Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1424798
9 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | NOVEMBER 1, 2021 HEALTHCARE HEROES AWARDS 2021 T ina Loarte-Rodriguez, vice president of nursing, has 15 years of experience in health care, including perioperative and primary care nursing, infection control and patient safety. A graduate from Cornell University, UConn and Quinnipiac University, she is an eternal learner with a passion for health equity and high reliability. Q: Why is she a HealthCare Hero? With five federally qualified health centers, five congregate care settings, and a therapeutic day school, Wheeler faced disruption from multiple aspects of COVID. In areas as diverse as workplace safety, treatment, COVID testing, remote learning and vaccines, Loarte-Rodriguez's flexibility, professionalism and compassion were vital in Wheeler's response across the state. Loarte-Rodriguez partnered with internal and external experts to meet patient needs in new and innovative ways. She supported learning and a culture of safety for students, patients and clients. Q: How has COVID-19 changed the way you do your job? COVID-19 forever changed our world, health care and nursing. The nursing lens, "a viewpoint to seeing things holistically, considering the person, population, or community in the larger context" deeply impacts trust, engagement, empowerment and ultimately, outcomes. I am honored to be a strong voice for innovation, care delivery and health equity. Tina Loarte-Rodriguez Employer: Wheeler Health // Title: Vice President of Nursing Winner Category: Nurse J im Moylan worked in Connecticut's healthcare industry for 45 years, including 30 as a hospital chief financial officer, before retiring. He is entering his ninth year on Wheeler's board of trustees and his third as the chair. He received his bachelor's degree from Bentley University and his master's from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Q: Why is he a HealthCare Hero? Boards of any nonprofit come together for the good of the mission and community, lending countless volunteer hours, professional expertise and oversight. Through his healthcare and management expertise, Moylan helped create a vision and new strategic plan for Wheeler that focuses on quality, equity and excellence. Assuming the role of chair just prior to the pandemic, Moylan then guided Wheeler through historically challenging times, increasing the organization's reach, improving its facilities to better serve patients, sustaining high levels of services across the state, addressing social inequities in access to care and leading the drive to diversify Wheeler's board of trustees. Q: How has COVID-19 changed the way you do your job? It was immediately clear COVID would not only change how Wheeler took care of everyone we serve, but also how our board needed to lead and strategize. Everyone adapted so well and I believe, as a group, we recommitted to our mission even more, seeing the impact we can make. Jim Moylan Employer: Wheeler // Title: Chair, Board of Trustees Winner Category: Volunteer For Your Passion... For Your Vision... For Your Work... THANK YOU. Tina Loarte-Rodriguez MSN, RN, CIC, CPPS, CPHRM Vice President of Nursing James Moylan Chair Board of Trustees 2022 NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN! VISIT US AT: HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM/HBJ-EVENTS NOMINATE TODAY!