Schneck Medical Center recently announced that Susan Zabor, the Seymour hospital’s Vice President of Clinical and Provider Management and Chief Quality Officer, has earned the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) credential. This credential is awarded to healthcare professionals who demonstrate a commitment to excellence through ongoing education, leadership and ethical standards.
Zabor earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Purdue University, a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialty in Nursing Management and Leadership from the University of Southern Indiana, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern Indiana and is certified by the American Society for Quality as a Six Sigma Black Belt. In June 2024, she was elected to the Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA) Board of Directors.
Q&A with Susan Zabor
Where are you from originally? I am actually from Seymour! As someone who calls Seymour home, being able to give back through my work at Schneck is both a privilege and honor.
Who or what inspired you to major in nursing and nurse leadership? I have always had a desire to care for and help others. When choosing a major, I knew that nursing would allow me to fulfill that desire and provide to me a wide range of career opportunities. I attribute my path to nurse leadership from a combination of a commitment to patients and our community, wanting to create positive change and the influence of strong peers and mentors.
Why did you choose USI for your MSN and MBA? Schneck has an educational partnership with USI. As we were moving to Magnet Designation, USI was the institution many chose to either receive their BSN or MSN. USI's program allowed me the flexibility to be a mom to two little girls and pursue my career ambitions. When I became an executive, I knew getting an MBA was next on my list for personal development. The USI MBA program provided me additional leadership development and an enhanced business acumen.
What is a favorite memory from your time as a USI student? Walking across the stage to get my MSN with my mom, husband and girls in the crowd. I knew my Dad would have been proud.
Last year, you were appointed to the IRHA board. What does it mean to you to be serving on this board? IRHA's mission is to enhance the health and well-being of rural populations in Indiana through leadership, education, advocacy, collaboration and resource development. Rural hospitals are the cornerstone of our communities. Rural facilities face unique challenges that are different than those experienced in the urban setting. Workforce shortages, population health challenges, access issues and financial struggles are some of the few that come to mind. Since 2005, nearly 200 rural hospitals have shut down. With each closure, the community’s economic stability is threatened as well as access to quality healthcare services.