KAREN ALEXANDER
Upper Marlboro,MD
Summary
Seasoned Healthcare Administrator and Navy Veteran, with over 20 years of proven leadership experience. Bringing extensive expertise in operations management and process improvement, along with superior project management, contract management, team leadership, and problem-solving skills. Adept at maximizing resources to meet challenging demands and an analytical acumen accompanied with outstanding research, development and multitasking capabilities.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief of Operations
Defense Health Agency
Falls Church, VA
01.2020 - Current
- Provided supervision and direction to over 50 personnel, directing overall operations and information synthesis across the agency; fostered a culture of collaboration and accountability, contributing to a 15% increase in team efficiency
- Planned, managed, and oversaw the implementation of 3 critical information technology projects, reducing staff inefficiencies, and rapidly distributing global health information to over 100,000 people; streamlined information flow, review, and action
- Designed and implemented comprehensive policy to reduce staffing processes by 48% and increase operational efficiency by 40%.
- Supervised distribution of policy guidance to notify and deploy medical capabilities needed for events in affected markets.
- Analyzed operational processes extensively, pinpointing inefficiencies and proposing effective solutions. Successfully implemented cost-saving initiatives that led to a 15% reduction in operational expenditures.
- Performed consistent briefings for Senior Leaders on operational matters, contributing to the development of improved goals and policies in line with the organization's business strategy.
- Established performance expectations and goals for direct reports through the utilization of the performance review process, ensuring staff accountability.
- Consistently conveyed key messages to drive desired results in departmental objectives.
Deputy Director, Capabilities Integration
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Falls Church, VA
07.2016 - 12.2019
- Transformed organizational capabilities by devising and implementing strategic initiatives that integrated diverse skills, aligned resources with goals; effectively managed cross-functional teams of 50+ individuals in converting strategic objectives into tangible action plans.
- Conducted thorough analyses of the organization's strengths and weaknesses, devising and implementing action plans that contributed to a remarkable 15% enhancement in overall performance.
- Spearheaded accelerated readiness training initiatives for over 120 leaders and staff, ensuring 100% compliance in all readiness assessments. Recognized any concerns pertaining to the program and provided timely reports to senior leadership.
- Enhanced the work environment by addressing discrepancies, promoting harmony among team members, and elevating productivity levels. Successfully introduced professional development programs leading to a significant 20% increase in both team productivity and skills.
- Generated cost-saving suggestions by analyzing systems and processes.
- Secured contract support extension by effectively presenting Senior Leaders with a clear understanding of readiness reportings importance and higher level requirements, resulting in its inclusion into the 2019-2025 budget for the directorate.
- Explored new product options and evaluated their suitability as alternatives to the current system. Communicated research results and suggestions for adoption to Senior Leadership, resulting in agreement to maintain the current system.
- Achieved 100% readiness visibility of Navy Medicine operational units within the Defense Readiness Reporting System ahead of schedule by leveraging extensive technical expertise and project management capabilities.
- Managed the National Defense Authorization Act 2017 section 725 working group by developing and implementing a pioneering policy to catalogue, track, measure, and report on 301 joint common core medical specialties. Showcased exceptional leadership qualities along with strategic planning proficiency and strong communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively execute high-stakes tasks with precision and achieved desired outcomes within the assigned $1.8M budget.
- Established processes for data collection and analysis to evaluate organizational readiness levels; produced comprehensive reports on readiness metrics, delivering valuable insights for senior leadership decision-making.
- Instituted adaptive strategies for refining readiness reporting processes, continuously striving for enhanced performance.
Academic Student
US Naval War College
Newport, Rhode Island
08.2015 - 06.2016
- As an active group member of Seminar 15, she collaborated with her fellow classmates to present a comprehensive strategic vision for U.S. Central Command during the National Security Decision Making capstone event. Their presentation was praised for its clarity and conciseness, earning them the opportunity to present their strategic outlook to high ranking military leaders.
- Researched and developed an article focusing on enhancing leadership through servant leadership training, receiving high mentions and recommendations for publishing.
Deputy Force Surgeon
USNAVEUR/USNAVAF/SIXTH FLT
Naples, Italy
07.2013 - 07.2015
- In charge of overseeing a team of 9, responsible for the management of medical support plans for 16 ship deployments and 13 exercises, ensuring consistency and clarity across all stakeholders.
- Spearheaded the creation of a medical planner manpower tool that improved the efficiency of medical facilities in carrying out exercises and engagements by 15%.
- Oversaw delivery of medical services in Europe and Africa, optimizing efficiency and implementing process improvements that positively impacted patient care.
- Maintained a high level of compliance with healthcare regulations, accreditation standards, and industry guidelines through ongoing reviews and audits.
- Supported the commander's decisions on medical initiatives including the assessment of European Hospital Infrastructure and the addition of medical billets for forward deployed naval forces. Directed subordinates and provided critical information to senior leaders during high-stakes operations such as Syrian chemical weapons neutralization, Aegis Ashore medical support, and Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone.
- Influenced and negotiated approval for the fiscal year 17 military construction budget to replace the aging Expeditionary Medical Facility in Djibouti, ensuring ongoing quality healthcare in an austere environment.
Lead Medical Planner
US Naval Forces Central Command/ FIFTH FLT
Kingdom Of, Bahrain
05.2006 - 06.2008
- Collaborated with senior leadership in integrating medical capabilities into overall mission planning and execution.
- Designed and implemented a comprehensive medical support strategy to safely evacuate over 14,600 Americans from Lebanon. Delivered healthcare services to 430 evacuees during their transitional phase while ensuring the well-being of an additional 941 individuals at the safe haven location.
- Designed, collaborated, and implemented the all service component action officer's conference as an impetus to address manning and force allocation issues during a crisis events.
- Recorded and organized all medical activities such as patient care, resource utilization, and outcomes ensuring accuracy. Generated comprehensive reports for management to evaluate the efficiency of healthcare services and pinpoint opportunities for enhancement.
- Established efficient lines of communication between command leadership, ship operations specialists, and finance personnel facilitating smooth coordination and decision-making processes. Led to a compelling presentation to Senior Leaders showcasing the significance of humanitarian missions across Africa.
- Collaborated with various stakeholders to drive strategic initiatives towards efficient coordination of medical resources across multiple organizations.
Department Head Contingency Planning
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Virginia
09.2003 - 04.2006
- Led a team of 5 staff members, comprising of 4 enlisted personnel and 1 junior officer, through administrative functions. Actively collaborated with senior officers and community leaders regarding matters concerning Homeland Security.
- Designed an effective emergency training and evaluation solution which boosted participation by 90% with an impressive overall effectiveness score of 80%
- Increased disaster planning drills from one to four annually, focusing on uncovered areas within the command. Emphasized the importance of continuous education in emergency planning, leading to quarterly training in all departments. Enhanced overall readiness posture by integrating emergency planning as a vital component.
- Created and executed a casualty plan for forward movement, integrated into the state and federal National Disaster Medical System/Federal Coordination Center emergency response programs.
- Secured 1.2M in outside funding to purchase essential equipment, supplies, and software for enhancing the command's critical infrastructure and mitigating vulnerabilities.
- Optimized command communications by deploying a mass communication system across the medical center's three buildings and implementing a wide area alert system for external structures.
- Strategically relocated and upgraded the command Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to enhance communication and visual tracking of arriving casualties.
- Delivered medical expertise in the field of emergency planning to diverse groups including Fleet Forces Command, Base Installation Commanders, and Medical Treatment Facility emergency managers. Proficiency encompassed activities such as Chem-Bio training, disaster preparedness sessions, and the creation of a Pandemic Influenza response plan.
- Contingency Planning Department received a "Best Practice" recognition from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the Medical Inspector General's survey visit in March 2006, having no findings or recommendations for improvement.
Department Head Managed Care, Patient Admin.
Naval Ambulatory Care Center
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
05.1998 - 06.2001
- Spearheaded activities related to patient care coordination such as referrals, report preparation, and TRICARE reports and statistical analysis. Assisted in planning functions for the command and its three branch clinics.
- Oversaw the work of 14 personnel.
- Implemented training programs to enhance employee performance and ensure outstanding customer experiences.
- Implemented a referral and expense monitoring system to track TRICARE referrals, utilization patterns, and expenses.
- Established efficient procedures for recording and managing after hours primary care requests.
- Conducted operational analysis on the primary care department and identified areas of improvement, resulting in the development of a new access to care policy.
- Enhanced patient access to the primary care clinic by 21% through implementation of the aforementioned policy.
- Achieved significant accomplishments with this initiative, including a boost in appointment availability by 60 per week, increased enrollment to TRICARE by 36%. and a reduction in unpaid claims by 80%.
Education
Master of Arts - National Strategic Studies
Naval War College
Newport, RI06-2016
MBA - Business Administration And Health Services Admin.
Howard University
Washington, DC05-1996
Bachelor of Science - Health Science Education And Promotion
University of Florida
05-1990
Skills
- Process Improvement
- Safety Risk Mitigation
- Strategic Planning
- Quality Assurance Control
- Training Development
- Project Program Management
- Organization Communication
- Executive Leadership
- Regulatory Compliance
- Contract Administration
Timeline
Chief of Operations
Defense Health Agency
01.2020 - Current
Deputy Director, Capabilities Integration
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
07.2016 - 12.2019
Academic Student
US Naval War College
08.2015 - 06.2016
Deputy Force Surgeon
USNAVEUR/USNAVAF/SIXTH FLT
07.2013 - 07.2015
Lead Medical Planner
US Naval Forces Central Command/ FIFTH FLT
05.2006 - 06.2008
Department Head Contingency Planning
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
09.2003 - 04.2006
Department Head Managed Care, Patient Admin.
Naval Ambulatory Care Center
05.1998 - 06.2001
Master of Arts - National Strategic Studies
Naval War College
MBA - Business Administration And Health Services Admin.
Howard University
Bachelor of Science - Health Science Education And Promotion
University of Florida
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