Profiles of Excellence: Penny Wilton

Tuesday, June 7, 2016 | MedAxiom

Penny Wilton, MBBS, FANZCA, FRCA, FFICM
Chief of the Cardiovascular Services Department and the Frederick Meijer Endowed Chair of the Frederick Meijer Heart and Vascular Institute
Grand Rapids, MI

Dr. Penny Wilton is a presenter at the 2016 CVSL Symposium in Washington, D.C.
The topic? Aligning the CVSL Team on Quality, Safety and Finance. Learn more about her in this Profiles of Excellence interview.

1. What do you enjoy most about the work you do?
I work mostly in the critical care and ORs, so I interact with patients and families during times of great stress. I enjoy being able to help them navigate this emotional rollercoaster. I find immense fulfillment in the delivery of exceptional clinical care from a multidisciplinary team.

2. If you could choose any job outside of health care, what would it be?
I can’t imagine life outside of health care. I would probably choose population health management, wellness programs or health policy.

3. What are the biggest challenges facing cardiovascular health care today?
In the United States, the biggest challenges are health care inequality and the cost of care. In addition, prevention and wellness, population health management and the impact of this change on the workforce and physicians, as well as burnout.

4. What is your favorite weekend/leisure activity?
I enjoy spending time with my family, bike riding, swimming, outdoor activities, theater and fine cuisine.

5. Where do you hope to go on your next vacation and why?
I’d like to go to Australia. My family and I lived there for 15 years. It’s a great country, vast and beautiful. The people are friendly and have a laid-back attitude to life. They also are very hard-working. I love to reconnect with my parents, sisters and their children, as well as see old friends from school and the university. I also like lying on the beach—the Aussie beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world.

6. What books are you currently reading?
I love to read for relaxation. JD Salinger’s “Catcher in the Rye.” I’m re-reading for the third time, as my son is studying it in school. Also, “Redefining Healthcare,” by Michael Porter—it’s my go-to bible for health care economics and value.

7. What is the name of the last movie or live performance you saw?
I saw Phantom of the Opera with my daughter. I’ve now seen it in London, Melbourne and the USA.

8. What are you most looking forward to at the 2016 CVSL Symposium?
I'm most looking forward to networking, benchmarking, listening to the other presentations and learning something new.