Employee Spotlight: Dawn Black, Director of Clinical Operations, Palliative Care at Home
Meet Dawn Black, Director of Clinical Operations with Contessa’s Palliative Care at Home program with partner Henry Ford Health. Dawn was recently promoted to this role in recognition of her outstanding service as a clinical manager with the program. We asked her to share some details about herself and her role here at Contessa, and we hope you enjoy learning more just as much as we did!
All about me
Dawn is a nurse practitioner with a post-master’s certificate in hospice and palliative medicine from Cal State University. She holds a specialty certification (ACHPN) in hospice and palliative care as well.
“I was a nurse for 27 years when I became a nurse practitioner and worked in most areas of nursing prior to going to grad school,” Dawn shares. “I choose palliative care in the home as I feel quality of life is such a priority for my patients. The home environment is the most impactful location to provide care as the setting is intimate and the type of care needed is clear.”
She explains that she feels her entire career in nursing has led her to her role with Contessa. “I would say patient advocacy is my biggest priority as a nurse, and this program really allows us to understand the patients’ values and goals and build their efficacy to speak on their own behalf — or we can become their voice when needed.”
Work-life balance: what’s life like outside of work?
When she’s not at work, Dawn says she enjoys spending time with her family and animals, and also gardening and enjoying nature — all things she couldn’t live without!
What I love about Contessa
Dawn described how the Palliative Care at Home program represents a long-time personal goal to contribute meaningfully to improve care for those in her local community with serious illnesses. “I’ve always dreamed of having a home-based palliative program for my community,” Dawn shares. “I have had many losses in my life of family who didn’t always receive the care that they wanted — mostly because no one asked them what was important to them. I wanted to have an impact in this area because life is very short, and illness can strike at any moment and steal away time.”
Dawn is proud of the growth in both her team and the patient census in the program. “It’s extremely rewarding for me,” she says. “I feel like I have been working on the implementation of this program at the joint venture for years in my dreams.”
On Contessa culture
“Contessa is innovative and not afraid to think outside the box to meet the needs of patients and staff,” Dawn explains. “I appreciate that everyone has a voice and all ideas are welcome. It is not always common in this industry any longer — I have been in healthcare for 38 years in some capacity, and somewhere along the way we forgot to talk to each other and share ideas. I think Contessa does that well.”
She added, “I love that we can all share our thoughts from our various vantage points and talk through them to come to decisions. I truly feel a part of a team here and that my voice matters.”
Thank you, Dawn, for being such a great example of our values in action, and for sharing your story with us!