Associate Site Administrator, Parkland Health And Hospital System
Wallace, who earned her MBA and master’s degree in Healthcare Management at Jindal School, assists with all aspects of operations at Parkland’s Southeast Dallas Health Center, including administrative, business and clinical, in addition to the design of work processes, prioritization of initiatives and clinic performance improvement projects. She’s been at Parkland for almost four years. Prior to her Parkland position, she was at Raytheon in Dallas, working as a process engineer, analytical chemist and management assistant. Wallace earned bachelor’s degrees in biology and chemistry from University of California, Riverside.
How have your two Jindal School degrees impacted your career?
My degrees provided a strong foundation for healthcare management by starting with a fundamental knowledge of the healthcare industry and consistently building upon that knowledge including courses such as Healthcare Law, Analytics and Strategic Leadership to prepare me for my career. Having a degree from UT Dallas is a conversation starter for networking or interviewing especially since UTD students have won the ACHE (American College of Healthcare Executives) Case Study Competition multiply times, increasing the credibility of a UT Dallas Healthcare Management degree.
What do you enjoy about your current position/profession?
Assisting patients with their healthcare needs and working with employees for process improvement and innovation to improve the services provided. I also enjoy seeing patients’ excitement as they see their health improve or they reach a health goal.
What is a professional highlight of your career, either where you currently work or in the past?
I utilized a reverse engineered formula to create thin film used in the laser of a satellite when I was employed as an analytical chemist at Raytheon.
Why did you come to UT Dallas?
UT Dallas was highly recommended by a previous manager and coworkers who are alumni. I researched the university and found many great reviews. Also, UTD was offering degree programs I was interested in pursuing and the campus was conveniently located.
What advice do you have for college students hoping to succeed professionally?
Don’t always focus on financial gain because sometimes you have to sacrifice finances for experience and knowledge. Networking is invaluable so interact with professors and students and join professional organizations to connect with professionals in your field of interest. Volunteering and internships are a great way to gain experience and make valuable connections.
What makes an effective leader?
Effective leaders listen and solicit input from staff, especially when decisions affect them. They invest in employees’ career growth and respect the ideas and opinions of others. An effective leader is also respectful, approachable, has a desire to improve and uses errors as a learning lesson instead of an opportunity to blame others.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Traveling, concerts, exercising, trying new activities and enjoying time with family and friends.
