Justin Sanders learned the importance of community at a young age, but after a natural disaster struck, he experienced what a strong community could accomplish together.
“My family’s home was struck by a tornado in 2016,” Sanders said. “This tragic experience would have been much worse if not for the countless neighbors, community organizations and strangers who came together and supported us in our time of need.”
Now Sanders pays that kindness forward every day in his role as director of operations at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth.
“Our diverse team keeps our patients at the center of every decision we make,” Sanders said. “And the best part is hearing patients tell stories about how they were positively impacted by the work we do.”
Sanders’ devotion to creating a positive experience for patients has been noticed.
“Justin is a compassionate leader who is driven to advance positive change for Texas Health,” said Corey Wilson, vice president and chief operating officer of Texas Health Fort Worth. “He approaches challenges with curiosity and humility, building trusting relationships with his team and peers to push through barriers and achieve excellence.”
Continue reading to learn more about Justin Sanders, including how he chose his career, what he does in his spare time and his love for Formula One.
What did you want to be as a kid, and how did you ultimately choose your career?
As a kid I wanted to be a doctor. I always had a passion for the medical field and caring for people. However, during college, I discovered there are many other ways I can fulfill my personal mission without being a doctor. This led me to pursue a master’s degree in healthcare administration. I can support caregivers, patients and families from an operational and leadership standpoint.
What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
I’ve loved Formula One racing since I was a child and I still look forward to the races. It’s the combination of immense skill, engineering, speed and emotion involved that keeps me locked in watching week after week. Outside of this, I spend my spare time with my fiancée, Lizzie, and our two dogs, Millie and Winston (border collie and labradoodle) in the backyard or exploring the outdoors in DFW.
What is your favorite work-related hack?
Observe and listen to the experiences of your peers around you. It is amazing what you can learn. Other people’s experiences can pay dividends to you in the future if you find yourself in a similar situation.
What kinds of innovative approaches have you or your department adopted to make our consumers more comfortable and give them a better experience overall?
Our Mission Control department at Texas Health Fort Worth is working to redesign the discharge experience for our patients and families with the goal of creating efficient and familiar pathways for families to navigate when picking up their loved ones. We want to create the best impression for patients and families as they transition home or to their next phase of care.
Has your department found ways, big or small, to improve efficiency or care? What are some of them?
We are always looking to improve the way lung cancer is treated within Tarrant County through early detection, diagnosis and rapid turnover to treatment. Helping support this department and bring life-changing interventions to our patients is a rewarding experience as we work to reinvent how patients with lung cancer approach their diagnosis and treatment options within North Texas.
