Open to opportunities

laurie nichols

@laurienichols

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Healthcare operations leader driving patient-centered care and operational excellence.

United States

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What I'm looking for

I’m looking for a healthcare leadership role where I can drive operational excellence—strengthening accountable teams, improving workflow efficiency and patient access, and ensuring strong compliance and patient-centered care across clinical or service lines.

I’m a results-driven healthcare executive with 12+ years of progressive experience in clinical operations, hospital administration, and ambulatory care. I bring strategic oversight of multi-service lines with accountability for staffing, financial performance, compliance, and patient experience.

As Operations Manager for Corewell Ludington Hospital & Grand Haven Center, I lead a multidisciplinary team of 80+ physicians, advanced practice providers, RNs, LPNs, and support staff. I coordinate emergency preparedness planning and response, serve as a liaison for Facilities Management and Security, and act as the primary point of contact for escalated patient concerns and complaints to ensure timely resolution and satisfaction.

Previously, I served as Laboratory Manager and Technical Supervisor at Sparrow Hospital, leading high-volume laboratory operations (2,000+ specimens daily) while ensuring CAP compliance and quality oversight. Earlier roles included Medical Technologist experience across multiple laboratory disciplines, along with safety and emergency liaison responsibilities, reinforcing my commitment to operational excellence, fiscal stewardship, and high-quality, patient-centered care.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Operations Manager

Current

Corewell Health

Apr 2021 - Present (5 years 3 months)

Lead operational management for Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, visiting specialty, and facility operations, overseeing staffing, compliance, patient concerns, and financial performance. Coordinate emergency preparedness planning and serve as liaison for Facilities Management and Security to ensure safe, efficient building operations.

Clinical Operations Hospital Administration Ambulatory Care Emergency Preparedness Security Liaison Patient Experience Staff Management Recruitment Onboarding Training Scheduling Payroll Performance Management Regulatory Compliance Budgeting Financial Performance Accountability Leadership CAP Compliance

Lab Manager & Technical Supervisor

Sparrow Hospital

Dec 2017 - Apr 2021 (3 years 4 months)

Managed high-volume laboratory operations across Toxicology, Order Entry, and Specimen Processing, ensuring CAP compliance through policy development and quality oversight. Oversaw full-cycle staffing, compliance monitoring, and monthly educational sessions to support team development.

laboratory operations High Volume Specimen Processing Toxicology Order Entry Specimen Processing CAP Compliance Policy Development Quality Oversight Staff Management Interviewing Hiring Training Performance Management Regulatory Compliance Quality Education Venipuncture (Implied From Lab Operations)

Medical Technologist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Jun 2012 - Dec 2017 (5 years 6 months)

Performed multi-disciplinary laboratory testing across Chemistry, Hematology, Urinalysis, Serology, and Microbiology while executing quality assurance procedures. Ensured patient safety and specimen integrity through accurate accessioning, identity verification, and venipuncture; maintained results accuracy and confidentiality.

Chemistry Hematology Urinalysis Serologies Microbiology Quality Assurance Specimen Integrity Identity Verification Venipuncture Scientific Accuracy Patient Safety Confidentiality Privacy & Compliance

Senior Medical Technologist

Kent County Health Department

Jan 1999 - Jun 2012 (13 years 5 months)

Served as Laboratory Safety Officer and Emergency Liaison, ensuring compliance with safety protocols and emergency preparedness standards. Conducted infectious substance and hazardous materials testing, including water system testing, select agent response support, serological and microbial testing, stool culture and identification, and PCR testing for infectious disease surveillance.

Laboratory Safety Emergency Preparedness Select Agents & Toxins Response Serological Testing (Syphilis)Microbial Identification (Neisseria Gonorrhoeae)Stool Culture Enteric Pathogen Identification (Salmonella Shigella Campylobacter E. Coli O157:H7)Intestinal Parasite Identification Norovirus PCR Testing Outbreak Response Environmental Public Health Threat Monitoring

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Ferris State University

Bachelor of Science, Medical Technology

Grade: Distinction

Earned a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology (Distinction) from Ferris State University. Completed a minor in Chemistry, graduating in December 1998.