LAKEPORT >> Sutter Lakeside Hospital is proud to continue highlighting the female members of its senior management team.
Tiffany Ortega, Assistant Administrator of Sutter Lakeside Hospital, has devoted her career to positivity. A California native, Ortega realized at a young age the importance of providing care for those who need it most.
“My aunt runs a camp for children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities. We spent our summers volunteering until we were old enough to work as counselors,” said Ortega.
Camp Paivika, located in the San Bernardino National Forest, opened in 1947 as one of the first fully accessible summer camps in the country, according to its website.
“People usually react by saying ‘I could never do something like that’, but when you’re in the moment and the kids need you, you do whatever you can for them,” said Ortega. “My sister and I got our friends involved, and soon we were all spending our summers at camp. It was such a fun environment for both us and the campers.”
Her experiences at camp lead her to the realization that fulfillment lies in helping others when they’re most vulnerable.
“I had a frustrating experience working for a senior center in college. The answer to everything seemed to be ‘That’s just how it is’, but I knew there had to be a different way. I wanted to be part of the solution to provide a better healthcare experience.”
Following a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from USC, Ortega earned a position as one of five administrative fellows for Sutter Health in Roseville. The Sutter Health fellowship program is one of a handful of its kind, and is recognized across the country as a top program.
“As a fellow, the exposure to operations and strategy was incredible,” said Ortega. “After a year, I had the opportunity to serve as the interim lab director at Sutter Roseville, which morphed into a full time position. I continued to take on different departments, including environmental services and transportation. The ability to gain different perspectives and bring different departments together was special.”
Ortega moved to Lake County in 2014, following a job opening at Sutter Lakeside Hospital.
“Becoming an assistant administrator was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down,” said Ortega. “Siri [Nelson, CAO of Sutter Lakeside Hospital] has spent her career willing to invest in people whom others may see as a risk, and Sutter relentlessly invests in the education of their employees. The lessons I’ve learned in leadership apply not only to my profession, but to my life.”
Ortega’s passion is driven by her to desire to be a positive force in both healthcare and people’s lives.
“I believe there’s a greater human need to be helpful, and creating a positive environment for patients and staff is important. To so many, working at the hospital is more than just a job, and negativity in the workplace can affect personal lives. So can positivity.
“My responsibility is to ensure the best environment for everyone at Sutter Lakeside. I love mentoring others and watching the light bulb go off when they realize they’re capable of amazing things.”
