By Lois Thomson, South Florida Hospital News, for ACHE of South Florida

Sandra Tadros could not be more enthusiastic about her role at the University of Miami Health System – often referred to as UHealth – where she serves as the senior administrative officer overseeing the operations of the Desai Sethi Urology Institute and the Executive Health Department. Commuting up to two hours each way from Broward County, she says, “If that isn’t dedication and love for what you do, I don’t know what is.

“The people are amazing and talented; I have been blessed with the opportunity to work with leaders who position their team in a fashion to really be successful as employees and leaders here at UHealth.”

Tadros holds an executive MBA in Healthcare Management and Policy from the University of Miami and was PMP certified in 2017 (project management professional). She started her career in healthcare with a focus on process improvement, which gave her the opportunity to apply her project management skills in different departments such as human resources, in the ER, and surgical services.

Starting in healthcare with a focus on process improvement and project management opened the door for more exposure to different operations within healthcare that helped her with the foundation to be successful in her current role as a senior administrative officer with the Desai Sethi Urology Institute, one of a select few freestanding urology institutes in the United States.

In her five-year tenure at UHealth, Tadros initially managed the business operations of UHealth’s Tower surgical services department, which later expanded her role to becoming the Executive Director of business operations for the operating rooms at UHealth, before transitioning to her current position nearly three years ago. She attributes her passion for her work to the exceptional environment at UHealth, where she collaborates with a talented team committed to fulfilling the institution’s mission in education, clinical care, and research at the Desai Sethi Urology Institute.

For Tadros, the healthcare industry holds unmatched significance due to its direct impact on people’s lives. “Even if your role isn’t directly treating a patient, it’s knowing that everyone’s role, no matter how big or small, on the clinical or administrative side, impacts the patients’ experience, and also the caregivers; and how we can support those who are on the front lines. You don’t realize sometimes how the smallest things can make a difference.”

It’s this belief that fuels Tadros’ involvement in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), where she actively contributes to nurturing the next generation of healthcare leaders. “At the beginning of my career, I saw some of my leaders involved with ACHE and witnessed the benefit of becoming a part of the organization. They invested time in nurturing the next generation of healthcare leaders, and as I have gotten the opportunity to learn and grow, I believe giving back and helping others is a way to make a difference.”

Tadros values the opportunity to mentor and guide early-career professionals, drawing from her own experience of being mentored by industry leaders. “You don’t have to be involved in the big things. I went to an ACHE event one time and spoke with individuals who were at the beginning of their career, trying to figure out what was to come next. I remember when I was at that point in my career and was able to give them some guidance, to help identify what that next step could look like.”

She went on to say that in her career, she had been fortunate to work with leaders who mentored her and provided her opportunities. One thing she realized about ACHE is that, despite how busy these leaders and executives were, they took time to give back to their field and to those who are going to be the next generation of leaders. “I benefited from that, and I wanted to be a part of it moving forward.”

Tadros, who is Egyptian, spent most of her childhood in the United States before moving back to Egypt. Ten years ago, Tadros returned to the United States and now resides in South Florida with her husband and two children. She is currently chair of the ACHE DEI board; in her role, she advocates for the idea that diversity is not just about representation but about equal opportunities for all. “If you look at my team, for example, I make sure that it’s diverse because we live in a diverse community; how can we serve the community we represent if there’s no diversity on the team.”

Tadros said ACHE has several great networking opportunities along with educational aspects that ACHE members should take advantage of. Her journey serves as an inspiration for those striving to make a meaningful difference in the field of healthcare.