What area do you work in within the VPFA portfolio?
I work in Safety and Risk Services.
What is your current position, and what are your job responsibilities?
I am the HIPAA and Privacy Officer for the University. I serve as a central resource for all areas of the University that are obligated to comply with the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules as well as other privacy regulations.
What has been your career path; how did you end up in your current position?
I obtained a Master of Health Administration from The Ohio State University and began my career as a hospital administrator, where I was a member of start-up teams for a community clinical oncology program and a hospice program. I also worked in the home care industry as an outreach coordinator. Around this time, I witnessed changes in the industry that led me to seek continuing education at George Washington University, where I completed a graduate program in health care compliance. Subsequently, I worked in the TRICARE Privacy Office, which greatly increased my interest in privacy and health care compliance. Following this experience, I worked in the privacy offices at University of Chicago Medicine and University of Utah Health Sciences.
What obstacles have you overcome in your career?
When I initially became interested in health care compliance, compliance programs were not mandatory. After the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 was passed, compliance programs became mandatory for providers that receive reimbursement from federal health care payers. Following that mandate, many organizations were obligated to integrate compliance programs into their infrastructures. I am continually trying to dispel the misconception that I am a regulator. I work for the University to assist faculty, students, and staff with the appropriate application of regulations and standards.
What is your work history and education that enabled you to attain your current position?
My expertise has been enhanced by several years of working in health care delivery settings that require application of privacy regulations. This enables me to work with a diverse range of departments such as Clinics, Research, and Athletics.
How has working at UO enabled your professional goals and interests?
Safety and Risk Services has encouraged me to continue learning and growing as a professional; both are very important to me.
What do you like about your current position?
The variety of people and departments that I have interaction with.
What advice would you have for others; what secrets would you share for someone thinking of applying to the UO?
Be flexible in your expectations of your position and your interactions with others.
Share a little about yourself personally:
- Family: My husband and I have two daughters. When we get together as a family, we love hiking and cross-country skiing with our dog.
- Favorite food: Fried chicken
- Best movie you’ve seen: Seabiscuit
How do you want to be remembered?
As a professional who worked collaboratively with departments and colleagues to help them achieve their goals and objectives.
(October 2019)