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I’ve always been an avid reader, and I love to read travel pieces and leadership books in my free time. One of my favorite authors on leadership is John Maxwell. So, when it came time to write today’s article, I turned to Mr. Maxwell for inspiration, as he is brilliant at leadership observations. One of my favorite John Maxwell quotes is, “Dreams don’t work unless you do.” There are many others as well: 

“Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.” 

“If you are a leader, the true measure of your success is not getting people to work. It’s not getting people to work hard. It is getting people to work hard together. That takes commitment.” 

As the CEO of St. Luke’s, I realize that the success of St Luke’s is not due to me. It is due to the deep talent and team that surrounds me. Though I work to recognize them regularly, it could never be enough to match the dedication and care they show. When they succeed, our community wins! Our health wins! Our patients win! Today, I want to talk about one of the leaders on the St Luke’s team who deservedly recognized internationally because of her work to create those wins for our hospital and county. 

Amanda Thompson, RN, MSN, joined St. Luke’s early in 2020 as a grant writer, and her impact on our institution was immediate. She has a mind like a steel trap and a heart of gold. Amanda is approachable, warm, and engaging. People instinctively draw close to her because of her authenticity and servant leadership.

As a community-owned nonprofit, St. Luke’s Hospital largely depends on generous donations from our community, philanthropists, local and regional foundations, and government grants. In her role as a grant writer, it was only a short time before Amanda began realizing success in securing major funding. Her clinical background and acumen helped her tell a persuasive story about the genuine need in this rural community. Amanda saw the natural synergies between her hospital grant writing and The Foundation for St. Luke’s Hospital’s mission. She collaborated with the Foundation Executive Director and Hospital Team to advance care!

In May 2021, as the St Luke’s Foundation sought to find its next Executive Director, Amanda was the perfect choice. She had worked closely with our Previous Executive Director with great success. Amanda built trust and confidence with The Foundation’s committed board members, who desired to see significant advances in healthcare. Amanda’s passion for volunteerism and helping the underserved were evident, and she happily accepted the opportunity to work with the Foundation in this greater way. Over time, Amanda has continued to expand her impact across our organization, also serving as the executive responsible for our Ambulatory Clinics that serve thousands of patients annually. We are amazed by her dedication and commitment and are not the only ones noticing!

The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy recently notified me of Amanda’s selection to the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy’s 2023 Class of 40 Under 40. Friends, this is HUGE! 

Established in 1967, AHP is a nonprofit organization with headquarters just outside Washington, D.C., in Arlington, Va. AHP’s members embody all aspects of healthcare fundraising in more than 2,200 healthcare facilities worldwide.

In Orlando, September 20-22, at AHP’s Annual International Conference, the world’s largest gathering of healthcare philanthropy professionals, Amanda will be honored for her remarkable accomplishments at St. Luke’s. The recognition is well deserved. 

During Amanda’s tenure, The Foundation for St. Luke’s Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital has raised $3.5 million in grant funding and private donations.

John Maxwell’s quotes I shared earlier truly describe Amanda. She is not just a dreamer; she is a doer. Amanda has influenced the work and the people here at St Luke’s, and she has successfully gotten a large group of people to work hard together and have fun doing it! Not an easy task! We are blessed she chooses to be part of St Luke’s and our community. Amanda, Congratulations—and ROCK ON!