Marilyn Swindle, DNP, MBA, RN, CPHQ, FACHE | Safety, Quality, Informatics, and Leadership
Marilyn Swindle, DNP, MBA, RN, CPHQ, FACHE, began her journey in health care as a critical care nurse, where she spent years at the bedside before transitioning into leadership roles. Over time, she progressed from an assistant nurse manager to a chief nursing officer, ultimately becoming the vice president of quality management at Atrium Health. Recognizing the central role of quality and safety in health care, she enrolled in Harvard Medical School’s Safety, Quality, Informatics, and Leadership certificate program to gain the insights and tools needed to drive meaningful change within her organization and the broader health care field.
Shared Challenges, Global Solutions
Having progressed through various leadership roles, Swindle has dedicated her career to improving health care outcomes through effective leadership and teamwork. As she transitioned into these positions, she recognized the growing need for formal education in leadership, safety, and quality.
“I wanted to broaden my network,” she explains. “During the program, I met colleagues from all over the world, which made me ask myself, ‘What can I learn from others? How can I refresh my leadership skills, deepen my knowledge of safety and quality, and better engage stakeholders?’”
While collaborating with her cohort, she discovered that many challenges in health care are universal. “The same issues we face daily are shared by health care professionals everywhere. It broadens your perspective and helps you see things from different angles,” she notes. Swindle also found it inspiring how leaders across the world are able to achieve significant results through simple, fundamental approaches. “It doesn’t have to be anything huge. Focusing on the basics reminds us that there are many ways to achieve success, no matter where you are.”
Integrating Capstone Insights for Systemic Improvement
During the program, Swindle was promoted from director of quality, safety, and infection prevention to associate vice president of regional clinical effectiveness at Memorial Hermann Health System. She aligned her capstone project with an initiative she was leading in her organization that focused on enhancing the medication reconciliation process to increase patient safety and optimize outcomes. This initiative was particularly timely, as it complemented the organization’s broader effort to improve discharge processes.
Components of her capstone were integrated into the organization’s overall strategy, highlighting the program’s practical relevance. “The discharge optimization team at my organization was able to incorporate parts of the capstone project into their strategies,” she adds. Her experience demonstrated how the program provided valuable insights that not only guided her project but also contributed to systemic improvements within her organization.
Inclusive Leadership in Action
The Safety, Quality, Informatics, and Leadership program had a profound impact on Swindle’s career, particularly in shaping her leadership approach and sharpening her focus on equity and inclusion. She reflected on how it broadened her perspective, helping her ask critical questions about data, representation, and decision-making: “Who is missing from the conversation? What can we learn from the data that we’re not seeing?”
These reflections led Swindle to approach every project with an equity lens, constantly considering how different groups might be affected. This emphasis on inclusivity became even more central in her current organization, where health equity is a top priority. The program, combined with further diversity and inclusion training, reinforced her commitment to ensuring that equity and access are always at the forefront of her leadership.
To anyone considering Safety, Quality, Informatics, and Leadership at Harvard Medical School, she emphasizes, “This program is well worth the time and investment; it will enhance both your personal and professional life.”