Introducing Tiera Phillip, Patient and Staff Liaison

While not new to the Department of Family Medicine, Tiera Phillip is now in a newly created position. As Patient and Staff Liaison, Philip serves as an advocate for patients, providers, and staff.

This new position is designed to help bridge any gaps between patients and providers or staff. Phillip, who started in the new role September 30, provides ongoing outreach to patients –in person in the suite or waiting room or by telephone – to learn about any concerns they might have. She also routinely follows up with patients who are dealing with a challenge or who are considering switching providers, and she collaborates with providers or staff who are experiencing a difficult situation with a patient. She will join the Practice Concerns Review Committee, actively supporting their work.

“The experience that I have from already being here at Highland Family Medicine gives me the tools that I need to understand patient concerns,” she said. “Seeing what patients experience day to day will help address any situation between them and their providers. I think that this new role will be a win-win for everyone involved.”

“Tiera has already demonstrated that she has the skill and compassion to work with distressed patients,” said Betsy Naumburg, M.D., HFM Medical Director. “We are excited for the dedicated resource Tiera will bring to both the Review Committee and patient identified opportunities for practice improvement.”

Tiera Phillip joined Highland Hospital in 2022 as a Medical Assistant, supporting providers in the delivery of OB/GYN care. Since 2023, Phillip has served as a Clinical Practice Manager in the Department. In this role, Phillip planned, organized, and managed functions of the practice related to Medical Assistant support.

Prior to joining Highland, Phillip served as a Lead Hospital Corpsman in the U.S Navy - Labor and Delivery. She trained and supervised a team of 25 Navy corpsmen in patient admissions, Neonatal Resuscitation, setting up sterile fields for deliveries, caring for Cesarean incisions, providing breastfeeding assistance and education, implementing infection control measures, and isolation precautions.

4/3/2025