DAWN PEVEY MAUK, 34
Chief nursing officer, Ochsner Health System
Chief operating officer, Ochsner Medical Center in Baton Rouge
Either one of Dawn Pevey Mauk’s roles at Ochsner Health System might seem daunting. But she has handled both with grace: overseeing all contracts, policies and business development at the Baton Rouge campus, as well as leading all clinical care across the entire Ochsner Health System, which includes 10 hospital, 45 clinics and more than 5,000 nurses. That’s while she also completed her masters degree in health care administration and obtained special certification. Under her leadership, the hospital has achieved multiple top rankings.
Inspiring book: Good to Great
This is a reminder for all of us to not become complacent in the work that we do. Specifically in health care, having people continually strive to be better and do more is important for our patients, advances in health care, and our community.
Major professional accomplishments: Chairman of Ochsner Health System Nurse Executive Council, 2011 Great 100 Nurse of Louisiana, Ochsner Health System Chief Nursing Officer of the Year 2011, Presidents Award Recipient for the Ochsner Health System 2013, Nurse Executive Advanced Certification, led the clinical nursing care of Ochsner Medical Center Baton Rouge to be #1 in the Region for Overall hospital and surgical care (two years in a row) and top 5% of the country for Hospital Safety, received Hospital for the Year (60-160 beds) by the State Nurses Association, design and building of the upcoming Iberville Medical Complex (45,000-square-foot facility with lab, radiology, clinic, and emergency services).
Volunteer and community involvement: 2012-2013 Leadership Baton Rouge, 2012-2013 Leadership Livingston, American Heart Association Heart Walk, American Cancer Society Go Pink Campaign, area high school athletic physicals and community health screenings, Central Area Chamber of Commerce, Denham Springs Chamber of Commerce
PROFESSIONAL
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? From a very early age, I was intrigued by health care and always wanted to be a nurse.
What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? My first job was a cashier at Eckerd Pharmacy. I learned about the commitment of work, even when you miss the fun things. I also learned to consider the number of hours I would have to work for things I wanted to buy, a new perspective on if that item was worth it.
What is your favorite place for a business lunch in Baton Rouge? We frequent City Café on O’Neal Lane, good location to work with great food and variety of options. It helps that my husband is also the general manager there.
What do you consider your greatest achievement? Professionally I have been very successful, and I see my role of leading the other chief nursing officers across the health system as a significant achievement. However, my greatest achievement is being a mother. My kids and family bring so much joy to my life and help bring me back to reality when I lose balance of work and home.
The old saying goes, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Specifically, what are you “being” to make Baton Rouge better? I believe that I am being a role model for my employees and my family, including loyalty to my place of employment, community involvement and helping those in need. I’m “being” a giving person to those in need in our community through time, donations and mentorship.
What ritual do you do to get pumped up before a big meeting, presentation or pitch? I don’t have a ritual, but listening to music always helps me to clear my mind.
What has been the most fulfilling moment in your career so far? There hasn’t been one specific moment. Each time a patient comes back to say “thank you” or writes a note thanking the staff for the work that they did, it fills my heart. When a patient shares that the compassion of their health care team helped to eliminate their fear and provide “above and beyond” care, it reinforces the value of the work that I do.
What was your professional aha moment? I had the honor of working in critical care at Charity Hospital in New Orleans through Hurricane Katrina. Many have heard the stories of how difficult it was to provide care for patients given the conditions. For me, this was a time where technology was not available, there was no “end” to the shift, the patient’s needs were greater than ever and the nurse could spend all day at the bedside. It was you and the patient and unlimited time to provide for the patient in a holistic way. As part of the transport team, we took the sickest patients on boats, ambulances and helicopters through the day and night. Being part of a team that never wavered in their commitment and dedication to the patient made me proud of the profession and pushed me to always keep that patient focus.
How many times will you try something before admitting it doesn’t work? I typically will try twice before determining that it doesn’t work and moving on.
What is your best productivity hack? One way is that my make-up has never seen in the inside of my house … doing it at red lights and in the parking lot of work is probably one way.
What does your job entail that would shock customers or clients if they knew about it? I don’t think that others know that when there is a hurricane, “snow day” or other weather event, the leaders of the hospital stay in house 24/7. During this time we ensure all emergency precautions are in place, feed employees, blow up air mattresses and anything else that needs to be done.
TECHNOLOGY
Mac or PC? Either one, not picky about technical stuff
What’s your preferred mode of communication: text or phone call? Text, more convenient regardless of time of day and can serve as a reminder.
How low will you allow your remaining battery life to get (in %) before you have an anxiety attack? Zero, everyone has multiple numbers to track me down.
How many unread messages are in your inbox right now? Less than 20. My inbox serves as a working list of things for me to do. My goal is to address email so that it doesn’t become overwhelming.
Are you quick to adapt to new tech, or did you hang on to that flip phone way after it became obsolete? Once I make the decision to get the new technology I do fine with it, but never am I the first person to get the new technology.
PERSONALITY
How many times do you hit the snooze button? Multiple times. I set the alarm early to ensure that I have time to snooze.
Breakfast at home? Breakfast on the go? Breakfast at your desk? No breakfast at all? Most of the time no breakfast at all. But if I do, it is breakfast at my desk (the hospital has a great breakfast).
Is the glass half empty or half full? What’s in the glass? Half full. Attitude is half the battle. As much as I know I shouldn’t, the glass is full of Coke.
If you could build a statue downtown, who or what would it represent? I’m sure it would be something to do with LSU because what else is there?
What’s your motto? Treat others how you want to be treated. This seems so simple but many times gets lost. I tell my employees to treat every patient like a person that they love (spouse, mother, father, child, etc). If we always do this, the world would be a great place.
When did you realize you had grown up? Three kids in the house (within 3 years) remind me that I’m grown up. Or at least makes me feel grown.
What is your greatest extravagance? Shopping on Black Friday. I wait all year for it. The ads for this year started the first week of October.
When and where were you happiest? On the beach with the kids and husband.
Which talent or superpower would you most like to have and why? I would like to have the superpower of flying. This would allow me to get to and from places so much quicker, allowing more time to do other things. I always feel like I don’t have enough time in the day so this would create more open time.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? There would be a few, but my hair would be high up on the list. I have natural curly hair that does not do well in the humidity of Louisiana.
What’s your most treasured possession? My family is the most important thing in the world.
What do you miss most about the ’90s? I feel like most things from the 90’s are already back! Because I love to dance, I have fond memories of the Macarena.
If you had to be a teacher of something, what would you teach? Arts and crafts.
What is your theme song? Growing up in Louisiana, I would have to say “Eye of the Tiger.”
If you could go back in time 20 years, what advice would you give yourself? Don’t ever say “never” … I’ve been proven wrong every time.
What makes you laugh every time you think about it? My husband’s dance moves, he says I don’t appreciate them!
LOOKING AHEAD
What’s the next challenge you have planned? I have decided to sit for the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executive exam.
Three things on your bucket list: Travel around the world, skydive (although this really scares me) and to have a week-long shopping spree (with no budget).
If you have children, what concerns you most about the future they will inherit? With technology, kids are learning more and more about instant gratification and losing the ability to have in person social interactions.
What would be your advice for future Forty Under 40 honorees? My father always told me there are two paths in life: one easy and one that is much harder. You will make choices on the paths but the things worth having don’t come easy. Never settle and always remain true to the things that are important to you.
Do you plan to be in the Capital Region five years from now? Yes, I would love to have my children raised in this area.
Why have you chosen to make your home in the Capital Region? I was born and raised in this area and my entire family resides in this area. There is no place like home.
Have you peaked, or do you think you’ll still have it when we launch our hypothetical “Forty Over 40” awards years from now? I think with my type A personality, I will still be pushing forward.
