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With respect for the past, passion for the present and vision for the future, Tomorrow's Leaders show a commitment to Catholic health care that inspires confidence. This year, a dozen leaders age 40 or younger received recognition for their significant contributions to the ministry. Catholic Health World posed questions about their achievements and inspiration to these young leaders.

Rachelle Barina, 36
Chief mission officer, Hospital Sisters Health System, Springfield, Illinois

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Guided creation of HSHS's first strategic plan specific to mission.
• Standardized the HSHS ethics program with oversight through one unified ethics council.
• Launched colleague and executive formation programs.

Who inspired your career?

My mom was a physical therapist in public schools. When our school calendars misaligned, I would go to work with her. I met kids my age who were living with disabilities. Watching my mom's care and encountering these kids taught me what a precious and fragile gift each person is.

What previous experiences helped shape your career?

I spent several years working part time in a jail. I learned the complexities of health, social and economic factors. I learned the power of listening, as well as the limits of helping another person. Probably most importantly, I learned that folks who were incarcerated were generally relatable, good people.

Why is Catholic health care a good fit for you?

I love Catholic theology, and I also want to serve in the church in a way that directly impacts people and communities. Catholic health care seeks to live the Catholic tradition amidst the messy, beautiful, and challenging realities of our lives and institutions — a perfect fit.

Which of your achievements will be most impactful?

One of the things I'm excited about is the ethics program that we've built during the last two years at HSHS. We are finding ways to use the strengths that each person brings, gain efficiencies and promote wide-reaching learning opportunities and consultation support.

ENDORSEMENT

"Rachelle always sees the dignity of the person before her. She genuinely enjoys listening to the story of others and helping the person articulate the beauty of that story in a way that inspires others." — Damond W. Boatwright, president and CEO, Hospital Sisters Health System

Haley Busch, 30
Quality manager, opioid stewardship program coordinator, CHI Saint Joseph Health, Lexington, Kentucky, part of CommonSpirit Health

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Established a pharmacist-driven pain management and addiction medicine consult service.
• Headed the hospital's sepsis committee, which led to a top-decile ranking among CommonSpirit hospitals in reducing incidents.
• Developed an opioid stewardship program that led to a 17% reduction in daily use of opioids by patients and a 37% reduction in concurrent prescriptions of opioids and benzodiazepine.

What do you like best about your job?

Our company does a great job of hiring good folks, giving them the resources to do good things, then not putting guardrails on them. Being part of a culture that puts patients first, and bringing the healing presence of God to our patients, means so much to me.

Why is Catholic health care a good fit for you?

From conversations with leaders, patients and staff, it's become clear that healing goes beyond the physical ailments and beyond evidence-based guidelines. It's about healing mind, body, spirit and soul, and I think we do that best within a faith-based organization with faith-based resources.

Which of your achievements will be most impactful?

The pharmacist-driven addiction medicine consult service. Historically, we did a great job of treating a patient with IV drug use for an infectious complication, but we didn't address the real reason they were in our hospital. I was able to build a program that bridged those gaps, seeing patients bedside and having conversations about what they needed holistically: not just medication but psychosocial treatment for long-term recovery.

Patients and their families said we were the first system to treat them like a patient and not a drug user.

Now, every member of our clinical pharmacy team is empowered to complete those consults. Our team owns it.

ENDORSEMENT

"Haley's integrity, commitment to excellence, self-awareness, and utilization of data and evidence-based practices is a modest representation of the characteristics that qualify her as a health care leader of the future." — April Jennings, director of quality, Lexington market, CHI Saint Joseph Health

Bridget Fitzpatrick, 40
Chief operating officer, Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital, Richmond, Virginia

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Drove construction of a freestanding emergency center in an underserved area.
• Led expansion and redesign of the main hospital in Richmond.
• Helped develop safety procedures that celebrate "Good Catches," resulting in a 52% increase in safety reporting in 2022.

Who is your role model?

My dad, Daniel Fitzpatrick, is a physician in our Youngstown, Ohio, market. He encouraged me to find a career that adds value to people's lives. After finishing undergrad work, I volunteered at St. Francis Medical Center in Midlothian, Virginia. It opened my eyes to what it is like to be with patients at the most vulnerable time in their lives and the fact that health care offers careers to more than nurses and doctors.

What do you like best about your job?

Our team is faced with unique challenges every day: a new process or regulation, a new engagement with community or a new technology or ways to improve patient care. We may not know the answer right away, but we're going to come together as a multidisciplinary team, find evidence-based best practices, and work to ensure our patients and community get the best care.

Why is Catholic health care a good fit for you?

We have to see people from the holistic perspective of mind, body and spirit. Catholic health care allows us to do that while being respectful of their own spiritual perspective. It attracts people who want to be compassionate and empathetic, who do the things you can't put into a job description.

What is your next big goal?

I switched jobs with one of my colleagues in January. Before that, I was the COO at St. Francis Medical Center in Richmond. So, my next big goal is mastering this role and understanding the hospital. I want to continue and expand on the work of my predecessor to be a connector with local governments, other nonprofits, small businesses and faith-based leaders to enhance spaces, create workforce opportunities, and build trust with the community.

ENDORSEMENT

"Her ability to execute and innovate with positive energy and enthusiasm is unparalleled. She does so by leading with vulnerability and encouraging others to do the same." — Chris Accashian, chief operating officer, Bon Secours Richmond market

Faith Halford, 24
Systems manager, materials management, St. Joseph's Candler Health System, Savannah, Georgia

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Deployed digital tablets to central supply, allowing the department to place orders in real time, improve order accuracy and turnaround time, and ensure that floors remained well-stocked.
• Developed a "ship-to dictionary," to ensure that vendors supplied the system's 26 off-site locations faster and more accurately.
• Gathered more than 50,000 items that were delivered to Poland to aid the Ukrainian people.

What previous experiences helped shape your career?

I've wanted to work in health care since I was 13 and visited a family member in the hospital. The death of my father from COVID reinforced my desire. He was here and received remarkable care from every nurse. I still speak to some of them and wanted to support them. That's what I like about supply chain. You can reach out and touch everyone, and get the staff what they need to provide excellent care.

What do you like best about your job?

I love our team. I enjoy problem solving, and I know every day there will be a problem that we have to solve. There's a lot of variation, so that's exciting.

Why is Catholic health care a good fit for you?

I grew up in a Catholic household and attended Catholic schools since kindergarten. I feel that in a Catholic health system, I can honor that upbringing and carry on the mission of the founders.

What is your next big goal?

Continuing to seek improvement in workflow. We want to expand using digital tablets in settings other than ORs and receiving, which will streamline and optimize our ability to get the staff what they need to help our patients.

ENDORSEMENT

"Faith is a forward thinker and is passionate about continuous quality improvement, always seeking a more efficient and effective way to produce desirable outcomes." — John Albright, director, home health and Georgia Infirmary (past Tomorrow's Leader honoree)

Tom Klein, 35
Chief operating officer, Ascension Medical Group — Ascension Michigan, Warren, Michigan

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Directed field operations for four emergency mass tuberculosis testing centers that served 15,000 patients.
• Led successful plan to improve associate turnover rate.
• Developed a business plan to add four additional 3D mammography machines, improving mammography access by 15% from pre-pandemic levels.

Who is your role model or inspiration?

My father had the biggest influence on my leadership.

I went into my undergrad studies thinking I would be a doctor, but I also helped run a small family construction business. When you're leading people double or triple your age, you learn a lot of skills really quickly. At the University of Michigan, I learned there was a business and entrepreneurial side of health care as well as a clinical side.

Why is Catholic health care a good fit for you?

I was born and raised Catholic, but it's more than just the word Catholic. It's about the mission and values you commit to, treating everyone the same regardless of race, creed or color.

Which of your achievements will be most impactful?

In the last year, we've improved by 13% the number of patients who received Medicare annual wellness visits. In doing more of these, we saw mammography and colonoscopy rates go up. We've seen the number of patients with controlled diabetes management go up, too. We're making people healthier and keeping people out of the hospital.

What is your next big goal?

The large business goal is increasing access for our patients. In addition, Ascension Michigan is awaiting formal legal and ecclesial approvals for its plan to form a joint venture with Henry Ford Health. I'm super excited about the future of health care in Michigan.

ENDORSEMENT

"He has the rare combination of courage, curiosity, and humility to drive the organization past familiar boundaries despite his colleagues' strong bias for the status quo." — Dr. Douglas J. Apple, chief clinical officer, Ascension Michigan, interim president and CEO, Ascension Genesys Hospital, in Grand Blanc, Michigan

Carrie Meyer McGrath, 40
System director, formation design and delivery, CommonSpirit Health, Chicago

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Led creation of Called to Lead, CommonSpirit's formation experience for new leaders.
• Contributed to CHA's Ministry Identity Assessment tool, co-writing the initial draft, training facilitators and coaching mission leaders.
• Champions virtual formation as a tool to innovate, create community and steward resources.

What previous experiences helped shape your career?

I studied theology, learning what makes people tick and what they are passionate about, what affirms a meaningful life. As I finished my studies and learned about formation in Catholic health care, I thought I could take that conviction and make it real and make those connections.

Why is Catholic health care a good fit for you?

I care about the confluence of practical and spiritual and the traditions of our founders and the communities we serve. One of the reasons I wanted to come to CommonSpirit is the name and the commitment that name requires. It's inspiring to explore how we commit to the common good guided by the Holy Spirit.

Which of your achievements has been most impactful?

What was really impactful about building Called to Lead is we pulled together our mission leaders for feedback. We heard from the Pacific Northwest, Southern California, Tennessee, Ohio and the Dakotas. We tried to incorporate what can resonate across the mission but reflect the local heritage.

What is your next big goal?

We are working on an executive formation experience called Leading Together. Over 14 months, leaders will grapple with the essential questions in Catholic health care while upholding the traditions of our founders.

ENDORSEMENT

"She possesses an innate ability to translate and apply theological and spiritual content. She has high personal standards and respectfully challenges those with whom she works to give their best to the ministry." — Kyle Klosterman, CommonSpirit system vice president, mission and formation (past Tomorrow's Leaders honoree)

Sam Prokopec, 35
Executive director, St. Joseph's Elder Services, West Point, Nebraska, a member of Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Sponsored Ministries

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Increased census in assisted living from 25 in 2021 to 38 this year, and in skilled nursing from 38 to its capacity of 52.
• Achieved five-star rating in the last two years from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
• Incorporated mission as part of the orientation process.
• Takes on all responsibilities, including driving residents to appointments and clearing tables.

Who are your inspirations?

My mom was a career RN, so I knew from an early age that I would somehow be in health care. While I was in college, majoring in exercise therapy, my grandma lived in a nursing home. She hated every minute of it. It wasn't where she wanted to be. I took her grievances and hoped to make a better life for others.

What do you like best about your job?

I like that I can impact the residents' day in multiple ways, especially helping out with activities. This week, for example, we grilled steak and chicken for the residents. I also enjoy having the sisters around us, visiting our residents. We're blessed to have them in our community.

Which of your achievements has been most impactful?

When I arrived, there was a very good team in place, but they needed direction. To lay the groundwork for stability and provide continuity are what I'm most proud of.

What is your next big goal?

We are kicking off a complete remodel of our assisted living facility. We've been planning it for more than 12 months, and it will take 15-22 months to complete. Even though the process will be a challenge, I'm excited to get that started.

ENDORSEMENT

"His zealousness for life and involvement in all aspects of the organization are felt. There's not a week that goes by that I don't see Sam having a drink and talking about the military with our veterans, or playing games, or just making people smile." —  Tyler Toline, president and CEO, Franciscan Healthcare

Shekinah Singletery, 32
Director of community health and well-being, Trinity Health Ann Arbor in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and Trinity Health Livingston in Howell, Michigan

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Guided a partnership with Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance to develop a local community health worker coalition.
• Set up user-friendly methods for local ministries to report the community health work that could be aggregated at the system level.
• Co-founded and co-leads the Trinity Health WorkParent Colleague Resource Group (CRG) to support employees who are working parents and caregivers.

Who are your inspirations?

My parents are both pastors. I went along when they visited shut-ins and provided communion at hospitals. I saw the differences among government-funded hospitals, for-profits and not-for-profits. That opened my eyes to the disparities in health care.

At the University of Michigan, Professor Richard Lichtenstein introduced me to the concepts of social determinants of health and health equity. He helped me give a name to what I witnessed and experienced in my youth. His passion and advocacy made me want to champion the work.

Which achievement in your current job are you most proud of and why?

I'm leading the community health workers statewide initiative, which integrated eight distinct programs in seven counties into one program. It's helping to generate revenue for more community health workers.

Having the WorkParent CRG across all of Trinity Health is another achievement I am proud of, since I have a 5-year-old and a 1-year-old. We have more than 200 members — new and returning parents, as well as caregivers. We provide a supportive environment to share experiences, obtain resources and foster business innovation where they can thrive and impact internal policies and procedures in a variety of departments.

What is your next big goal?

My next big goal is for Trinity Health Michigan to be a model of excellence in community health, specifically in health equity and integration of clinical and social care.

ENDORSEMENT

"What truly sets Shekinah apart is her exceptional ability to inspire and galvanize those around her. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and her motivation is relentless." — Dr. Chiquita Berg, vice president, community health and well-being, Trinity Health Michigan

Megan Timm, 37
Regional director of community health, SSM Health of Wisconsin

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Implemented ConnectRx in the Madison area to coordinate housing, nutrition and support services to pregnant women of color.

• Expanded diversity in the supplier network, providing $4 million for often overlooked community vendors.

• Teaches in-school smoking and vaping education programs.

Who is your role model or inspiration?

I grew up with a family of teachers, and I thought I'd follow that path. When I speak to groups, I'm very teacher-like, and I love working with large groups. I also have an aunt who is a dietitian in rural Wisconsin. I combined those to educate the community in health and food.

What do you like best about your job?

I work with the best people. It's a small community health team, but it is mighty. Building connections with our partners to sustain change is the best magic in the world.

Why is Catholic health care a good fit for you?

It's a really beautiful marriage of finding a career at a place that doesn't just talk it, but really wants to be part of the change and support partners that make the change.

Which of your achievements will be most impactful?

ConnectRx is so innovative in that it's not just consulting those who are impacted. It's partnering and bringing them into decision-making. So often in public health, we educate the public or consult, or we extract information and move on. But with ConnectRx, we learn from the people we serve and follow their lead in the effort to make change.

The work around vaping prevention is a treat for me, because direct care isn't normally part of my work. So, I love to connect with students in areas that don't have a lot of extra services, to learn from them and work on solutions with them.

ENDORSEMENT

"During difficult conversations or in the midst of working on complex issues, Megan's open-hearted listening brings people together to find common ground and best possible solutions." — Sue Anderson, regional president, SSM Health of Wisconsin

Caleb Townes, 26
Director of consumer & patient experience, Ascension St. Vincent's, Birmingham, Alabama

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Redesigned in-person orientation after years of virtual presentations.
• Developed consumer experience commitment groups in each of Ascension Alabama's five hospitals and 24 clinics.
• Improved from fourth to first in market patient experience scores.

Who are your inspirations?

My mother was a dental hygienist. She didn't inspire me because I like brushing my teeth. But I was with her when she worked, and I saw that her personal relationships were often more important than the clinical care she gave.

What previous experience helped shape your career?

I was a youth minister. I taught kindergarten through fifth grade. The most success I've had in this role is when I'm replicating what I did with them. What a kindergartner needs is the same as what an adult needs in terms of support, encouragement and belief in themselves. It's the same whether you're 6 or 60.

What do you like best about your job?

Day 1 of orientation: I'm dealing with new colleagues when their belief in themselves is at its maximum. I can affirm their belief in themselves. We put the focus on who you are, as opposed to what you do. If we can get people to remember why they chose this job, we're going to have a lot of fun.

What is your next big goal?

Our ABIDE (Appreciation, Belongingness, Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity) council has been invigorated since the start of 2024. My goal isn't just to pump out content and share it, but to invite our 5,000 associates to be an active part of the council. If we can help people understand what we're trying to do with the culture, they will realize that they have a role to play in it.

ENDORSEMENT

"His energy is contagious, and his youth allows us to reach new staff and leaders in a way that many of us simply cannot." — James Epperson, chief nursing officer, Ascension St. Vincent's East in Birmingham, Alabama

Dan Woods, 37
Senior director, emergency services and hospital throughput, St. Dominic Hospital, Jackson, Mississippi, a member of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Helped guide renovation and expansion of emergency services.
• Assisted in leading establishment of PACE, the system's throughput/transfer center to more timely and efficiently place patients.
• Helped reduce emergency medical service "wall times," reducing downtime by 73% for EMS staff before returning to answer calls.

Who is your role model?

My dad is a nuclear engineer. My mom is very active in the church. A lot of my foundation was built in math and science, and a firm foundation in your faith is essential to answer most of life's problems.

What do you like best about your job?

I'm a nerd at heart. I love taking difficult problems and complex projects and applying systems thinking. I love taking someone from food service and getting them to think about how what they do affects nursing, finance or IT. Being the engineer on that train is fun for me, challenging the mental model and evolving to a unified approach.

Why did you feel that Catholic health care was a good fit for you?

I never imagined five years ago that I would show up to a place that starts every meeting with a prayer and always questions whether what we're doing really matches the mission of caring for people. Those are nice reminders of why I belong here.

What is your next big goal?

We're one of the handful of faith-based hospitals and the only Catholic hospital in the state. We shoulder a burden that's challenging but wonderful, serving one of the largest vulnerable populations in the country. My next big goal is to tackle that head-on by bringing technological and operational innovation that Mississippi health care has had a limited exposure to.

ENDORSEMENT

"Dan understands the importance of defending human dignity. He promotes this by voicing its importance to his staff during onboarding processes and quarterly staff meetings." — Dr. Bradley Burns, medical director, St. Dominic Hospital emergency department

Zach Zirkelbach, 38
Chief financial officer, Ascension St. Vincent, Evansville, Indiana

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Converted all financial documents in the transition to a national platform and rebranding of Ascension St. Vincent.
• Guided changes leading to a 2% increase in profit margin at Ascension St. Vincent Evansville.
• Participated in the Homeless Experience, a two-day immersion in homelessness.

Who is your role model?

I try to emulate my parents. My dad worked for the Daughters of Charity before they became part of Ascension, which is why I feel like working for Ascension is part of a family. My mom was a pediatric nurse.

What do you like best about your job?

Being from Evansville, I have a lot of pride in our mission and hospital. I very much enjoy the team I work with, the staff and the physicians. We challenge each other, and we pick each other up.

How did the homeless immersion experience impact your job?

I don't have direct contact with the people we serve, but I can't think of a better way of living our mission than to get a better understanding of what the poor and vulnerable deal with on a day-to-day basis. When you walk a mile in their shoes, you pick up on a lot of mental health issues and what it feels like to start off on the wrong foot. It's not that they've done this to themselves; it's more that they don't know how to pick themselves up. I wanted to humble myself and try to understand.

What is your next big goal?

I'm really excited to get back to work on our five- and 10-year strategic plans. We just had our 150th anniversary. It feels like we're setting up for the next 150.

ENDORSEMENT

"He genuinely wants to learn from other leaders to better understand how their departments work. This empowers others to want to work side-by-side with him in an effort for improvement and stronger financial performance."
Shelby Collins, vice president, southern region, Ascension Medical Group