CORNER BROOK, N.L. — Michelle House never saw herself as being an administrator, and it took others recognizing the leadership qualities she possessed to push her in that direction.
The result has meant a great amount of success for the Corner Brook woman, who was recently named the interim CEO of Western Health.
House’s background is as a social worker. It’s something she wanted to do for as long back as she can remember.
“I don’t remember ever thinking about anything else,” she said.
“I always knew, in terms of from a young age, that I wanted to be involved in a field that you would be directly interacting with people and use your interpersonal skills in your work.”
Her desire was to work with vulnerable populations — people disadvantaged because of their income, their social status or because of a disability — and she knew with social work there would be many opportunities to do that.
She found those opportunities working as a front-line social worker and then moving into other roles within the community.
With each role came the opportunity to take on more leadership projects or initiatives. She was encouraged by her superiors to do just that and was supported in her endeavours.
“And I realized that I did really like it. I felt rewarded in that,” she said.
“I did identify that you could still have a lot of influence in terms of impacting the lives of people regardless if your role is as a front-line social worker, a manager, a VP or now, for me, the interim CEO position.
“So, even though the work may be different, what you’re trying to influence is really the same. And in a management position we have a lot of opportunity to be able to influence in terms of policy changes that impact people’s lives, the same people you were trying to influence in a different way through front-line work.”
Her first job as a manager was as administrator of the Transition House (now Willow House) in Corner Brook. For the past 15 years she’s been a part of Western Health’s senior management team responsible for community health, including acute care and long-term care, human resources and public health.
“I feel really inspired by how people are working together right now despite the challenges.” — Michelle House
Prior to being named interim CEO she was the vice-president for population health, including all community-based services and long-term care.
While the CEO job now sees her responsible for the entire health authority, House says her social work background will help.
“Social work is very much grounded in understanding the population that you’re trying to serve.”
She said when you talk about the needs of the people in the western region her background is all about understanding the social determinants of health, such as income, access to housing and the social supports that people have.
She will bring her social work thinking to all the decisions that have to be made.
Much like those who have encouraged her, House said, encouraging others is something she has always tried to do in her career.
She said her style of management is one of engaging people, encouraging them to participate and to be involved in decision-making. At the same time, she makes decisions when needed.
For her, the timing felt right to take on this new role. She has a lot of experience with public health, and that fits in with some of what the health authority is dealing with during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s definitely a time of lots of challenges.”
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But she has confidence in Western Health’s senior executive team, its entire leadership team and all its front-line staff.
“I’ve seen incredible stories of how people have really stepped up over the last year in particular to work together in order to protect our population.”
This is something she’s also seen in the public, with residents doing what they have to in following the public health measures.
“I feel really inspired by how people are working together right now despite the challenges.”
House has committed to stay on as CEO until the position is filled permanently, and while she only started on Dec. 21, she’s not ruling out throwing her name into the ring.
Her goal during her time as CEO is to see the health authority through the COVID-19 vaccination campaign and ensure everybody who wants to be vaccinated has access to that vaccine.
“I’d be really happy at the end of my term that we’re through this pandemic.”
20 Questions
1. What is your full name?
Michelle Darlene House.
2. Where and when were you born?
August 1968, Port aux Basques.
3. Where do you live today?
Corner Brook.
4. What’s your favourite place in the world?
While I love to travel, I really like being home the best. There is no better feeling than after being away, returning to my own house. I live in the Humber Heights and while over the years we have considered moving, the view from my front patio of Corner Brook keeps me rooted in place. Last year, with COVID and the travel restrictions, I bought a swing for our front patio. I love it.
5. Who do you follow on social media?
I am not a huge social media person. I follow mostly family and close friends.
6. What is your favourite movie or book?
Favourite book, “Oh the Places you Will Go,” by Dr. Seuss.
7. What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I am a social worker. Most people think I am a nurse.
8. What’s been your favourite year and why?
1998, the year my son was born.
9. What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done?
There have been a lot of challenging times in my career, but most recently having senior-management responsibility for both public health and long-term care was extremely challenging. The public health measures related to COVID were critical to the safety of the residents, but I also understand the significant impact this had on long-term care residents and their families. I had many sleepless nights related to this issue.
10. Can you describe one experience that changed your life?
When I started my career as a social worker, I never had any career aspirations to be an administrator. Early on I had a mentor who saw leadership qualities in me that I didn’t see in myself. She encouraged me to move in that direction. Since that time, I am grateful for several mentors who believed in me and encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone.
11. What’s your greatest indulgence?
I love food. I love everything about planning what to eat, where to eat and the actual experience of eating. I should note that I do not cook, though. My husband is a fantastic cook.
12. How do you like to relax?
I spend as much time outside hiking, running or skiing as possible.
13. What are you reading or watching right now?
I am watching “The Crown” on Netflix.
14. What is your greatest fear?
Right now, when I see what is happening with COVID across the world and country, it is my biggest fear, especially related to the vulnerable population such as those in long-term care/personal care homes, seniors and those who work on the front lines in health care.
15. If you were singing Karaoke, what would be your song?
You would definitely not see me doing that.
16. What do you treasure the most?
Definitely my family. I am blessed to have a large family and, fortunately, a lot who live close by.
17. What physical or personality trait are you most grateful to a parent for?
I am very grateful that I have my mother’s determination. She is a strong woman and so am I.
18. What three people would join you for your dream dinner party?
My husband’s parents were deceased before I met him, but I would love to have met them, so they would definitely be my dream dinner guests.
19. What is your best quality, and what is your worst quality?
My best quality is my compassion for those who are disadvantaged for whatever reason. My worst quality, I love to talk, so I really have to work hard to make sure others who are more reserved get a chance to speak.
20. If you didn’t take this career path, what would you have chosen?
My dream job would be as a judge on the Food Network. This is highly unlikely given I cannot cook. Honestly, I cannot imagine not being a social worker. I have worked in lots of roles, but I am a social worker at heart.
Diane Crocker reports on west coast news.
