5 Questions with Jeremy Sadlier

5 Questions with Jeremy Sadlier 
Executive Director, ASHHRA 

1. What was it like transitioning ASHHRA from a part of the American Health Organization to its own organization under MCI?

 Moving to MCI gave ASHHRA (American Society for Health Care Human Resources Administration) the opportunity to be an independent entity after nearly 60 years of being a part of the AHA. It’s been exciting to have the freedom to engage in partnerships and provide commentary and perspective on things we couldn’t in the past.

Admittedly, it was also stressful at first moving from the comfort of a parent organization for decades to independence without a fiduciary board or money in the reserves. Along with those stresses came the need to contract for all the tools and resources we needed that had been woven into the AHA. All our tools, systems, even our website were brand new, so there was lots of transitional work. It was the guidance from MCI that made this all happen for ASHHRA, from incorporation to finding the right AMS to writing up contracts; all decisions of these decisions would have been far tougher, for ASHHRA and for me, if not for the guidance of Amy, Erin, Kevin, and Michele.   

2. What is your favorite part of your job?

I worked in the healthcare/HR space for more than 20 years, so my ASHHRA expertise comes from the perspective of our membership. While that experience has served me well in the role of executive director for ASHHRA, two decades of doing HR work was exhausting. Healthcare doesn’t stop and as a result, I was essentially working or on call 24/7/365 for at least a decade. When issues arose, I was the one who had to come to the hospital on the weekends or in the middle of the night if there was a fight or meds missing or another crisis. As you might imagine, it was very disruptive for my family and for me as a father and a husband.

Beyond the long hours, the industry was also changing. Like many larger healthcare systems, my organization was moving from a patient/people-focus to being heavily influenced by revenue, and for me, that was a tough pill to swallow. With my move to ASHHRA, I thought I’d have an opportunity to influence the healthcare HR space in a way that was more impactful because ASHHRA offered me a voice that spanned the industry rather than only a single organization.

I have loved the transition from HR leader to leading a healthcare HR organization. It’s been a great outlet to be creative and come up with new ideas. I have focused ASHHRA on new partnerships, business ventures, and finding revenue opportunities that benefit the profession. It’s exciting and engaging every day to be able to use my creativity in a way that I couldn’t in an HR role and that benefits ASHHRA and our members. 

3. What do you enjoy about working at MCI? 

The ASHHRA team! They are exceptional. They do the hard work, and the great work, that makes ASHHRA look good. ASHHRA could survive without me but not without the rest of our talents. ASHHRA’s success is a credit to Ferd, Mary, Michelle, Katy, and Reese. Those are the folks making ASHHRA successful. I come up with creative ideas and they take those and turn them into value for ASHHRA members and ultimately value for the healthcare community.

Beyond the ASHHRA Team, I haven’t found a single person at MCI that has been anything but great to work with. I love the culture of the organization, which is creative and flexible, while also interested in doing the right things for the right reasons both as a business and from a social perspective. There are always important societal issues that businesses refuse to acknowledge or take a stand on, but MCI always seems willing to take things head on and be on the right side of issues.  

4. What are your plans for the summer? 

The main thing I do over the summer is go to my son’s baseball games. That has been what has consumed most of our spring/summer/fall for the last ten years or so, and my wife and I enjoy it even though it cuts into vacation season and some of our passions. While we don’t have a lot of chill time or an opportunity for too many vacations during the summer, we do find a little time for other things. 

5. What else do you like to do for fun outside of work? 

I’ve been trying to get out on my mountain bike more. I was always on my bike as a kid. I spent my childhood riding for miles, building ramps, and looking for new trails; some of that youthful desire is still with me. I still like to do all of that and get dirty, even if I crash from time to time. I’m trying to get out a few days a week after work rather than finding my way to the couch. As I get older the excitement for riding is still there and it’s a good way to counteract all the sitting I do while working and at baseball games.