Tracy Church Named Women in Business Award Winner

Tracy Church, Hartford HealthCare executive vice president and chief administrative officer, has been named one of eight winners in the Hartford Business Journal’s 2019 Women in Business Awards.

The awards, announced Feb. 21, recognize outstanding female leaders in a wide range of businesses.

One of the key pieces of Hartford HealthCare’s change initiative under Church has been to improve quality and consistency of care, to drive outcomes that are feasible financially and to provide the best care possible for each patient. Through the overhaul of e-records and implementation of the EPIC patient-record software system, Church’s work at engaging employees, keeping them informed every step of the way with key communications made for an effective and seamless transitional period.

Church was also instrumental in hiring Hartford HealthCare’s first chief experience officer, a key voice in building and maintaining the organization’s culture.  The role is a perfect blend of human resources and patient experience.  Church, who oversees this position, is a firm believer in a healthy culture creating an enhanced customer experience.

Church also has demonstrated a deep-rooted passion for community outreach and service, volunteering for several community-focused organizations. In the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Church facilitated a new, employee-led initiative called Hartford HealthCARES for staff to respond to emergencies and disasters as needs arise.

For its first effort, Hartford HealthCare donated $85,000 to assist Puerto Rico in the cleanup efforts of Hurricane Maria.

The money was divided: some went toward the purchase of a generator for a rural hospital in Castañer, Puerto Rico, while $25,000 stayed closer to home and was donated to the Hispanic Health Council of Hartford to assist families from Puerto Rico displaced by Hurricane Maria.

Church, a North Haven native, joined Hartford HealthCare in 2011 as senior vice president and chief human resources officer.

The winners of the Women in Business Awards, chosen from 90 nominations, were selected by a independent panel of  judges. They will be honored at a April 29 luncheon at the Hartford Hilton and profiled in an upcoming special issue of the Hartford Business Journal.