We greatly appreciate and value all of our SpecialtyCare Human Resources employees. This week, we’re highlighting one of our HR Business Partners, Shandus Parish, whose work upholds our mission and vision. She discusses what led her to healthcare, what a typical day in her role looks like, and the benefits of a career in Healthcare HR while sharing memorable moments from her career.
What is your role in the Human Resources Department?
I’m an HR Business Partner.
How long have you been an HR partner?
I joined SpecialtyCare as a Senior HR Generalist a little under 2 ½ years ago. In 2021, I was promoted to HR Business Partner. I currently work with our G&A associates and the ECMO and RNP groups. Additionally, I handle offboarding and immigration processes for associates in all service lines. I’ve been in Human Resources for six years with varied HR experience in higher education, commercial insurance, and now healthcare.
What led you to become interested in Healthcare HR, and can you describe your path to becoming an HR partner?
I began my career in higher education working as a supervisor of operations in residence life at two different universities. Eventually, I wanted a career change and took what I loved from that role (leadership development, training, hiring, an interest in employment law, etc.) and felt that human resources would be a seamless next step. That led to an HR role at the university where I was already working.
From there, I knew that I wanted to explore a variety of industries to see what resonated most. I came across SpecialtyCare and felt a connection to the organization’s mission. I love that I can be part of a more significant purpose of saving and improving lives even though I’m not physically in the operating room.
What are the benefits of a career in Healthcare HR?
Healthcare is its own animal in many ways. There are unique complexities in Healthcare HR, which ultimately shape the HR professional to be a more critical thinker. The many layers of legal requirements, credentialing, and facility-specific rules push us to think critically and creatively.
What is a day in the life of an HR business partner like?
Most people say this, but there’s indeed no typical “day in the life” of an HR Business Partner because one phone call can change your entire day. How I spend my day depends on what’s going on in my business units each week and what the current manager and associate needs.
My day-to-day responsibilities include helping a manager resolve a challenge on their team or a candidate with the immigration process of applying for a visa, walking through leave options to an associate needing time off or the onboarding process for a new hire, meeting with my recruiting partner to discuss upcoming openings, and various administrative tasks. The common theme is problem-solving, which I find fun and interesting.
What communication advice would you give when it comes to the team dynamic of HR?
HR is all about collaboration. Very little of my day-to-day work falls within my scope, so I’m constantly reaching out to others across the organization to share or request information and brainstorm solutions. It’s essential to be a team player, be kind and open-minded, and be willing to give and take.
What was a surprise to you about the career when you first started?
Early in my career, it was a learning curve to understand that there’s usually more than one right way to do something, leaving more room for creativity than you might think.
What has been a memorable moment or story you’d like to share from your career?
Much of my work is confidential, so it’s hard to share specific stories. However, it’s always memorable to receive positive feedback from associates who appreciate what I’ve done to help them. Much of the HR job is behind the scenes, so it boosts confidence when others in the organization recognize how much we care and the hard work we put in.
What do you love about your role and how it fits into the impactful mission and vision of SpecialtyCare?
I love that my role allows me to learn new things every day and work with individuals across almost every functional area in the organization. I’ll never be in the operating room, but it’s incredible to do work supporting others in their selfless mission of saving lives.
About SpecialtyCare
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