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

Paul W. McGourty, RN, MHA, FACHE, has a lot of letters after his name, but that’s just an indication of the progression of his career. McGourty began his career working in hospitality with Marriott International and Ritz-Carlton, and even owned his own restaurant.

However, he realized, “I always wanted to work in a profession where at the end of the day, I knew my time made a difference, and I wasn’t feeling that way or feeling fulfilled in the hospitality industry. Then I felt I was being called to healthcare.”

Nursing school held an appeal but because there was a waiting list to enroll – and a two-year degree would have taken more than four years to obtain – McGourty asked if there was a way to speed up the process. An admissions coordinator suggested a certificate program, which, upon completion, would enable him to be placed at the top of the list to get into the nursing program.

McGourty earned a certificate for surgical technology and, as he explained, “It allowed me to work in the operating room (at Brigham & Women’s Hospital) as a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) while I was putting myself through nursing school.” When McGourty earned his RN, he was immediately hired into the operating room – a position he loved, but after a while he also recognized, “I wanted to be in leadership.”

A position as director of patient experience opened at Holy Cross, and in comparing the requirements of the position with the experience on his CV, McGourty found what he thought was a good fit. “So that’s how I transitioned into leadership here at Holy Cross; I’ve since been promoted to executive director over acute care, and I oversee patient experience for our hospital and our health system.”

In that, McGourty has found the fulfillment he was looking for. “The sense of purpose never goes away: whether you’re providing direct care to a patient, or in an office or in the boardroom making decisions affecting the people who are providing the front-line care, you know the work you do ultimately touches many lives. And that’s a privilege. Work is sacred, and at the end of the day, knowing you had an opportunity to make a difference is what drives me.”

He added that he believes one of his most important responsibilities is to put his colleagues at the center of everything he does. He said if he does that, “I know they will put patients at the center of what they do. I feel you have to put your colleagues first and make sure they have the tools and the resources they need to provide the best possible care.”

While in this position of executive director of nursing and patient experience, McGourty studied at Florida Atlantic University for his MHA, which he obtained in 2018, and it was there that he learned about ACHE, the American College of Healthcare Executives. “One of our assignments was to join ACHE, and the chapter president came and spoke to the class, and told us about all the benefits it offered.” He maintained his membership, and two years ago decided, “Now I need to become a fellow, and work toward gaining that distinction and certification.” He completed that in 2025, earning an FACHE.

McGourty admitted it was a lot of work, saying, “It’s definitely a commitment. It’s not easy, and it shouldn’t be. It’s the gold standard for healthcare leaders to attain; it signifies a commitment to lifelong learning and a commitment to the profession.”

McGourty appreciates ACHE, with its many networking and volunteering opportunities available. “You’re able to contribute and give back to the profession outside the four walls of the healthcare system you work in, which is a great feeling.”