Name: Katie Swanzy

Title: Group Vice President, Integrated Kidney Care

Education:

· BSE, Industrial Engineering: University of Michigan

· MBA: University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

Company Description:

DaVita is a comprehensive kidney care provider focused on transforming care delivery to improve quality of life for patients globally. DaVita has been a leader in clinical quality and innovation for more than 20 years.

DaVita cares for patients at every stage and setting along their kidney health journey--from slowing the progression of kidney disease to helping to support transplantation, from acute hospital care to dialysis at home.

Tell us more about your job.

I lead a team of over 350 people who work to provide the best clinical care for kidney disease patients. We use technology like natural language processing to help clinicians support personalized patient care. We also use technology to train clinical teammates on how to support patients with the most complex clinical issues impacting the patient's health.

Why is STEM important within your industry?

STEM significantly contributes to healthcare and is pivotal in advancing kidney care. Technology has the potential to enhance patient care experiences, assist clinicians in providing appropriate treatment, and address challenges that prevent hospital admissions.

Was there a specific moment when you decided you wanted to pursue STEM as a career?

Midway through high school, I chose to apply for engineering programs. I liked math and science, and my guidance counselors showed me the many applications of STEM training.

What do you like best about your job?

I love the work we do and the people. It is very rewarding to look at DaVita's clinical data, see improvements in patient outcomes and know it means our patients have more days at home with their families and friends.

What are the most important skills needed in your job?

1) Communication

2) Prioritization skills

3) Motivational leadership

Have there been times in your career where you've faced difficult challenges and how were you able to overcome them?

COVID presented significant challenges for our world and especially the healthcare community. I led in securing COVID-19 testing patients and caregivers and facilitated delivery of test kits and vaccines to nearly 3,000 locations. I coordinated daily with the CDC, organized a central team, and trained in-center operations on new processes. I learned to identify and prioritize the top 10 crucial tasks and rally our resources around them.

What advice would you give to girls of all ages who are interested in STEM?

Its a great time to be in STEM! Wherever you choose to start, it isn't a permanent path; I began in engineering but now apply those skills differently. STEM structures your thinking by defining problems, seeking solutions, evaluating effort versus value, and implementing the best approach.