The Director Who Writes Novels

People are sometimes surprised to learn that I write fiction.

I am a Director of Environmental Services with 28 years in healthcare. I spend my days thinking about disinfection protocols, staffing assignments, infection prevention, and regulatory compliance. That is the work I love.

And I write novels.

My first, The Emerson Experiment, is a medical thriller about a hospital engineer whose invention is stolen to serve someone else’s agenda. Paperback, Kindle, and audiobook.

I wrote it because leaders who create things understand something that leaders who only manage things do not. The blank page and the empty department have a lot in common. Both require vision, patience, and the willingness to build something before you can see what it will become.

Writing fiction made me a better director. It taught me how to hold complexity, develop people as if they were characters worth understanding, and find the story inside situations that look like problems.

If you have something you have always wanted to create, start. You will be surprised what it teaches you about the work you already do.

#Leadership #EVSLeadership #MedicalThriller #TheEmersonExperiment #HealthcareLeadership

With over 27 years in Healthcare Environmental Services (ES), I lead with a belief that attitude drives outcomes. As a Regional Director at MultiCare Health System, I oversee multi-site ES operations with a focus on people-first leadership, infection control, and operational excellence. I champion a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) not as a slogan, but as a leadership principle. I believe positivity is contagious, and as a leader, I set the tone. Through consistent, uplifting communication, I create environments where ES teams feel empowered to be helpful, proactive, and proud of their impact. For me, development is a choice, and I invest in training, huddles, and coaching that energize teams, helping them thrive in their current roles and grow toward what’s next. My approach to high standards isn't theoretical, it's practical. Just like we notice when a hotel room is clean and fresh, patients and families immediately sense a space that’s been cared for. Through standardized protocols, team accountability, and a shared mission, I help create clean, safe, and healing environments that directly enhance patient experience and staff well-being. It's a privilege to lead teams that play such a vital role in the patient journey, and to help elevate the perception and performance of ES professionals across our system.

What do you think?