the magazine’s editor. She has recently joined Sanctuary's editorial team.
