_____________________________________________________________________________ West
Tennessee Healthcare
strategy
She attended law school while still working as a nurse. Afterward, she clerked in the Western District of Missouri, federal district court where she gained experience in litigation. Following her clerkship, Ann worked at a law firm representing patients in healthcare cases. Over time, Ann reconsidered where she could make the biggest impact.“ I wanted to work with health systems and find ways to prevent problems, rather than file lawsuits after complications happened,” she reflects.
Her path continued across roles that connected clinical work and legal oversight. That trajectory shifted when her husband’ s military career required relocation, prompting her to rethink how she practiced.
As the family moved to Mississippi for his assignment, Ann faced a familiar challenge for military spouses in licensed professions. Maintaining a legal career across state lines proved difficult, so she returned to emergency room nursing, where licensure allowed more flexibility.
That experience pointed her in a new direction. Working in the Emergency Room exposed her to hospital operations beyond bedside care and introduced her to risk management.“ I hadn’ t realized the
americanhealthcareleader. com 103