Etene

I was raised by my mother, who was a nurse, and an elder sister, who both prioritized education. During a visit to Kentucky State University, I was inspired to pursue higher education there. I studied political science for three years with the intention of pursuing law. However, unforeseen circumstances intervened and I had to put my education on hold.

Subsequently, my career began as a manager at a retail clothing store where I began training new managers and was given a co-manager position. With time, I shifted my career focus due to the nature of my leadership roles that primarily involved human resources. In search of a new path, I interviewed with a staffing agency to fill one of their recruiting positions and was offered a one-day assignment at a wound care center. Although I was not familiar with the field, I jumped at the opportunity to assist for one day. Funny enough, I  thought the interviewer said the position would be a womb care, not a wound care role.

To my surprise, that one-day assignment transformed into a career that became my passion. I started as the office manager and worked to become the director at the wound center. During my tenure, the center opened several satellite locations and organized wound care symposia. However, I realized that I needed to complete my education to provide future employers with evidence of my knowledge. I returned to school and obtained a master’s degree in health care administration with a concentration in health care education.

After earning my degree, I took a new position as director of bariatric surgery and weight management, which introduced me to the world of process improvement and Lean Six Sigma. In pursuit of a greater opportunity, I returned to school at Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business and received my master’s in business operational excellence and a certification as a green belt in Six Sigma. I then began a position in endocrinology with another health system, where I met a colleague who encouraged me to apply for C-suite positions. I applied for and was soon appointed the chief executive officer of the Rehabilitation Institute of Ohio, a joint venture between Premier Health and Encompass Health.

As CEO and a firm believer in servant leadership, I am responsible for everyone under our roof and take the opportunity to speak at every new hire orientation. I emphasize the importance of providing the best care in the best environment and in the best manner possible to patients and their families who are going through something traumatic. I believe my background in retail has instilled in me a high value for great customer service, and I work every day to improve our quality of services and increase our presence in the community. Encompass Health’s value of "better together" has always resonated with me as I strive to bring out the best in my team and patients alike. 

My journey is a testament to the power of hard work, perseverance and self-belief. I truly believe that we can achieve anything as long as we have a strong belief that comes from within.
 

Etene Terrell-Fakorede is the chief executive officer of Encompass Health - Rehabilitation Institute of Ohio. Please note that the views of authors do not always reflect the views of AHA.
 

Related News Articles

Headline
The AHA’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity is seeking organizations to apply as host sites for its 2025 Summer Enrichment Program by Feb. 21. The…
Headline
In this conversation, Jennifer Richards, Ph.D., assistant professor at the Center for Indigenous Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and…
Headline
President-elect Donald Trump Nov. 14 announced that he has selected Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
Headline
Registration is now open for AHA's 2025 Accelerating Health Equity Conference, May 19-22 in Atlanta, with an early-bird discount period through March 31. Join…
Headline
The AHA Nov. 7 announced Claire M. Zangerle, DNP, R.N., as new senior vice president and chief nurse executive of the AHA and chief executive officer of its…
Headline
The AHA’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity will host its next Health Equity Innovation Summit in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p…