Kenya Pitt, MA, MBA, chief human resources officer
PPMC Chief Human Resources Officer Kenya Pitt, MA, MBA
Before I came to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (PPMC) in September, I’d worked at Penn Medicine more than seven years, most recently with Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania (CPUP).
Coming to Presby felt like a full-circle moment. I grew up in Southwest Philly, went to high school across the street from the hospital, and attended camps in this community. PPMC’s sense of family and connection to the neighborhood resonates with me.
My first six months here, you may have seen me walking around and chatting with people in various departments. I’m genuinely interested in knowing the people who make things happen – the seen and unseen heroes. One of my goals has been to meet the staff, learn more about what you do, and listen to any concerns.
In turn, I want to remind staff and managers that the Human Resources (HR) department is here to support your needs and partner with you in proactive ways. Most people associate HR with hiring, benefits, and enforcing regulations. But we are also here to help foster positive employee relations.
There’s so much talent within PPMC. My team can help managers amplify that talent by encouraging employees to explore the various opportunities within PPMC and the health system. We know it’s tough to focus on goal-setting and career development when departments are busy. But as we emerge from the turbulence of the last few years, we want employees to feel engaged with their jobs and re-energized by new opportunities for professional growth.
One resource is Penn for People, our online HR management platform for job requisitions, applicant tracking, onboarding, and more. We’re adding talent management tools, from new ways to perform evaluations to strategies for identifying employees with valuable skills, training, and advancement potential. Knowing who’s on your team is essential to helping your department achieve its objectives.
Every one of us at PPMC has an important role and makes a meaningful contribution to our goal of providing safe, high-quality patient care. Each of us is a touchpoint that shapes the patient experience. It’s so important to know the people on our teams and tap into the purpose that drives each one. When people feel seen and valued, it inspires them to want to do more.