McCurtain Memorial Hospital announced recently that Sarah Rea, a Register Nurse who holds her Bachelors of Scoence in Nursing, has joined the executive leadership team at the hospital.
Sarah was born and raised in Paris, Texas, and graduating from Paris High School marked the beginning of her journey into the healthcare profession. Sarah's mother jokes that even at a young age she depended on Sarah to “nurse” her three younger brothers when they were sick or injured.
After high school, Sarah attended Texas A&M College Station, and then her pursuit of the nursing profession led her to UT Tyler where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2012.
Sarah began her professional career as a Registered Nurse (RN) at ETMC in Tyler, TX, where she gained invaluable knowledge and nursing skills in the Surgical Department of a level 1 trauma center.
Life threw Sarah a curveball when her father became terminally ill, and she moved back home to Paris to be with him and her family. She began working in surgery at Paris Regional Hospital as part of the open-heart surgery team.
In 2023, she embraced a new chapter in her career by becoming the Surgical Services Director at MMH, and it is a position that she described as, "incredibly rewarding."
Sarah said, "The opportunity to lead and innovate in the Surgical Services Department is a privilege I hold with great humility. I have recently received the honor of being appointed as the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) at MMH, and I am dedicated to continuing to serve this community with integrity."
"The responsibility of ensuring that our medical practices adhere to the highest standards of ethics and regulations resonates deeply with my commitment to excellence in patient care." Sarah says.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Sarah's personal life is anchored by her marriage to her high school sweetheart, Josh. Together, they have been blessed with a beautiful daughter, and being her parents has given them both the greatest joy.
"My husband and I value family, and having our daughter raised with close grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles that also live in Paris is a blessing for which we are very thankful." Sarah said.
In their free time, Sarah says it is often spent with family and close friends. Balancing the demands of a challenging career with the joys of family life has been a rewarding journey, and both Sarah and Josh continue to find fulfillment in both.
Sarah said, "As I navigate this new role at MMH, I remain grateful for the support and opportunities that have shaped my journey thus far. I appreciate the many experiences that have molded me in the past eleven years of my nursing career, and I look forward to making a positive impact in my new role serving as your Chief Compliance Officer."
Hospital President and CEO, Brian Whitfield, said he named Rea for the executive role because of her attention to detail and insistence on always getting it right.
"Sarah is top-notch. She brings a lot of experience to our hospital and she is respected among her colleagues." Whitfield said. "This role takes someone who's compassionate, willing to teach, and someone who is relentless in making us a better organization," he continued.
Rea is now one of five executive leaders at the hospital and will soon undergo her first accreditation survey as required by CMS. Rea will continue as the hospital Surgery Director, too.
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