Rachel Skoog: Hi, I'm Rachel Skoog. I'm Chief Operating Officer at San Juan Regional Medical Center. I'm so excited and appreciate the opportunity to share my leadership journey with you; one that began here in Farmington and evolved through years of operational and executive experience, and ultimately brought me back to serve this organization and community in a new capacity.

My career in healthcare began here at San Juan Regional Medical Center as a physical therapist. I really appreciate that role, and it gave me frontline perspective on patient care and the operational systems that support it. I quickly recognized that effective leadership in healthcare requires more than clinical knowledge; that it demanded strategic thinking, operational discipline, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Over time, and through lots of mentorship, I transitioned into leadership roles and I was really driven by a desire to improve systems, evaluate team performance, and enhance the patient experience. I accepted every opportunity to lead, even when the path forward was unclear. I never said no to a challenge, and that mindset really opened doors to roles that required significant cultural and operational transformation.

Throughout my career, I've been really fortunate to work with mentors who modeled high standards, accountability and resilience. Their guidance helped me to develop a leadership style that was rooted in transparency, data-driven decision making, and focused on outcomes.

In my recent time in Hobbs, New Mexico, I served as CEO for a healthcare facility that required a complete shift in work culture. We really focused on building trust, dismantling silos, and created a feedback driven environment. That work was not easy, but it was necessary. We really implemented systems that supported collaboration, improved patient outcomes, and increased staff engagement.

I learned there that sustainable change requires clarity, consistency, and a willingness to confront difficult truths. Leadership is not about comfort. It's about progress. When the opportunity arose to return to San Juan Regional Medical Center, I saw it as a strategic and personal decision. Farmington is my home.

My husband Nate, works in the oil field and my family has deep roots in the region. We're raising my two boys here and both sets of their grandparents live locally. Our grandparents could not be more happy that we're back home. The support system is strong and the community is familiar. I've enjoyed seeing friendly faces and catching up with past acquaintances and the community has really supported us in our transition home, and I'm incredibly thankful for the warm welcome.

But this move wasn't just about geography and moving back home for us. It was about impact. I returned because I believe in the mission of this organization and the potential of this team. I've seen what's possible when leadership aligns with purpose, and I'm committed to bringing that alignment to San Juan Regional Medical Center. As COO, Chief Operating Officer, my focus is on operational excellence, strategic execution, and measurable outcomes.

We have a clear roadmap for the future and we're aligning our resources to support that vision. One of our top priorities this year is patient satisfaction, not only as a metric, but as a reflection of how well we're delivering on our promise of care. We're also investing in caregiver engagement. High performing teams require psychological safety, clear expectations, and consistent leadership.

We're building a culture where feedback is not only accepted but expected, where performance is evaluated objectively and where accountability is shared. For me, in my past experience with leadership, I really view the culture of the organization as reaching a peak when we can provide and accept feedback to each other. While sometimes it's hard not to live in the defensive realm, that really demonstrates that we have built a strong foundation.

In particular, I'm focused on breaking down silos. Healthcare is complex and fragmentation undermines our efficiency. We're working across departments to streamline processes, improve communication, and ensure that every part of the organization is aligned around common goals. Our strategic initiatives are grounded in three core areas, quality, access, and experience.

For quality, we've really committed to clinical excellence and evidence-based care. That means that we are investing in training, technology, process improvement. Access is really evaluating how we deliver care, where and how and when patients engage with us and their ability to utilize us as a healthcare resource.

So for us, this includes expanding services, optimizing scheduling, and really leveraging digital tools. We're investing a lot in the IT realm, and we have great leadership in place in order to be successful there. Experience really is both on the patient and the caregiver side. Their experiences and our experiences as caregivers are critical.

We're using data to identify gaps, track progress, and really hold ourselves accountable in that space. Our goals are not abstract, they're operational imperatives, and we're measuring success not by just what we implement, but by the outcomes that we achieve. While my leadership approach is grounded in strategy and execution, it's also informed by personal values.

I deeply care about this community. I live here, my children go to school here. My family receives care here. That proximity really creates urgency and its own sense of accountability. I'm really not interested in maintaining the status quo. I'm here to be part of a team and organization that's positioned for long-term success.

I'm so thankful to be part of an executive team that really is committed to this community. It's committed to providing the care that the community deserves and to being a workforce for our caregivers. I really want to thank you for taking the time to listen today. I'm incredibly proud to be part of this organization, and I'm really committed to leading with integrity, discipline, and a clear focus on our outcomes.

San Juan Regional Medical Center has a strong foundation, a incredibly capable team, and a clear path forward. I'm excited to be part of what's next. I'm thankful for the opportunity to be home, and I'm thankful to serve the community with steadfast and servant leadership. Thank you for listening.

It was such an honor to share my story with you.