Deb Reiner

Contributing to St. Mark’s legacy of people first

Deb Reiner vividly remembers staring at captivating black and white photos of St. Mark’s Hospital nuns caring for miners and railroad workers. The historic images lined the hospital’s hallways during its 135th anniversary, when Deb served as the hospital’s Marketing Director.

“Every day, I’d look at those photos, and no matter how good or bad the day was, they somehow inspired me. I remember thinking, ‘How can I help contribute to this legacy?’” Deb said. “Those images spoke about what made this hospital — it wasn’t the name nor the ownership, but the people.”

First focus: Fanning the “why” of hospital service

With the foundational legacy of St. Mark’s always in the forefront of her mind, Deb aimed to bolster the hospital’s team members and the patients they served. For example, one of her valued St. Mark’s memories involves teaching about empathy and patients’ perspectives to the hospital’s newest team members.

“People could choose any industry, but healthcare workers have a certain calling. They choose the hospital because of a light inside them. We worried the business of healthcare was fanning out that light. So, we devised a training program to discuss patients’ mindsets; as they often are in pain and have anxiety about being here,” Deb said. “Every other week I’d walk into a room of 30 new employees to teach this training and I’d see a group that felt so proud to be a part of the legacy of St. Mark’s Hospital. I thought I was there to motivate them, but they always filled my cup.”

First mentor: Inspiring a career built on passion

While at St. Mark’s, Deb worked closely with CEO John Hanshaw. Through his quiet and strong leadership, John not only served as a favorable boss, but as a genuine mentor.

“I owe a lot to the leadership and mentorship John provided,” Deb said. “It was the first time I felt honored to work in an organization with a leader like that. It’s also when I realized I was creating more than a job, but a career built on passion. That proved to be a turning point for me professionally.”

The continued theme: Patients come first

John later served as president of HCA Healthcare’s Mountain Division, and Deb became the division’s Vice President of Marketing. A few years later, Deb moved to Nashville, Tennessee where she served as the enterprise’s Vice President of Customer Relationship Management, then Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, and now Vice President of Marketing and Communications for all of HCA Healthcare.

“When I joined the corporate office, I didn’t know what to expect. I was pleased to find that the legacy St. Mark’s is founded on is carried out every day in the corporate office. Everything done in Nashville is to better serve hospitals so they can better serve patients. I’m told everyday by Samuel Hazen, CEO of HCA Healthcare, that our job is to support the hospitals,” Deb said.

St. Mark’s: A flagship hospital with a fantastic past and future

Even in her current leadership role, Deb says St. Mark’s continues to rise as an influential facility with tremendous potential for the future.

“St. Mark’s is the largest hospital in the Mountain Division and offers the highest acuity of services — that’s what we mean by flagship. And as a flagship facility, St. Mark’s stands out because of its fast-growing performance and strong culture. A lot of our HCA conversations highlight what we can learn from St. Mark’s and share with other markets,” Deb said.

For Deb, the question, “How can I help contribute to this legacy?” remains a guiding force. The answer boils down to prioritizing people; and Deb believes that answer will continue to prove imperative in St. Mark’s future.

“My wish on this 150th anniversary for St. Mark’s Hospital is that they stay true to what makes them so amazing today. It’s easy to get caught up in trends or external pressures, but it’s the people that have made that hospital strong,” Deb said. “I have had the opportunity of walking into a lot of facilities, and the feeling in St. Mark’s about being a family that takes care of each other — that’s what makes it successful. I hope they never lose sight of that!”