Kiah Calmese Walker
Fitchburg,WI
Summary
Strategically adaptive, systems-thinking leader with 30 years’ experience implementing high-impact solutions and within complex healthcare delivery environments. Proficient at creating, cultivating, and excelling in newly designed roles while developing high-performing teams. Demonstrated effectiveness in building and operationalizing vision, value, and quality assurance while managing risks, opportunities, growth, and cost. Established reputation for advancing human engagement, psychological safety, process improvement, experience-based design, culture change, systems/ business integration, and organizational alignment.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Vice President, Change Management Lead
Jarrard, Inc. - The Chartis Group
Nashville, TN
10.2024 - Current
- Accountable for Change Management service line capabilities development, expansion, and innovation tailored to meet the challenges and needs faced by organizations across the ecosystem of the healthcare industry.
- Spearhead strategic growth initiatives to secure and expand healthcare client accounts within national, regional, academic, public/community and payer-based sectors.
- Advise operational performance improvements for clients by leveraging expertise in healthcare operations, supply chain, human resources and information systems.
- Lead cross-functional teams to design, implement, and integrate customized solutions to advance operational, cultural, and infrastructural, and transformative initiatives.
- Provide thought leadership and strategic business guidance to healthcare client leaders and teams undergoing significant change (e.g., M&As, EMR/ERP system implementations, cultural integrations, etc.).
- Secure new business by developing and leading competitive proposals, presentations, and sales strategies that meet aggressive revenue targets.
- Expand market presence by creating and leveraging strong networks with healthcare executives and industry leaders, resulting in a robust pipeline of new business.
Regional Director, Human Resources Operations
UnityPoint Health -Meriter
Madison, WI
12.2021 - 09.2024
- Oversaw operational performance and budget management of HR workforce programs, including Employee Service Center and HRIS Data Management.
- Led workstream redesigns and organizational alignment to support HR Modernization initiatives at UnityPoint Health.
- Facilitated strategic partnerships between UnityPoint Health - Meriter and UW Health HR and IT departments for workforce systems access.
- Increased department employee engagement scores from 73% to 90% in 18 months.
- Successfully completed three HR Systems implementations within first 18 months, including RIVAL Agile Performance Management.
- Enhanced compliance rates for annual evaluations and licensure renewals by 70% in first year.
- Streamlined departmental workflows, resulting in a 30% boost in productivity.
Regional Director, Supply Chain Services
UW Health & UnityPoint Health Meriter
Madison, WI
08.2019 - 10.2021
- Designed and led supply chain restructure, integration, standardization, and cost-containment efforts across regional system of care to advance JOA between UW Health and UPH -Meriter.
- Accountable for operational oversight for financial, programmatic and performance activities for Supply Chain Services at both UW Health East Madison Hospital (The American Center) and UnityPoint Health -Meriter community hospitals (Sourcing/Procurement, Contracting & Purchasing, Inventory Analytics & Informatics, Supply Inventory Control & Management, OR Inventory (Instrumentation & Equipment), Central Supply/Linen Distribution, Receiving & Bulk Warehousing, Transportation & Mailroom Services).
- Improved department employee engagement scores from 68% to 0% within 18 months.
- Appointed as DEI advisor to UPH -Meriter Executive Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and inaugural Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) Steering Council and Policy Sub-committee to advise against implicit bias and inequities.
- Restructured and reorganized Supply Chain division to contribute to $574K in savings within 18 months.
- Improved service request processes for managing customer requests increasing productivity by 38%.
- Led effort to source/procure, inventory, and provide culturally appropriate hair and skin care products for inpatient units.
- Secured adequate PPE stock-on-hand assurance programming throughout COVID pandemic.
- Project managed regional conversion implementations for two (2) supply distributor conversions (Medline & Office Depot).
Director, Hospitality & Support Services (HSS)
UW Health at The American Center
Madison, WI
12.2014 - 08.2019
- Served as senior leader for a support services workforce of 110 associates accountable for a budget totaling $10.2MM in a 56-bed, 500K sq. ft., Orthopedic Surgical Center and Community Hospital.
- Led and ensured delivery of safe, high quality support services through the administrative management of Guest Services, Facilities, Security, Environmental Services, Materials Management, and Clinical Engineering (Healthcare Technology Management) departments.
- Lead direct report team of four front line managers, each with span of control ranging 15-30.
- Accountable for facility Environment of Care, Life Safety and Emergency Management compliance at the local-level in accordance with enterprise-wide policy/protocol and authoritative regulation (e.g., NFPA Code, CMS, TJC, WI-DHS, DNR, etc.), Patient-Experience enculturation, training, and performance for all hospital staff.
- Designed, implemented, and functionalized infrastructural and operational strategy for five (5) HSS departments.
- Ensured successful facility commissioning and opening as inaugural senior leadership team member.
- Created and employed 13 new hybrid positions (combining unique discreet operational cross functional roles into single EE role), resulting in leaner operational throughput and a 40% labor expense reduction.
- Accountable for establishment of Just-In-Time (JIT) medical supply inventory infrastructure achieving a $400K cost savings in 2nd year of operation.
- Designed and implemented integrated PFX workgroup consisting of patient advisors, front-line employees, department leadership, and physicians to centralize, monitor and measure the success of experience improvement efforts across Ambulatory, Inpatient, and Emergency Department domains.
- Coached and promoted 12 employees (75% of them women and/or BIPOC), within 5 years, to higher positions of leadership ensuring fair compensation.
Clinic Ops Analyst, Senior Education Specialist
UW Health Hospital and Clinics
Madison, WI
11.2006 - 12.2014
HIV Treatment Support Services (TSS) Program Coordinator /Intensive HIV Case Manager
AIDS Network (AIDS Service Organization)
South Central WI
06.2003 - 11.2006
HIV Care Program, Treatment Adherence Counselor & Educator
UW Health, UW Hospital and Clinics HIV Care Program
Madison, WI
06.2000 - 06.2003
Southern WI Community Liaison and Outreach Specialist
UW Madison School of Nursing WisTREC (Distance Learning) Program
Madison, WI
12.2000 - 01.2002
Education
Executive Master of Healthcare Administration - Management Fundamentals in Healthcare Organizations
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
01.2015
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology/Anthropology
Carleton College
Northfield, MN01.1997
Diploma -
King-Drew Magnet High School of Medicine and Science
Los Angeles, CA01.1993
Skills
- Strategically adaptive
- Systems thinking
- High-impact solutions
- High-performing teams
- Vision operationalization
- Value assurance
- Quality assurance
- Risk management
- Opportunity management
- Growth management
- Cost management
- Human engagement
- Psychological safety
- Process improvement
- Experience-based design
- Culture change
- Systems integration
- Business integration
- Organizational alignment
- Change Management
- Pivot Strategies
- Policy Development
- Procedure Development
- Patient Experience
- Advocacy
- Partnership Management
- Affiliation Management
- Process Analysis
- Value Chain Analysis
- Human Resources
- Human Relations
- Joint Operating Structures
- Matrixed Structures
- Integrated Workstream Design
- People Leading
- Coaching
- Mentoring
- Contracts
- Service Level Agreements
- Regulatory Compliance
- Workforce Compliance
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Logistics Planning
- Operational Planning
- Systems Design
- Systems Implementation
- Organizational Alignment
- Cultural Alignment
- Operational Budgeting
- Capital Budgeting
- EMR Management
- ERP/HR Systems Management
- Board Governance
- Data Governance Models
Affiliations
- National Association of Health Services Executives, 2022 - Present
- American College of Healthcare Executives, 01/2016 - 12/2019 & 01/2024 - Present
- Children’s Theatre of Madison (CTM) DEI Advisory Council, 11/2023 - Present
- Overture Center for the Arts Community Advisory Council, 10/2021 - Present
- The Beryl Institute, 04/2014 - 12/2019
- Black Health Coalition HIV/AIDS Task Force, 09/2002 - 11/2006
- South Central Wisconsin Ryan White Consortium, 06/2003 - 04/2004
Board Experience
- Jack and Jill of America, Inc., Vice President, 09/2021 - Present
- UW Health Accountable Care Organization (ACO), Inc., Board of Directors, Member, 06/2020 - Present
- Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Dane County, Board of Directors, Member, 05/2020 - Present
- Creek Day School, Board of Directors, President & Secretary, 04/2012 - 06/2016
- Allied Drive/Dunn Marsh Wellness Center, Board of Directors, Member, 07/2004 - 11/2006
Certification
- Certified Patient Experience Professional, 2017
- DiSC Human Behavior Consultant & Learning Facilitator, 2009
- EpicCare Inpatient and Clinical Documentation, 2007
Professional Presentations
- Supply Chain: A Valued Partner for Adaptive Leaders, UMN-Twin Cities, PUBH 6557, 02/2022
- Interpersonal Emotional Intelligence, United Way of Dane County Boardwalk Academy, 2020 - Present
- Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness Day Annual Conference, 09/2016 - 09/2018
- Black Women’s Leadership Conference, 05/2017 & 05/2018
- WI Society of Medical Assistants (WSMA), Annual State Conference, 04/2017
- WI Society of Medical Assistants (WSMA), Dane County Regional Conference, 04/2015
- WI Emergency Nurses Association (WI ENA), Spring Conference Workshop Facilitator, 05/2013
- WI Society of Peri-Anesthesia Nurses (WISPAN), Fall Seminar Presenter, 09/2012
Accomplishments
- Selected as one of Madison 365’s Black Power 2020: Wisconsin’s 51 Most Influential Black Leaders.
- Selected as one of BRAVA Magazine’s 2021 “Women to Watch”.
Timeline
Senior Vice President, Change Management Lead
Jarrard, Inc. - The Chartis Group
10.2024 - Current
Regional Director, Human Resources Operations
UnityPoint Health -Meriter
12.2021 - 09.2024
Regional Director, Supply Chain Services
UW Health & UnityPoint Health Meriter
08.2019 - 10.2021
Director, Hospitality & Support Services (HSS)
UW Health at The American Center
12.2014 - 08.2019
Clinic Ops Analyst, Senior Education Specialist
UW Health Hospital and Clinics
11.2006 - 12.2014
HIV Treatment Support Services (TSS) Program Coordinator /Intensive HIV Case Manager
AIDS Network (AIDS Service Organization)
06.2003 - 11.2006
Southern WI Community Liaison and Outreach Specialist
UW Madison School of Nursing WisTREC (Distance Learning) Program
12.2000 - 01.2002
HIV Care Program, Treatment Adherence Counselor & Educator
UW Health, UW Hospital and Clinics HIV Care Program
06.2000 - 06.2003
Executive Master of Healthcare Administration - Management Fundamentals in Healthcare Organizations
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology/Anthropology
Carleton College
Diploma -
King-Drew Magnet High School of Medicine and Science
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