Summary
The most important factor in healthcare is people. I have a passion for Leadership, Emotional Intelligence and the human aspect of healthcare. My mission is to help people find their “why” and pursue it with passion and tenacity. Healthcare is such a dynamic industry. It is exciting and ever-changing and we need different perspectives and backgrounds to contribute to healthcare for our future."
Sandra is an experienced multifaceted healthcare and human resources professional/mentor with a passion for leadership and developing healthcare leaders of the future. Sandra has a unique career path in that she was a direct care Social Worker prior to making a career transition to a Healthcare Administrator. She has over 20 years' experience in settings including non-profit, for-profit, faith-based, academic, hospital-based, private medical group and hospice settings. She is Board Certified by both the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Medical Group Management Association as well as a Certified Professional with the Society for Human Resource Management. Sandra is also a trained Emotional Intelligence Coach with a specialization in healthcare management professionals and healthcare providers.
Sandra has always had an interest in sharing knowledge but stumbled upon an opportunity to teach a Leadership Class in the Spring of 2022 and when the opportunity came along, Sandra decided to move full-time into the academic setting to develop healthcare leaders of the future.
Sandra is a native Texan who left San Antonio, Texas for a position as a Healthcare Administrator at the University of Nevada School of Medicine. Sandra is an avid mountain biker dog lover and van lifer who moved to the Reno/Tahoe area to take advantage of all the outdoor experiences the area has to offer.
Education
- Master of Science in Health Administration, Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas
- Master of Social Work, Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, Texas
- Bachelor's Degree, Public Justice/Psychology, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas
Professional certifications
- Lecturer: School of Public Health, Healthcare Administration and Policy, University of Nevada
- Principle Consultant: Sierra Nevada Healthcare Consulting
- Administrative Director: SpineNevada/IXE Healthcare Group
- Director of Operations and Business Development - University of Nevada School of Medicine
- Administrative Resident: CHRISTUS Health
- Licensed Master Social Worker: CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System
- Executive Director: South Texas Advocacy and Referral