_________________________________________________________________________________________ Holly Sterrett | DaVita
The move toward integrated kidney care is expanding the scope of decisions requiring legal input, from partnerships and technology initiatives to programs that support patients throughout their care journey.
Inside DaVita, Holly’ s team works to remove barriers before they become obstacles.“ My team’ s role is to help remove obstacles and manage risk so our clinical and operational leaders can stay focused on caring for patients. We help navigate complex legal issues, resolve disputes, and provide guidance that enables the organization to move forward with confidence,” she notes.
Holly measures the value of legal work by the stability and alignment it brings to the organization, not just by the disputes it settles. She reflects:“ While I don’ t provide direct patient care, I view our work as part of a larger ecosystem that supports patients. When legal, compliance, operational, and clinical teams work well together, we create a stronger organization that is better positioned to deliver exceptional care.”
Leading together
The shift to integrated care demands greater collaboration across all disciplines. Holly sees how a wide range of perspectives contribute to a single, patient-centered mission.“ One of DaVita’ s strengths is the way different teams work together around a shared mission. No single department can deliver a great patient experience on its own. Clinical, operational, compliance, and legal teams all bring different expertise, but we’ re aligned around supporting patients and helping ensure the organization operates responsibly and effectively,” she remarks.
Trust, accountability, and shared ownership matter just as much as legal skill.“ For me, a great leader leads by example and won’ t ask her team to do anything she wouldn’ t do herself. A great leader motivates and speaks about the mission and values in a way that inspires others. She fosters belonging and connection, knowing that a strong, trusting team is vital for success. A great leader keeps the team growing and thriving, stays collaborative and open to ideas from anyone, and always shows compassion, recognizing that life sometimes goes off script,” she highlights.
One piece of advice still shapes Holly’ s career and the way she mentors others.“ Early in my career, one of the hardest but best lessons I learned was,‘ do not say no.’ While that’ s not always possible, it sets the expectation that you’ ll take advantage of opportunities whenever you can. You never know what might lead to your next chapter or greatest achievement,” she reflects.
As DaVita continues to support patients throughout the kidney disease journey, Holly sees coordination, communication, and partnerships becoming increasingly important. Healthcare delivery is becoming more connected, and organizations are increasingly expected to support patients across multiple settings and stages of care.
As kidney care grows more connected, legal teams evolve right alongside it. Their work now goes far beyond managing disputes or interpreting regulations. Today, legal supports innovation, helps organizations balance competing priorities, and guides decisions that shape patient experiences. For Holly, this reality defines what she seeks in future legal leaders.
“ The qualities I value in a young lawyer are broad and varied. While I appreciate attorneys who are smart and analytical, a true legal leader shows much more: willingness to take on new challenges, compassion for patients, clients, and teammates, the ability to see the big picture and think three steps ahead, creativity to navigate gray areas, drive, a collaborative spirit, strong relationship-building skills, and the willingness to go the extra mile,” she concludes.
In healthcare, legal decisions rarely exist in isolation. They sit alongside clinical, operational, and patient considerations, needing leaders who can navigate complexity without losing sight of the people at the center of the system. ■
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