A Heart for People and a Home at Avista

For Stephanie Tighe, health care has never been just a career, it has always been a calling rooted in compassion and a deep desire to help others thrive. Today, as the director of multiple service lines at AdventHealth Avista, she is known for her strong leadership, her genuine care for her teams, and her passion for building a culture where caregivers feel supported and inspired.

But her journey began at just 16 years old, when she took her first job as a tray passer at St. Anthony Hospital on Colfax.

“It was one of my favorite jobs,” Stephanie recalls. “Engaging with patients and families, interacting with nursing and dieticians - it ignited something in me. I knew I wanted to help people even more.”

Her desire to understand and care for others deepened when her younger brother faced repeated hospitalizations for severe asthma. That experience led Stephanie into respiratory school, the first step in what would become a 24-year career with AdventHealth.

After two decades at St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, Stephanie was asked to serve as interim director at Avista while continuing her responsibilities at St. Anthony. What was meant to be temporary turned into something much more.

“I quickly realized I wanted to be here,” she says. “I was welcomed by every team. The relationships formed so fast, and they reignited a passion I had lost over the years.”

While Stephanie enjoys operations and problem-solving, her greatest passion lies in developing people.

“I think people might be surprised to learn how much I love leadership,” she says. “It excites me to see team members grow, stretch, and discover their strengths.”

She views her role as one of partnerships - working with her teams, not above them. Her leadership is rooted in trust, empathy, and relationship-building.

“The relationships we build here are so special,” she shares. “People truly care about each other. I’ve never experienced anything like it.”

To Stephanie, the Avista culture is one of warmth and inclusion, a place where caregivers show up for each other and for their patients with authenticity and heart.

“Our teams are connected to their mission,” she explains. “They’re not here for a paycheck. They truly care about their patients’ well-being.”

She loves getting to know her teams personally - hearing about their families, joking with Food and Nutrition, and reminiscing about her own early days working in the kitchen.

“I know they’re skilled professionals,” she says, “but that’s not what defines them. I love who they are as people.”

Stephanie is energized by what the future holds for Avista’s service lines.

“Each department is growing and learning new ways to care for patients,” she says. “It can be scary, but I know they’ll look back and be proud of what they’ve accomplished.”

She also prioritizes caregiver wellbeing - listening, encouraging boundaries, and reminding team members to fill their own cups so they can pour into others.

The best leadership advice she’s ever received is simple, yet transformative:

“Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
She believes embracing discomfort opens the door to vulnerability, growth, and resilience.

Above all, Stephanie hopes people remember her for the way she treated them.

“I hope they remember that I treated them as a person first, that I worked beside them, empowered them, and believed in them.”

Reflecting on her time at Avista, Stephanie is most proud of her teams.

“I’m proud of the growth I’ve seen - the new programs, the new skills, the courage to try new things. They’ve stretched so much these past four years,” she says with a smile. “And they’ve put up with me along the way.”

Her story is a testament to the power of compassion, connection, and leading with heart - qualities that make Stephanie not only an incredible director, but a true blessing to the AdventHealth Avista family.