Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Tiffany Victor-Castleberry. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Visionary Healthcare Leader: Dr. Tiffany Victor-Castleberry, DNP, MSN, BA, RN, ACM-RN
Tiffany Victor-Castleberry is a second-degree nurse, having obtained her BA in Communications from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL, in 2002. Her desire to care for others pushed her to return to academics, obtaining her ASN in Nursing from Prairie State College, followed by her Masters of Nursing Science from the University of Phoenix. As a healthcare leader with a vision, earned her doctorate in Nursing in 2018 from University of Illinois at Chicago. She was drawn to UIC’s diversity and its mission to transform health care, which aligned with her devotion to patients.
Dr. Tiffany Victor-Castleberry is an accomplished and dynamic healthcare leader with diverse experiences in community and academic medical center environments. Tiffany is known for compassionate care, fiscal responsibility, and her collaborative, engaging style. Tiffany prides herself on developing and sustaining healthy work environments, addressing access to healthcare, particularly in under-served communities, and has a proven track record of successfully implementing change initiatives within the acute care setting. She is an expert in care management, revenue integrity, regulatory compliance, utilization management to name a few. Dr. Victor-Castleberry is a visionary leader whose actionable insights decrease fragmentation in innovative care model development with a keen focus on improved patient outcomes.
Dr. Victor-Castleberry serves as the Vice President of Population Health and Care Coordination Management at Atrium Health in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the first African American to serve in this capacity in the 30-plus-year history of this role. Dr. Victor joined the system in June 2022 leading Inpatient and Ambulatory Care Management, Utilization Management, and CDI programs for Atrium’s Greater Charlotte Market, encompassing 13 acute care hospitals and over 500 employees. Her initiatives include developing, aligning, and executing clinical care management and related services across the market as well as integration harmonization strategies with the Navicent, Floyd, Wake, and Legacy Advocate Aurora markets. Victor-Castleberry is currently leading innovative care model redesign incorporating a strategic value-based lens focused on improving health outcomes, creating high-value care programs for the over 500,000 attributed lives, and positioning Atrium Health as a leader in value-based care. Victor-Castleberry is a has already created synergies across the system and cultivating a culture of collaboration and a “Get to Yes mentality.” In her role, Dr. Victor-Castleberry continues to advocate for diversity and inclusion as a member of the Atrium Health, A2WeXcel System Resource Group at Atrium Health provides African American women and their allies with the ability to develop, grow, and expand their knowledge base and network within Atrium Health and the community.
During the height of COVID in 2020, Tiffany was recruited to Stanford Health Care in California as the Executive Director of Case Management, Social Work, Aging Adult Services, and Spiritual Care where she accelerated and implemented redesign and growth models for the ambulatory and inpatient setting positively impacting service line growth and continuity of care. During her time at Stanford, Dr. Victor-Castleberry was selected as a charter member of the Stanford Medicine Black Nurses Association Chapter of the National Black Nurses Association and was appointed as Treasurer for the 2021-2022 fiscal years.
While Director of Utilization Management and Discharge Planning at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System (UI Health) from 2016-2020, Tiffany was charged with ensuring care management best practice, patient safety, revenue realization, and regulatory compliance. Dr. Victor-Castleberry has a BA in Communications from Northern Illinois University a Master of Science in Nursing from University of Phoenix, with a terminal degree in Doctorate of Nursing Practice with an emphasis in Health Systems Leadership and Informatics from the University of Illinois. Dr. Victor-Castleberry is nationally certified with the American Case Management Association (ACMA) as an Accredited RN-Case Manager. She also has published work with Case Management Society of America in June 2021, “CMSA Today (CMSQ) – Issue 4, 2021 – Covid-19: Deepening The Conversation: Why Not Home (cmsatoday-digital.com).”
Most recently Dr. Victor-Castleberry was a featured panelist for the National Association of Health Services Executives-North Carolina Chapter Health Equity Symposium as well as honored with being named 149 Black Healthcare Leaders to know in 2023 by Becker’s Hospital Review. She was also the 2019 award recipient for the UI Health Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award the recipient for the 2019 Illinois Organization of Nursing Leaders (IONL) Influential Leader. Dr. Victor-Castleberry was also awarded the 2018 Young Healthcare Executive of the Year Award from the American College of Healthcare Executives, Chicago Chapter- Healthcare Executives Forum (CHEF). In addition to her professional achievements, Tiffany was awarded the March 2018 and January 2019 Sisterhood Award by the Joliet Area South Suburban Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Dr. Victor-Castleberry is a member of Jack and Jill of America, Charlotte Chapter where she actively serves on the executive board as the chapter Editor as well as engaged on several committees. Dr. Victor-Castleberry speaks regularly at Becker’s National Hospital Review as a subject matter expert on leadership, care management, value, and payor relations. In addition to her professional endeavors Tiffany sits on the Board of Directors- Ignite Your Influence (I.Y.I.), a charitable organization that provides donations to under-served communities in Chicago and California as well as a Board Member for the University of Illinois Alumni Association (UIAA) and Northern Illinois University Board of Directors (NIUAA) where she serves on the Awards and Nominations Committee for both board appointments. As a tenacious professional with a drive for optimizing potential, Dr. Victor-Castleberry serves as a mentor to aspiring and established nurses. In May 2020, Tiffany was coined the “Hometown Hero” by Coldwell Banker and has stories published in both the Homewood Flossmoor Chronicle and the Chicago Tribune related to her involvement in COVID-19 and the impact on her and her family as a leader turned frontline worker. Outside of participating in speaking engagements on the national and local stage, in her spare time, Tiffany enjoys educating others on choosing, living, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle through fitness, including mind, body, and soul connection, volunteering, and being active in her sorority Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority Inc. and Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Tiffany’s greatest joy comes from spending time with her family, husband Troy, bonus sons, Troy Jr(24), Nicholas(21), daughter Ainsley(8), Bella(dog) and Lynx(cat).
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been a few bumps in the road as I’ve been on my trajectory of leadership growth. I can recall one specific instance when working as an entry-level leader at a large academic institution in Chicago. My senior at the time was an African American women who I learned did not have my best interest in mind. As I brought forward new and innovative ideas to enhance or improve quality of care for patients, my well-developed and presented ideas were not elevated nor supported. Leadership programs I sought out to enhance my leadership knowledge and skillset was also not supported. It wasn’t until after I returned from maternity leave did I truly understand the depth of the lack of support. Upon returning to work, I was advised my schedule would change immediately from 730a-5p to 2p-9p. After much discussion and ideas to mitigate, I was left with no options nor much time to change plans made for my newborn. I attempted to apply for other roles within the organization, and for the first time in my life, I experienced being blocked from opportunity. I then understood what was before me and was left with transitioning from the organization. Though I thought this was a setback, that change actually propelled my career. I took advantage of this major shift in my life and used this to opportunity to continue fostering my skills. I’m grateful to still be on this journey of growth while leveraging my current skillset to lift and help develop other leaders.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In my current role, I function as: The Vice President, Population Health and Care Management with accountability for developing, aligning, and executing clinical care management and related services across the Atrium Health Greater Charlotte Region. The role provides strategic leadership in developing and executing value-based care and related population health principles. Works closely with executive leadership to facilitate care redesign that engages care teams, innovates the care model, drives high-value care, improves health outcomes, and positions Atrium Health as a leader in value-based care.
• Serves as a leader providing strategic direction and operational oversight for care management and population health-related issues in the Greater Charlotte Region, identifies opportunities and synergies for enterprise alignment and integration, and executes on those opportunities.
• Leads the design and strategy of care management programs, products, and policies
• Oversight of comprehensive clinical care management programs, including inpatient and ambulatory programs and utilization review services.
• Coordination of Transitional Care Services (capacity management and throughput).
• Oversight of comprehensive, compliant clinical documentation improvement program, including inpatient and ambulatory programs.
• Oversees human resource management for the assigned areas, creating a culture of employee engagement. Ensures HR policies are administered consistently across function. Organizes departmental areas through appropriate structure and delegation of functions.
• This function also requires operational and strategic coordination with other areas across Atrium Health, including Managed Health Resources, Accountable Care Organizations, Clinically integrated Networks, Quality, Pharmacy, Medical group, hospital operations, and service lines.
• Participates in Atrium Health’s clinical integration efforts with existing and future partners.
• Provides services and collaboration as necessary with regional partners.
What I’m most proud of: In 2020, I had the unique opportunity to help lift the Stanford Health Care Black Nurses Association (SBNA), the second hospital-based chapter of the National Black Nurses Association. I was not only an inaugural member but also a member of the executive board. Additionally, in April of this year, I was honored with being named 149 Black Healthcare Leaders to know in 2023 by Becker’s Hospital Review.
What sets me apart: My joy is found in the impact/improved outcomes of those we care for. The patient and family lived experiences help drive me to innovate and create It’s never about me.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My parents: Surely the backbone of who I am today. From childhood, I recall them telling me I could do and be anything I wanted to be. My father would always say, “You’re going to be the first black female President.”
My family, Sister, and Husband have been pivotal in my ability to navigate across state lines to follow my dreams while being there for our daughter.
My daughter: For the last eight years, I’ve pushed myself to heights I didn’t know possible to show her she too can do whatever she sets her mind to. She is my entire heart.
Dr. Gwendolyn Oglesby-Odom Ed.D, MSN, BSN, RN-BC, NEA-BC: My mentor, sponsor, friend, and previous senior. Dr. Odom has supported me in every possible way. From suggesting professional organizations connecting me with others within the same industry or otherwise. Always willing to problem solve or help me expand on ideas. She is my person.
Corin Schneider: A previous senior, mentor, and friend. A specialist in our shared field and has been integral in my DNP studies, preparation for interviews, and identifying if the presented role is substantial to support my career. She was asked to contribute an article to CMSA and asked me to be a co-author. She has been a major contributor in my personal and professional growth.
LaTanya Berry: My dear friend. A sister. We met in college and have been in-separatable since 1998. There were moments in my DNP studies I would not have made it without her support and skillset to tutor me on the technology platforms I was rather unexperienced in.
Sharaye Wise: Another dear friend who has been a major support for me since we met in high school in 1996. We ended up attending the same undergraduate university, and we’ve only grown closer. Through every moment, she has been there.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://doi.org/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-tiffany-victor-dnp-msn-ba-rn-acm-rn-241a484/
Alfred Collins
September 12, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Just keep on truckin my dearest one. Keep doin what you know is best as you keep your head to the sky!