Morgan Hill’ s
Patty Sebald
SAINT LOUISE REGIONAL HOSPITAL
The day Patty Sebald completed her Master’ s degree, she went upstairs with a cookbook in one hand, and a book and magazine in the other.“ I was in heaven,” recalls Sebald, Director of Surgical Services at Saint Louise Regional Hospital for the past 14 years.
Sebald, who has worked at St. Louise Hospital for the past 25 years, said her Master’ s of Science degree with a leadership management focus came after three years of study and hard work.
“ That was a huge accomplishment for me, which just proves you’ re never to old to learn,” Sebald, 58, said.
Sebald, who has lived in Morgan Hill since 1982, said she knew she wanted to be in the medical field since high school.
“( It) always intrigued me. I found it exciting and challenging and I wanted to be a part of it.”
Born in Michigan, Sebald joined the Air Force in the 1970s and received her Associate’ s degree in 1982 and her Bachelor’ s degree in 2007. She said she thought she always wanted to be a staff nurse until her boss – her director of surgery at the time- encouraged and mentored her, which she said inspired her to aim higher.
“ I believe that if current leaders don’ t encourage and don’ t see that spark in their staff members, then its up to us to keep moving forward,” said Sebald.
Sebald said she is excited to see that her degree is already serving her well in her current role at St. Louise Regional Hospital.
“ I can speak to why we do the things we do and why they are important and why the initiatives we put into place for customer care exist,” she said.
Sebald is just as passionate about her community and volunteering as she is about her job.
Sebald was presented with the Morgan Hill Volunteer of the Year Award in 2009.
A 2002 Leadership Morgan Hill graduate, Sebald has been the volunteer coordinator for Taste of Morgan Hill for many years. She also has volunteered for the Gilroy Garlic Festival, chairing various areas including mercantile and cookbooks. This year, she is working on the cook-off stage.
Sebald credits her husband David for her instilling in her a love of volunteering. They met in 1990 when he was in charge of the parking lot for the Garlic Festival. They celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary this month.
Now that she has completed her Master’ s degree, Sebald said she is looking forward to doing some of her favorite things again like traveling, hiking and cooking.
“ I get to get back in my kitchen. I’ m a true foodie. I love good food and wine.”
By Kelly Barbazette
S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 M O R G A N H I L L T O D A Y
19