Tri-City Medical Center's Sharon Schultz Recognized as one of San Diego's Women Who Mean Business

San Diego Business Journal has named Tri-City Medical Center Chief Nursing Executive and Chief Clinical Officer Sharon Schultz as one of its San Diego “Women Who Mean Business.”

The award recognizes dynamic women business leaders and role models, selected for their contributions to San Diego companies. Schultz and the other award winners were selected from 160 nominees, and were recognized at the annual “Women Who Mean Business” award luncheon on November 13, 2013.

In 2009, after spending much of her near 40-year career in Emergency Services, Schultz was appointed the Chief Nursing Executive and Chief Clinical Officer at Tri-City Medical Center. She now manages 17 direct reports and oversees multiple areas in patient care and clinical care. 

“We are thrilled that Sharon was selected for this honor,” said Tri-City Medical Center Interim CEO, Casey Fatch. “Sharon was born to lead and a born nurse. She has done a remarkable job in making the hospital a leader in patient safety, satisfaction and quality care.”

In her four years as the chief nurse at Tri-City Medical Center, Schultz has achieved improved patient outcomes, more efficient workflow, cost savings and a thoughtful reorganization in 2012 that ensured not a single nurse was displaced by workforce reductions facing the medical center and many others in the hospital industry.

Despite the workload, Schultz makes time to support the local community. She volunteers for the Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon and Half-Marathon and supports the Oceanside March for Babies. Hoping to impart her expertise on the next generation of nurses, Schultz actively supports the School of Nursing at California State University San Marcos. She helped establish Tri-City Medical Center’s nurse residency program in its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to bring bright new talent to the medical center, from which two students are currently funded. Schultz continues to provide thought leadership to CSUSM through guest lectures.

Additionally, Schultz donates generously to various nursing scholarships at CSUSM; the Boys and Girls Club of Oceanside; her local church; and Tri-City Hospital Foundation, the charitable extension of the hospital. Most recently Schultz served on the board for Combined Health Agencies of San Diego. She is an active member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, the Association of California Nurse Leaders and the American Nurses Association.

Although never one to seek recognition, Schultz is most proud of receiving the ENA Nurse Manager of the Year Award while at Edward Hospital in 2000, as well as a Candle Lighter Award while at Rush University, an honor that recognizes a person “who lights the world with their work.”

The full list of the “Women Who Mean Business” nominees can be found here.