South Elgin resident picked to attend Emerging Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C.
Emily Rickman of South Elgin remembers the day she was told she was chosen to attend the prestigious National Emerging Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C.
"I couldn't believe the news when I found out I was picked," says Rickman, 25, administrator at Alden Valley Ridge Short-Term Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Bloomingdale, Ill. "I felt so humbled to have been chosen and was so excited to attend the Summit and discuss ways to develop and refine the health and aging services agenda."
NELS is an invitation-only summit for Health Care Administrators in Health and Aging Services who have been in the field for less than 10 years. Rickman was one of only 25 chosen to go to D.C. to learn about emerging trends in health care and network with fellow emerging health care leaders to strategize, advocate, connect and innovate the future of health care and the aging services administration profession.
"Emily has displayed remarkable leadership ability in a short period of time," says Robert J. Molitor, chief operating officer of Alden. "She is a true asset to Alden and already possesses the qualities we look for in a leader - compassion, honesty, integrity, dedication, innovation and respect among others."
Individuals invited to attend NELS typically hold positions in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, rehabilitation hospitals, home and community-based services and affiliated organizations across the country.
"The summit was amazing," says Rickman. "Having the ability to meet with other leaders in the field was inspirational. We also had the opportunity to meet with Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin, who is a champion for increasing people's ability to access health care. The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's CHAASE program for students majoring in Health Care Administration provided me with the skills necessary to both pursue my dream and become successful at it."
Upon receiving her degree in health care administration from the University of Eau-Claire in Wisconsin, Rickman has been on an impressive uphill career path. She was hired as an assistant administrator at Alden Estates of Jefferson Transitional Care & Post-Acute Services Center in Jefferson, Wis. and then was asked to work in the same capacity at the newly opened Alden Estates of Shorewood, which specializes in transitional care and post-acute services, in Shorewood, Ill. Almost exactly a year after graduating from UW-Eau Claire, Rickman was appointed to administrator at Alden Valley Ridge, a 200-bed facility specializing in short-term rehabilitation, transitional care and post-acute services, in Bloomingdale, Ill. where she has been since August 2014.
About Alden
For over 40 years, Alden has provided short-term rehabilitation and health care services throughout Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Alden ensures an optimal transition from the hospital, through rehabilitation, to home following a hospital stay. With intensive therapy, post-acute rehabilitation and transitional care, five-star amenities and exceptional customer service, Alden helps individuals get back on their feet and home as quickly and safely as possible.