Texas Health Huguley Hospital: Empowering Young Leaders in Healthcare Through Mentorship

by Jane Burbank

Photos by Brooke Mathis: Beautiful Evolutions Photography, courtesy photo

“We have to put our leadership hats on and think about the opportunity we have to be a blessing to someone each day,”

The cornerstone of success in the ever-evolving landscape of business requires leaders who are invested in their teams and focus on the development of employees. One way leaders invest in others is through mentorship and coaching. Mentorship not only provides guidance and support but also opens the doors to new opportunities. Penny Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of the AdventHealth Southwest Region and Texas Health Huguley Hospital is a prime example of a leader who understands the importance of mentorship. Through her journey, she has not only reached incredible milestones but has also uplifted others to do the same through her mentorship.

“If you can stop someone from making the same mistakes you have, or you can help them learn from some of the opportunities you’ve had, then that’s a win,” said Penny. “It’s also important because as you go further up in leadership, it can be a lonely job. Having someone to talk to about those feelings is so important.”

Reflecting on her own experiences, Penny emphasized the invaluable role her mentors played in shaping her career. “One of my mentors early in my career was someone named Jack. I remember when he came along, I was working at a hospital in Kansas City. Up until that point, I had only ever heard when someone thought I was doing great. With Jack, though, I felt like he questioned everything that I would do,” she said.

Penny shared that, with time, she learned that Jack wanted to build her natural curiosity. He didn’t want her to do things simply because it was how things had always been done.

“I remember the first time he agreed with me after we were debating on how to do something. We ended up moving forward with things in the way that I suggested. I knew I had won over his confidence at that moment, and I think that has been one of the most meaningful points in my life,” said Penny.

Penny has held many leadership positions throughout her career and currently serves as the CEO of Texas Health Huguley Hospital, a joint venture between Texas Health Resources and AdventHealth. With an impressive background, she has been recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of the top Women Hospital Presidents and CEOs to Know. Those featured on the list are responsible for growing their hospitals, fostering a positive workforce culture and increasing patient satisfaction levels. Additionally, Penny was recently named the winner of the 2023 Tarrant County Woman of Impact Award by the American Heart Association.

The Power of Mentorship

Penny says having mentors and other strong leaders around in her career has played a big part in how she leads her teams to care for their patients and each other.

“What is important to me is watching how people have approached leadership in our hospital. They know that coming to work and caring for thousands of people is a sacred responsibility. We have to put our leadership hats on and think about the opportunity we have to be a blessing to someone each day,” said Penny.

Penny firmly believes in the power of mentorship and its ability to transform lives. Mentorship opportunities in healthcare create a supportive environment where team members can thrive and make a positive impact on patient care.

Through her mentorship, Penny has had the privilege of guiding and empowering aspiring professionals like Arielle Powell and Carine Moura.

“Having Penny as a mentor in my career has positively impacted me as I look to her for support and advice. She empowers me to strive for excellence daily, and I am always pushed to be better and think differently. Penny is accessible, supportive and invested in my career. Those are all attributes I appreciate in a mentor,” said Arielle Powell, Director of Strategic Operations at Texas Health Huguley.

Arielle says that through her experience as a mentee, she has learned to show up to work striving to be better than the day before. She has also learned to demonstrate leadership skills such as honesty and integrity, which she tries to integrate into her everyday interactions both inside and outside work.

Carine Moura, Chief Operating Officer of Texas Health Hospital Mansfield and another mentee of Penny, echoed similar sentiments.

“Looking back on my career journey, I could not imagine how I would have navigated it without a mentor. It’s so important to have someone you can trust to be your sounding board, someone you can be vulnerable with, and someone who will challenge you to be the best version of yourself,” said Carine.

Recalling her time as an intern, Carine said she remembers seeing Penny lead presentations for top executives at the AdventHealth headquarters. “With a few words, Penny engaged the room. She made people laugh and showcased the incredible work she and her team were driving for the organization. This was during my first week as an intern, and I remember thinking to myself, I want to be just like her.”

When asked what she enjoys most about mentoring Arielle and Carine, Penny shared that she enjoys their company, friendship and conversations. She continued that both leaders are always eager to learn. They do not stress about asking the right questions or saying the right thing; they truly just want an organic mentorship that helps them learn. They are also open to having conversations that sometimes push back on advice that is given to them, which is unique.

“They are both humble leaders, and I think that’s one of the biggest things you can learn. When you lead with humility, you get your biggest blessings in return,” said Penny
For Penny, mentorship goes far beyond simply sharing knowledge and expertise. It is about building meaningful relationships and fostering a supportive community. She believes mentorship can be a two-way street where both the mentor and mentee are able to learn and grow together.

Looking back at a time when she interviewed a young woman for a residency position within her healthcare organization, Penny remembers feeling confident that the woman would become successful. “I’ll probably work for her one day,” Penny joked.

The woman was hired shortly after her interview, and with every resident being given an official mentor, Penny was happy to take on the role. “I found that we had many similarities as I talked with her. I knew that some of the things that I had to tweak about myself early on in my career or work on were things that she would also have to learn how to work through,” said Penny.

“I’ve appreciated her friendship. When you talk to someone and answer their questions about career or personal guidance, it makes you stop and think about whether you are also making those choices in your life,” Penny continued.

Penny’s journey as a leader in the healthcare industry and her commitment to mentorship have shown the difference that guidance and support can make in someone’s career. She has not only achieved remarkable success but has also cultivated a strong sense of community within the hospitals that she leads.

This story serves as an inspiration for aspiring professionals, highlighting the importance of finding mentors who can guide and uplift them along the way. By embracing mentorship in healthcare, young professionals can accelerate their growth, overcome challenges, and pave the way for future generations of leaders.