Sherri Leahy
December 2024
Sherri
Leahy
,
PhD, RN
Acute Care Quality
Endeavor Health Elmhurst Hospital
Elmhurst
,
IL
United States
Year after year, week after week, Sherri defends, protects, ensures, and helps keep our patients safe in a compassionate and caring environment. Her leadership, approvals, endorsements, and votes have made our hospitals better, and without her work, I can’t imagine where our patients would be.
I am beyond honored to recognize Dr. Sherri (Hill) Leahy with the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award!
Sherri is the epitome of a lifelong nurse learner, leader, mentor, and educator. Sherri has been a nurse since 1975 (clearly a child prodigy), receiving her BSN from Jamestown College, followed by an MS in Organizational Development from Loyola University and a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Northcentral University. In addition to her full-time job with Endeavor Health as System Vice President Acute Care Quality, she is also an Assistant Professor at The Chicago School in the Business Psychology, Organization Leadership, Behavioral Economics department.
What I really want to talk about is the impact Sherri has had at Endeavor Health Elmhurst Hospital (and Edward Hospital) over the past 19 years. Sherri has led multiple departments throughout her years at EEH- Regulatory, Infection Control, Quality, Care Coordination, Risk Management, Patient Experience just to name a few.
Sherri has led the way for Elmhurst Hospital to be recognized as a high quality and safe organization. Elmhurst has received straight A’s from Leapfrog since the start of the program in 2012 and is one of only 12 US hospitals to achieve consecutive As. The Leapfrog Group grades hospitals across the country twice each year, basing the grades on 22 safety measures. Leapfrog gathers its data from the federal government and a survey it sends to hospitals. Sherri has led the efforts to ensure that Elmhurst and Edward are accurately represented in these survey results to achieve highest level rating.
Sherri also brought the principles of HRO (High Reliability Organization) to Elmhurst and Edward about a decade ago. She worked to implement the principles of HRO and build a culture that emphasizes quality and safety over blame and fault-finding with phrases we still utilize today to train all our staff- “speak up for safety”, “I have a safety concern”, “have a questioning attitude”. I could go on and on about what Sherri has done to help create and support the amazing quality and safety outcomes at EEH, but I want to give others a chance as well.
On a personal note, I want to thank Sherri for taking a chance on me. A seasoned CV nurse and APRN who took a huge leap in leaving the bedside to get back into leadership. Thank you for your years of unwavering support, leadership, mentorship, guidance and friendship. I will truly miss the ability to pop down the hall and see you for a pick-me-up or help therapy session. You have been an amazing leader, mentor, peer, and friend, and I will miss you!
***
The DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award suggests that a criterion for consideration might be twenty-five plus years of service. I have known Sherri as a leader since the 1980s in three different organizations. When I first worked with Sherri, she was a front-line leader in the skilled nursing service line. She went on to become a hospital-wide leader for clinical quality, and she is currently a system leader in clinical quality improvement and patient safety. That is without question a distinguished path of career progression. But her contributions are broader than that. She has led the HIM function, the CDI function, Environmental Services, Medical Staff, Patient Experience and Case Management too. If there was a need for a leader Sherri was always willing to step up and do whatever was required at the time. This requires a special skill set and dedication to always focusing on broader organizational objectives.
Under Sherri’s leadership, great things were accomplished. We worked together on successfully addressing a “dealbreaker” finding during a hospital survey which we always talked about as a test of resilience which she can proudly say was never repeated over the course of her career. The straight A ratings in the Leapfrog Survey at Endeavor Elmhurst Hospital is a record replicated by few organizations. Sherri drove results in individual metrics of quality from the days of the QIO “project in a box” to the current challenges in electronic clinical quality metrics. Sherri knew that the outcomes resulted from the daily efforts of clinicians to do what is right for patients. She mentored the front-line leaders overseeing care and was relentless in her pursuit of evidence based best practices which ultimately drive results. Sherri knew that she didn’t have all the answers, so she relied on the clinical experts caring for our patients to find the answers. She was collaborative and always open to learning together about what was best for our patients. Sherri was a mentor whenever the opportunity presented itself. She led classes in quality improvement in orientation for new staff and leaders. She drove our mission of Safe, Seamless, and Personal Care through the implementation of high-reliability principles in patient care.
On a personal note, she was a great support to me when I was faced with my own professional challenges. I would be remiss if I failed to mention that she went on to pursue doctoral-level preparation as part of a personal commitment to professional development. Her insights into organizational dynamics were critical in resolving the challenges faced in the complex healthcare delivery system. I have been proud to call Sherri my colleague, leader, and mentor. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award. Thank you, Sherri, for the invaluable mark that you have left over the course of your distinguished career.
***
Year after year, week after week, Sherri defends, protects, ensures, and helps keep our patients safe in a compassionate and caring environment. Her leadership, approvals, endorsements, and votes have made our hospitals better, and without her work, I can’t imagine where our patients would be. Sherri’s position doesn’t always put her in the spotlight, and so often, her work goes unrecognized by those who benefit from her advocacy: our patients. For the years of service, love, time, and energy she has given to thousands of patients each year, she deserves to be celebrated. The most difficult part of this work is that patients don’t always say thank you. Some write letters. Some place a phone call. And even fewer stop by. But we know how much Sherri has meant to them. For saving, for healing, and for caring, the patients in our communities are grateful for Sherri Leahy. They may not know her name, but they are very familiar with her work. And because we are so familiar with her work, we will never forget her name.
***
Sherri, your nursing career and impact on our organization have been nothing short of AMAZING! Thank you again for all you have done for EEH and Endeavor Health, our patients, our staff, and me! I know Elmhurst will continue to deliver exceptional, safe care and quality outcomes thanks to the foundations you have given us. Congratulations on your retirement- we wish you all the best! Marcie Lafido, MSN, RN, CNS, Chief Nursing Officer Endeavor Health Elmhurst Hospital
Sherri is the epitome of a lifelong nurse learner, leader, mentor, and educator. Sherri has been a nurse since 1975 (clearly a child prodigy), receiving her BSN from Jamestown College, followed by an MS in Organizational Development from Loyola University and a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Northcentral University. In addition to her full-time job with Endeavor Health as System Vice President Acute Care Quality, she is also an Assistant Professor at The Chicago School in the Business Psychology, Organization Leadership, Behavioral Economics department.
What I really want to talk about is the impact Sherri has had at Endeavor Health Elmhurst Hospital (and Edward Hospital) over the past 19 years. Sherri has led multiple departments throughout her years at EEH- Regulatory, Infection Control, Quality, Care Coordination, Risk Management, Patient Experience just to name a few.
Sherri has led the way for Elmhurst Hospital to be recognized as a high quality and safe organization. Elmhurst has received straight A’s from Leapfrog since the start of the program in 2012 and is one of only 12 US hospitals to achieve consecutive As. The Leapfrog Group grades hospitals across the country twice each year, basing the grades on 22 safety measures. Leapfrog gathers its data from the federal government and a survey it sends to hospitals. Sherri has led the efforts to ensure that Elmhurst and Edward are accurately represented in these survey results to achieve highest level rating.
Sherri also brought the principles of HRO (High Reliability Organization) to Elmhurst and Edward about a decade ago. She worked to implement the principles of HRO and build a culture that emphasizes quality and safety over blame and fault-finding with phrases we still utilize today to train all our staff- “speak up for safety”, “I have a safety concern”, “have a questioning attitude”. I could go on and on about what Sherri has done to help create and support the amazing quality and safety outcomes at EEH, but I want to give others a chance as well.
On a personal note, I want to thank Sherri for taking a chance on me. A seasoned CV nurse and APRN who took a huge leap in leaving the bedside to get back into leadership. Thank you for your years of unwavering support, leadership, mentorship, guidance and friendship. I will truly miss the ability to pop down the hall and see you for a pick-me-up or help therapy session. You have been an amazing leader, mentor, peer, and friend, and I will miss you!
***
The DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award suggests that a criterion for consideration might be twenty-five plus years of service. I have known Sherri as a leader since the 1980s in three different organizations. When I first worked with Sherri, she was a front-line leader in the skilled nursing service line. She went on to become a hospital-wide leader for clinical quality, and she is currently a system leader in clinical quality improvement and patient safety. That is without question a distinguished path of career progression. But her contributions are broader than that. She has led the HIM function, the CDI function, Environmental Services, Medical Staff, Patient Experience and Case Management too. If there was a need for a leader Sherri was always willing to step up and do whatever was required at the time. This requires a special skill set and dedication to always focusing on broader organizational objectives.
Under Sherri’s leadership, great things were accomplished. We worked together on successfully addressing a “dealbreaker” finding during a hospital survey which we always talked about as a test of resilience which she can proudly say was never repeated over the course of her career. The straight A ratings in the Leapfrog Survey at Endeavor Elmhurst Hospital is a record replicated by few organizations. Sherri drove results in individual metrics of quality from the days of the QIO “project in a box” to the current challenges in electronic clinical quality metrics. Sherri knew that the outcomes resulted from the daily efforts of clinicians to do what is right for patients. She mentored the front-line leaders overseeing care and was relentless in her pursuit of evidence based best practices which ultimately drive results. Sherri knew that she didn’t have all the answers, so she relied on the clinical experts caring for our patients to find the answers. She was collaborative and always open to learning together about what was best for our patients. Sherri was a mentor whenever the opportunity presented itself. She led classes in quality improvement in orientation for new staff and leaders. She drove our mission of Safe, Seamless, and Personal Care through the implementation of high-reliability principles in patient care.
On a personal note, she was a great support to me when I was faced with my own professional challenges. I would be remiss if I failed to mention that she went on to pursue doctoral-level preparation as part of a personal commitment to professional development. Her insights into organizational dynamics were critical in resolving the challenges faced in the complex healthcare delivery system. I have been proud to call Sherri my colleague, leader, and mentor. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award. Thank you, Sherri, for the invaluable mark that you have left over the course of your distinguished career.
***
Year after year, week after week, Sherri defends, protects, ensures, and helps keep our patients safe in a compassionate and caring environment. Her leadership, approvals, endorsements, and votes have made our hospitals better, and without her work, I can’t imagine where our patients would be. Sherri’s position doesn’t always put her in the spotlight, and so often, her work goes unrecognized by those who benefit from her advocacy: our patients. For the years of service, love, time, and energy she has given to thousands of patients each year, she deserves to be celebrated. The most difficult part of this work is that patients don’t always say thank you. Some write letters. Some place a phone call. And even fewer stop by. But we know how much Sherri has meant to them. For saving, for healing, and for caring, the patients in our communities are grateful for Sherri Leahy. They may not know her name, but they are very familiar with her work. And because we are so familiar with her work, we will never forget her name.
***
Sherri, your nursing career and impact on our organization have been nothing short of AMAZING! Thank you again for all you have done for EEH and Endeavor Health, our patients, our staff, and me! I know Elmhurst will continue to deliver exceptional, safe care and quality outcomes thanks to the foundations you have given us. Congratulations on your retirement- we wish you all the best! Marcie Lafido, MSN, RN, CNS, Chief Nursing Officer Endeavor Health Elmhurst Hospital