“We are thrilled, but not surprised, that Modern Healthcare has selected Jackie for this honor,” says Mel Lagarde, president of HCA Midwest Division. “She has the impressive ability to build and lead a highly effective and dedicated team and gladly shares her skills and knowledge with others. Her involvement with several community organizations reinforces her commitment to serving the community beyond the walls of the hospital.”
Jackie has been with HCA Midwest Health System since 2000. A graduate of the HCA Executive Development Program she went from administrative resident at Medical Center of Aurora to COO of Overland Park Regional Medical Center, where she served for six years. In 2006 Jackie served as COO of Research Medical Center in Kansas City. She served there until her recent appointment to CEO at Lee's Summit.
Those selected for the Modern Healthcare honor are chosen by a panel of judges from applications submitted to Modern Healthcare. Criteria for nominees involves a show of successful leadership in a healthcare organization, the ability to effect change in the industry, demonstrating a willingness to share expertise with others in the field, serving as a role model to other minority healthcare executives and assuming leadership positions in the industry outside of their organization.
“Ensuring that those who guide the institutions of American healthcare understand and also represent the diversity of this country is important,” says David Burda, Modern Healthcare’s editor. “This is why we take pride in honoring the top 25 minority healthcare executives who are making a positive difference in the industry.”
Jackie has been exemplary across the board. Within months of her new appointment she started town-hall styled meetings for employees to share their ideas. During her COO tenure at Research Medical, the hospital won numerous awards, including the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines Gold Plus awards for heart failure and stroke and Gold for Heart Care and three-year/full accreditation designation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons, to name a few.
She has also been heavily involved with several community organizations including serving on the Board of Directors of the Kansas City Free Health Clinic and serving as one of the top five fund-raisers for the American Heart Association's Kansas City Heart Walk.
“I’m so pleased to be named among a distinguished list of minority healthcare leaders,” says DeSouza. “The diversity of this country is one of its greatest strengths and as a first generation American, I am proud to work hard at making a difference for patients and healthcare professionals of all backgrounds.”