Age no stumbling block in workplace, BYP says 

It’s never the same duties while working for Patient Access Services at St. Luke’s Boise, manager Michelle Ross said. Each day brings new questions, new experiences and new demands.

That newness is what has kept her energy and drive in the position going strong for the past six years.

“Everyday is a new day and challenge,” she said, “…not to mention the terrific people I work with.”

She began working as a St. Luke’s team member in 2002. When she came to St. Luke’s, as a recent BSU graduate, she was happy to have a job until she could figure out what she wanted to do for “the rest of her life.”

“I knew I wanted to be in health care, but honestly didn’t know in what capacity,” she said, pointing out that she received degrees in Health Science and Psychology from Boise State. “I started at St. Luke’s to have a job until I figured out what I wanted to do, and lucky for me things kind of worked themselves out.”

Little did she know that St. Luke’s would quickly become her foundation for professional development and offer her more opportunities for growth than she could have imagined.  

In 2003, at the ripe age of 25, she was plucked into the world of management. As a department supervisor from 2003-05 she was able to learn the ropes of scheduling, hiring/firing, employee recognition, conflict resolution and much more.  

In 2005, she became the manager of the department. Over the years she helped grow the department of about 80 team members with multiple unique sub-departments and a budget of more than $2 million.  

During her time with St. Luke’s she has been a key leader in the development of new departments, processes and initiatives to increase the financial bottom line of St. Luke’s and provide a better experience for patients.

Ross, 31, was recently presented with the Boise Young Professional’s top honor, an honor that was created this year by the young professionals group.

Boise Young Professionals director Ben Quintana said, “Michelle’s passion for community service and workplace success as a young leader have made her our top choice for the Young Professional of the Year Award.  She is an outstanding representative for the young professionals in our region, and we are proud to have her as a member of BYP.”   

Ross, who works for St. Luke’s, said she’s always been drawn to the medical industry, even as a child.

“Although I don’t work with patients directly too often in my position, I do love hearing patients share their stories of their St. Luke’s experiences,” she said. “When you tell someone you work at St. Luke’s they always get a smile on their face and begin to tell you about their experience … it’s such a neat thing!”

Ross said she loves community service.  At an early age she was lucky enough to have been taught the importance of being involved and giving back to her community.  She has had many great role models and opportunities throughout her life and she enjoys finding ways to provide this to others.  She feels like she has received more back from these organizations and activities than she has given.  

She was also recognized as the top volunteer in 2009 for BYP’s Community & Civic Involvement Work Team.  Ross has been active in the AmeriCorps, Big Brothers Big Sisters as a Big Sister to two young women, Boise Young Professionals, Uncorked Idaho, several St. Luke’s Team Events and the upcoming Boise Rec Fest.
As a young leader Ross said she continues to be challenged, enlightened, stretched, and humbled.  Most of all, she said she continues to learn how to be a better leader; not only from her successes, but from her failures too.

“BYP is a tremendous resource for young professionals and offers a plethora of opportunities, but you will only get out of it as much as you put into it,” she said.

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