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NICHQ Employee Spotlight: Maddy Schwartz

Maddy SchwartzFull name and title:

Maddy Schwartz, Project Specialist

Years with NICHQ:

1

How has your background/experiences led you to join a national children’s health organization?

I graduated from Tufts University with a degree in Biology and Community health. During my time at Tufts, I was on the varsity lacrosse team. We partnered with an organization called “Team Impact” that pairs children with chronic health conditions with varsity sports teams. Through this experience, I saw the challenges that families with medically complex health needs face. Combining my love for working with kids and my passion for creating healthy communities, I decided to join the team at NICHQ. I knew that working at an organization like NICHQ would fulfill my desire to help build lasting, equitable change in the children’s health field.

Favorite memory from a NICHQ project:

My favorite part of my experience at NICHQ has been working on the Florida Children’s Medical Services Learning and Action Network. Throughout this project, we’ve been able to work with several hospitals in the state of Florida. I’ve worked closely with a diverse group of health care workers, such as physicians, social workers, and even patients and families. Seeing all these individuals dive headfirst into meaningful quality improvement work has been inspiring. I also have been lucky enough to work with the best NICHQ co-workers on that project (shout-out to Eliza Nelson & Sandra Widland)!

Biggest lesson-learned when working on a quality improvement project:

My team at NICHQ likes to use an Arthur Ashe quote when we approach quality improvement: “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” When we share this quote with our stakeholders, they usually let out a deep exhale. By promising teams to “meet them where they are,” we build a culture of support and compassion. By laying this groundwork, we create more space and potential for improvement!

Funniest thing that ever happened on a NICHQ project:

I loved watching Kenn Harris (Sr. Project Director and Engagement Lead) and Isabel Zuckoff (Sr. Project Manager) race to eat apple cider donuts hanging from a string from the ceiling during our Halloween party last year. Oh, and also hoisting Sandra (Sr. Project Manager) up over a fence to identify her old apartment in Georgetown while on a Learning Session trip!

What are you most proud of from your time with NICHQ?  

I’m proud of the authentic commitment and work NICHQ is doing to make our own team and our own work more anti-racist and equitable. I’m also really proud of the work my own project teams are doing to include and amplify family and patient voices. 

What are your goals for NICHQ’s future?

I hope NICHQ continues to be a fearless leader when it comes to creating lasting, equitable, and bold change in the children’s health field.