Christy Waltz, DNP, MEd, RN, CDCES, Public Health Nurse, Hennepin County

What’s your current role?

I currently work for Hennepin County in Long-Term Services and Supports where I support people living with chronic conditions and disabilities. I have worked for Hennepin County since 2018. Prior to my current role, I worked for Hennepin Health, the county-owned managed care organization that provides healthcare coverage to Hennepin County residents enrolled in Medicaid or MinnesotaCare.

I also serve as First Vice President on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Organization of Registered Nurses. I serve on the American Nurses Association Innovation Advisory Committee and on the University of Minnesota School of Nursing Alumni Society Board of Directors.

I completed my Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree in Health Innovation and Leadership last spring. I am looking ahead to the next chapter and a new role supporting an organization that leverages my education and experience across healthcare in primary care, managed care, government, and community health centers. Health is everything and everything is health, so that role could be anywhere!

When did you join the Women’s Health Leadership TRUST and what roles have you held within the TRUST?

I joined the TRUST a year and a half ago. I wanted to connect with other women leaders in healthcare and expand my network. I work primarily from home and was also excited about the chance to participate in in-person events. I recently began service on the TRUST Associate Board and the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Committee.

What has been your favorite part of the TRUST?

I appreciate the many opportunities the women of the TRUST curate for members and the community. There is something for everyone – from online networking opportunities to in-person professional development events to the year-long mentoring program. There’s even a boat cruise, well-being retreat, and the annual Forum. There is so much energy and passion women bring to this organization, along with the genuine desire to assist in and lift up each other’s growth.

What is the best career advice you’ve received?

The most helpful career advice I have received amounts to “go for it!” You never know what opportunities will open up when you do so.

Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that significantly influenced your leadership style or professional path?

Many years ago, I worked as a Registered Nurse Care Coordinator in a large healthcare system. Early in his tenure, an incoming CEO walked the clinic floors where I worked speaking with employees and learning about their roles in the organization. He came to my office and we chatted for twenty minutes about my role and care coordination. He genuinely listened to my ideas about the importance of the organization investing in care coordination. (Embedding care coordinators in primary care was new at the time. A significant barrier for organizations is that care coordination does not directly bring in revenue.) The CEO ultimately was a champion for care coordination. The executive’s behavior and genuine interest in all levels of care happening at the organization solidified for me the need to always be mindful and present with people, to be approachable, and to approach with curiosity and interest the ideas people bring forth.

What emerging trend in health care are you most excited about and why?

I am pleased to see concepts of population health and value-based care increasingly embraced. Supporting all to achieve their optimal health has been my North Star in my career. Always interested in preventive care and wellness, early in my career I used to joke, “I got into health promotion through the back door of chronic disease.” I am excited to see a shift to wellness and whole-person health.

How do you advocate for inclusion, diversity, equity and access (IDEA)?

It is essential to incorporate inclusion, diversity, equity and access (IDEA) within organizations and in the broader realm of health care. Recognition of our own biases and privileges and continuing to educate ourselves along with authenticity and humility is central to these (and my) efforts. I have regularly engaged my employers in discussing recruitment and retention strategies, particularly for senior leadership positions, and in the context of organizational culture. In consideration of service to customers and clients, I also work to ensure all stakeholders are represented and to consider what barriers may exist, especially for those most impacted by decisions made and actions taken by organizations. I always welcome discussion about this work as it can be difficult to convey significance in this 2D format.

How do you maintain or improve your health and well-being?

Whole-person health is my priority in serving others and something I strive for in my own life. A few areas I am working on now are physical fitness, mental health, and connection. To support these areas, I work out several days per week (while listening to loud energizing music), spend time in reflection and guided meditation, and seek out opportunities for connection. Engaging with other TRUST members is a great way to cultivate a sense of belonging and connection.

What is something that not many people know about you?

As a young person, I developed or co-developed multiple youth stakeholder groups in organizations serving runaway and unhoused youth, including The Bridge and StreetWorks. This work showcased expertise in lived experience and my early advocacy efforts. It sparked my interest in policy and the direct impact policy has on people’s lives. During that stage of life/youth, I spent several years advocating on a national level for the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act.

Words of wisdom to live by?

A quote that has inspired me over the years is from Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”