Charity Garris

Her job: Director of service excellence, Palmetto Health Richland

Age: 34

Family: husband, Michael; children, Hunter, 8; and Matthew, 3

Education: Bachelor’s degree, accounting, USC; master’s degree, business administration, Webster University

Community involvement: Past president, S.C. Society of Hospital Directors of Volunteer Services; past president, Southeast Directors Volunteer Services in Health Care; graduate, Leadership Novant; youth coach, Seven Oaks Park

From her nomination: “Charity has been responsible for hardwiring leadership best practices across our hospital. She has been a key leader in our cultural transformation and the results are extraordinary: Palmetto Health Richland now ranks in the top 1 percent of 600-plus-bed hospitals in America in patient satisfaction.” — John Singerling, chief operating officer, and Stan Hickson, vice president for operations, Palmetto Health Richland

Your first name is “Charity.” Is that something you feel you must live up to? “I was blessed to be given the name Charity by my parents. I live up to the meaning of my name by living my personal values, which I feel defines my character.”

Your work requires you to make people better. How do you accomplish this in the current difficult times? “I support and serve those who are directly providing care for our patients and their families. It is the small things like a friendly greeting, assistance finding a department, an extra blanket, etc., that can make a positive difference in the experience. Even during the current difficult economic times, it doesn’t cost to smile and say ‘hello.’ ”

What’s next to accomplish, and how will you do it? “I will continue to seek opportunities to enhance my personal and professional skills. I strive to balance a successful career along with being a loving and supportive wife and mother of two wonderful, active boys.”

Do you have a personal philosophy or mantra you live by? What is it? “‘Every person has a gift.’ As a leader, it is up to me to recognize the talents and skills of others, so that they may find meaning in their work or cause.”

Think about a time when you failed to accomplish something. How did you move forward? “Failures are opportunities for an individual to learn and grow from the experience. If you look at the experience as an opportunity to improve, it makes moving forward much easier.”