Q&A with President & CEO Kathy Parrinello, Ph.D., R.N.

1. You assumed the roles of Highland President and CEO this fall. How is the new job going?

It is going very well, and I have to give credit to the people before me. I greatly appreciate having the opportunity to build on the work that previous CEO Steve Goldstein and COO Cindy Becker accomplished. Steve and Cindy developed a wonderful community hospital known for high-quality, patient-centered care and outstanding services. They also created a collegial, friendly atmosphere among physicians, nurses, technicians and our entire workforce. I am honored to follow Steve in this role.

2. You also became President and CEO of Strong in July. How are you balancing your roles at the two hospitals?

Balancing the two roles is possible because of the incredible leadership team here - Dr. Ahmed, Kara Halstead, Cheryl Ryan, Melissa Derleth, Carrie Fuller Spencer and Megan Bowman. I feel fortunate that I was able to bring on Maura Snyder as Highland’s COO, and I will be filling the same role soon at Strong. I also make it a point to spend part of at least three days per week on site here at Highland.

3. What does it mean to you to become the first woman to lead both hospitals?

I know that this milestone means a lot, but, quite honestly, I don’t focus on this. There are many talented women leaders in health care, including other hospital CEOs, and I am proud to be among them.

4. What are you most excited about in your positions at Highland, and what are your top priorities?

I am most excited about expanding our programs and promoting the high-quality, patient-centered care that Highland is known for. My priorities include addressing our aging facility, meeting the needs for more space and expanding our workforce. As we are caring for more people at Highland than ever before – more than 300 patients every day in a 261-licensed-bed facility – we need to recruit and retain workers and provide more opportunities for career development to assure retention of our employees.

An important priority in the coming years is to carefully steer Highland through the strong headwinds facing health care institutions today. Increasing demand for care due to the aging population and advanced therapeutics will be challenging in light of financial pressures facing our industry. Leveraging technology as well as implementing new care models will be important to help us achieve efficiencies while managing this increased demand for care.

5. People may not be aware that you began your health career as a Strong Hospital staff nurse. What led you to nursing?

I grew up in Elyria, Ohio, and I had an interest in health care from an early age. I studied nursing at the University of Rochester, and I worked as a staff nurse at Strong. Fun fact: I worked with Cindy Becker when she was a nurse at Strong.

I loved being a nurse, but I gravitated toward health care administration early in my career. My nursing background, working all shifts, including the night shift, provided a unique perspective on the importance of patient care. I also saw firsthand how vital the contributions of an entire health care team are to outstanding patient care – physicians, nurses, therapists, technicians and staff all working together to provide the best possible care.

6. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time (if you have any spare time)?

When I’m not working, I love spending time with my family. Growing up in Elyria in a family of eight children, we always had fun and did things in groups, so I enjoy group activities – meeting and talking with people. I also love racquet sports such as tennis, paddle tennis and pickleball, and try to play whenever I can. In fact, I have run into colleagues at Highland who I originally met playing tennis!

7. What is something that people might be surprised to learn about you?

People may be surprised to know that I am an avid fan of field hockey. My two granddaughters play the sport. Something of interest (but not surprising) is that my three children and three grandchildren were all born at Highland.

 

3/3/2025