By Lois Thomson, South Florida Hospital News, for ACHE of South Florida

Giving back. You don't have to talk long with Marcella Gravalese to learn that giving back is what is most important to her. Gravalese is the Vice President of Baptist Health Medical Group for the Palm Beach and Broward regions, and of her responsibilities she said, "We have about 200 providers, and I oversee full operations for 55 locations within the northern area. I have a multi-disciplinary medical group, made up of primary care physicians, medical specialists, and surgical specialists, and advanced practice providers who support those physicians and surgeons in caring for our patients."

She pointed out that there is considerable competition in the market, so she focuses on facilitating the best care for the patients and communities being served. That includes the snowbirds who come down during the winter months: "We want them to know they have the same quality care right here locally, and we can work with their providers."

Gravalese has been with Baptist Health since 2021, and in healthcare overall for more than 20 years, but that was not her original career choice. She attended Michigan State University, where she was in a general studies program and also played volleyball. "I suffered an injury and had to go through a lot of therapy, two surgeries, post op, rehab – it really intrigued me, and I changed my major to medicine. God had a bigger plan for me."

She developed a strong passion for healthcare and said her real focus is providing a responsible ambulatory care network. "We're making sure we have seamless integration from inpatient care to outpatient care, and I pride myself on leading this medical group."

However, now that Gravalese is more than 20 years into her career, she said she wants "more than a paycheck," she wants to feel as if she is making a difference. "Now that I've grown to the highest level of my career that I'd like to achieve – I've accomplished everything I set out to accomplish – I want to help develop and teach others." She said she relishes giving back, and remembers the help she received from her first mentor. "Now I enjoy developing younger talent."

Gravalese's association with ACHE – the American College of Healthcare Executives – presents her with even more opportunities to give back. A member since 2016, she was chosen back then as a Thomas Dolan Scholar, one of ACHE's diversity programs, where a handful of people are selected each year to work on projects and travel to different areas. She explained that the social economic types in Florida may not be the same as those in San Diego or the inner-city of Chicago. "In South Florida, we have a large aging population, so you're taking care of an older demographic. In San Diego, a lot of folks who come from South America and migrated into the San Diego market, for the first time sought care for children who have different medical needs; it's amazing to see how they address concerns. In Chicago, you see how they take care of the underserved community with little resources."

Calling herself "a forever learner," Gravalese also likes ACHE's networking opportunities that allow her to interact with multiple different leaders. "I like to stay cutting-edge and learn from other amazing people. ACHE does a great job of bringing people who are like-minded together, who have the same passion and drive." She is also looking forward to taking her Fellow exam in December.

Additionally, Gravalese is working on her second doctorate, saying she wants to create curriculum for other leaders. "There are a lot of physicians and nurses who want to embark on the healthcare administration side, but they don't know how. I think with my experience having both education and experience, I can help navigate this world for them to strive to become the best leader."

Gravalese is using her experience and passion to incorporate what's most important – giving back – into her career.