Kristy Leitze

Director of Therapy Services and Wound Care

Trios Health

Age: 39

Current city of residence: Richland

Briefly describe your company:

At Trios Hospital, it’s a privilege to serve the health care needs of the Tri-Cities, as well as the surrounding communities of southeastern Washington. At Trios Health, our core values reflect an unwavering passion for delivering the highest quality health care to the Tri-Cities community. We strive to act with integrity and honesty in everything we do, actively creating and embracing an environment where both our patients and employees feel welcome and valued. Acting with kindness is also important here at Trios. We embrace challenges with optimism, regularly highlighting employees who have acted with compassion and empathy. When health care professionals collaborate with their patients and community, strong relationships are created and a trust is built between the two. We truly believe we can make a difference together here at Trios.

How long have you worked there?

12 years.

Education: Please list any degrees and professional certifications.

• B.A. - Washington State University
• M.Ed. - Smith College
• M.A. - Washington State University
• MHA - Grand Canyon University (will be completed in June 2024)

Briefly describe your job and how you got into it:

April 26, 2020 … I am hunting for chicken nuggets for my 4-year-old son. It was the beginning of the pandemic and dino nuggets suddenly became a luxury item as elusive as the Birkin bag. I’m at store No. 6 looking for his favorite food and my phone starts buzzing. The call is from my boss, who simply told me of her pending retirement date, at the beginning of June. She asked if I was interested in being the interim director while they found a replacement. At that time, I had been at Trios for eight years, and she felt this would be the smoothest transition, given the circumstances in health care during spring 2020. Fast forward to August, I am out on a bike ride and thinking to myself, “I love this job, how do I keep this job? Am I ready to be a director?” A week later the COO and CEO at Trios asked me if I would like to take the position permanently. They felt it was a good fit. Me too! I took the job. Still love it!

As the director of Therapy Services and Wound Care at Trios, I oversee 47 of the most brilliant therapists, RNs and medical staff in the area. My job every day is to make sure they have what they need to provide patients the care they deserve. Some days you can find me supporting my front desk staff, the next day I might be treating a patient myself, and the following day I might be meeting with our CFO, talking budgets. I really have the best job in the world.

Tell us about your first job.

I was hired as a lifeguard at George Prout Pool in Richland. I was about to start my senior year at Hanford High School. I spent the summer watching kids fling themselves off the high dive. The job taught me a few things: the importance of a good pair of sunglasses, SPF and the necessity of getting to work on time.

What advice would you give to your younger self about achieving success?

Enjoy the current moment as change happens when you least expect it. I’d also tell myself, good things come with time and grit, keep moving forward but don’t be afraid of making a course correction.

What was your dream job as a child?

OB/GYN

What or who most influenced your career path or leadership style? This could be a book, class, person, etc.

Mari Anne Phillips, former dean of student life at Cottey College.

What would be your top three priorities to make our community a better place?

• Creating a sustainable plan for more low-income housing to be built.
• Increasing mental health services available to youth.
• Increasing women’s health accessibility in the Tri-Cities area: infant/mother lactation services, pelvic floor physical therapy, and options for gynecological care from adolescent to menopause and beyond.

Tell us about your community involvement/community service:

Currently, I serve on the board of Academy of Children’s Theatre as the vice president. I am very involved in Christ the King Sausage Fest every year, volunteering to chair Bierocks for the last three years. Youth sports are important to me, and I volunteer my time coaching basketball for the local Fellowship of Christian Athletes league. I also was lucky to participate in the 26th class of Leadership Tri-Cities and now serve as the Session Day director for Community Health and Medical Services Day.

If you had unlimited time, what volunteer work would you be interested in doing?

Reading intervention for dyslexic and ADHD kids. I recently signed up for an Orton-Gillingham training because I am so passionate about this topic. Readers are leaders and better community members. Teaching foundational reading and leadership skills starts with our youth.

How do you achieve work-life balance?

Work-life balance is an art form. I am not sure I have 100% accomplished this, as of yet. I strive to stay in the moment and focus on what is in front of me. I also have an amazing support system of family and friends, who help me stay focused on what matters most. And lots of alarms on my cellphone.

List any awards/honors you have received:

• Leadership Tri-Cities Class 26, 2022-23.
• Cottey College Outstanding Young Alumna, 2020.

Do you have family? Pets?

I have the honor of being mom to Finn and Lynleigh who are 8 and 5. My husband, Alex, and I have been together 19 years, married 11 years. We love spending time as a family reading, playing games and riding our bikes on the many bike paths around the Tri-Cities. Recently we have been reading the “I Survived” series by Lauren Tarshis.

What brought you to the Tri-Cities? Did you grow up here?

I grew up in the Tri-Cities, accidentally I met the love of my life at a Christmas party when in college, and he just happened to also be from Richland. When it came time to decide where we wanted to live, the Tri-Cities felt like the right place. We also have both been fortunate to have found great career opportunities here.

What’s your dream vacation?

Hanalei Bay in Kauai, on a sunny day.

Planner or procrastinator?

Little of both.

Introvert or extrovert?

Extrovert.

First car?

1987 Toyota Corolla.

Favorite thing to do in Tri-Cities?

Riding bikes from our house to Ethos Bakery for Saturday morning cinnamon rolls.

What would people be most surprised to learn about you?

I’m a first-generation college graduate.

Favorite Tri-City restaurant?

Drumheller’s.

Favorite day of the week?

Friday.

Text, email, phone call?

Phone call.

Would you rather travel back in time or to the future?

I like where I am right at this very moment.