At Care Alliance Health Center, care does not begin and end with patients. It also starts behind the scenes—with the people who support the staff every day. One of those people is Valerie Saunders, HR Manager, whose work focuses on making sure employees feel supported, valued, and empowered to show up fully in their roles.
Encouraging People to Bring Their Whole Selves
For Valerie, caring from an HR perspective begins with understanding that employees are human first.
“Caring for me looks like encouraging our people to bring their whole selves to the organization,” she says. “Just like the word says—human. We encourage everyone to bring their whole self and approach each person with compassion and empathy for whatever it is they bring to the table.”
In an environment where staff members work closely with vulnerable communities, that sense of understanding becomes even more important. Valerie believes that in order for employees to care for patients effectively, they also need to feel cared for themselves.
“In addition to being a safe haven for our patients, we need to be a safe haven for our employees,” she explains. “That means meeting people where they are and doing our best to support them so they can show up as healthy and supportive as possible in their roles.”
A Passion for Helping People
Valerie’s passion for HR comes from more than 20 years of experience in recruitment and human resources across multiple industries. While the industries have varied, one thing has always remained the same—helping people.
“For me, it’s always been about helping somebody,” she says. “Whether it’s helping them grow, bringing them on board, or encouraging them to reach their full potential, I draw on my experience to motivate and support people so they can perform at the highest level.”
Because she is often the first point of contact for new hires, she also sees her role as setting the tone for their entire experience.
“I’m the first touch with employees before they even become employees,” she says. “I want to make sure the message I give them is consistent with what they’ll actually experience when they get here. That’s how trust is built.”
When Support Goes Beyond the Workplace
One moment that stands out to Valerie is when she was able to help an employee who was struggling to keep her utilities on. As a single mother, the employee was facing the possibility of losing heat and electricity for the weekend.
“I was able to help her so that she and her son could have heat and electricity,” Valerie recalls. “A lot of people don’t realize that the same challenges our patients face are often the same challenges our employees face.”
For Valerie, helping employees through situations like that is not separate from the work—it is part of the work.
“We want our employees to know they are supported, valued, and respected, even when they’re dealing with difficult life situations,” she says.
Navigating Today’s Workforce Challenges
Like many healthcare organizations, Care Alliance is navigating workforce shortages and changing expectations in today’s work environment. Valerie says one of the biggest challenges right now is helping people better understand the importance of work ethic, character, and accountability—especially for those who are new to the workforce.
Rather than focusing only on the challenges, she is working to be part of the solution. That includes partnering with educational institutions, attending job fairs, and participating in discussions about how to strengthen the healthcare workforce for the future.
“I’ve been invited to sit on panels and work with community partners to talk about how we can build a stronger workforce,” she says. “It’s about understanding where the gaps are and helping people succeed.”
Building Support Systems for Employees
Valerie also takes an “out-of-the-box” approach when it comes to supporting staff. Sometimes that means helping employees build stronger support systems outside of work, especially for single parents balancing multiple responsibilities.
“I always encourage people to create their own villages,” she says. “Sometimes just having the right resources or the right information can make a huge difference.”
In one case, she even helped an employee connect with the right resources in her child’s school district so the child could receive support for a learning difference. The result not only helped the family, but also helped the employee feel more secure and focused at work.
A Role Built on Trust and Compassion
At its core, Valerie sees her work as both practical and deeply personal. By building strong relationships with employees, listening to their needs, and offering support wherever possible, she helps create a workplace where people feel respected and understood.
“I’m a nurturer,” she says. “I build relationships, I listen, and I try to help in any way I can. If our employees feel supported, they’re able to do their jobs better—and that ultimately helps the patients we serve.”