Marissa Thomas

Redwoods Resident 2016
Regional Operations Director– Apex

I started as a Redwoods Summer Associate and returned after graduation to the full-time Redwoods Resident program where I completed a facility administrator practicum. I then joined our Business Development team (Team Pegasus) as a Director of Special Projects, and later stayed with Team Pegasus in a role leading the Strategy and Special Projects team and being Chief of Staff for Team Pegasus. I have been able to participate on exciting project teams, lead teams and learn far more in each role than I would ever have expected. Each move I have made in the Village has been one I wouldn't necessarily have predicted when I started in the Village, and that has made the journey a fantastic one.

I appreciated the opportunity to take an extended period of time getting to know the organization, from patients to physicians to executives and more. Focusing on learning about the organization and myself as a leader for an extended period of time was a great gift to both my professional and personal development.

My advice for candidates is that asking for help at DaVita is the sign of a strong leader. The people at DaVita are what makes the Village special, and they're all on your team.

I am a Notre Dame and Harvard Business School graduate.

Fun fact: My first job was scooping ice cream at the Iowa State Fair. I scooped so much ice cream over the summers of working at the fair that I now can't eat ice cream.

DaVita Journey: Redwoods Summer Associate > Redwoods Resident > Director of Special Projects > Regional Operations Director