Power Women: Callie Parks
Associate Vice President of Hospital Operations at Baptist Health Medical Center – North Little Rock
What’s your secret to success?
I have always focused on cultivating relationships and building trust with those around me. I think this is critical no matter what industry you are in. Many of the successful people I know have a team of people around them who support and invest in them.
How did you get started in your field?
My mom was a nurse. When I was younger, I would spend the summer volunteering at the hospital where she worked. I loved the complexity of hospitals. I developed an interest in business, and it just made sense that this is where I would end up. I did an administrative fellowship with Baptist Health, and I’ve never looked back.
What do you love best about what you do?
In hospital leadership, we get the unique opportunity to take care of people in our community who may be experiencing the worst day of their lives. I get the opportunity to work with a team of physicians, nurses and other clinical and business leaders to solve complex problems. Every day is different, but the focus remains the same: getting our patients back to their healthiest and happiest selves.
What advice would you give to a young woman starting her career?
Be welcoming of new opportunities. The times when I have been challenged the most, and grown as a result, were the times when I took on unexpected opportunities.
What are your proudest accomplishments?
We are making a big investment in behavioral health services at our North Little Rock campus, and I’m proud to help lead those projects. We are building a new outpatient clinic and a new 22-bed inpatient unit. This will bring much-needed behavioral health services to our community.
What obstacles have you had to overcome?
My dad passed away in January, and it was very difficult. I never thought I’d lose a parent while still in my 20s. There is really nothing that prepares you for that. I’m thankful for the people who supported my family and me during that time and still support us today.
Is there another “power woman” in your life who inspires you?
Dawn Prasifka is a close friend and mentor of mine. We met in the Work Matters program and have been connected ever since. She flawlessly balances being a successful CEO, wife and mother, and she is always true to herself. Her energy and spirit for life are contagious. She’s definitely someone I look up to!
What are you reading/watching/listening to right now?
Watching: “The Crown.”
Reading: “The Boys in the Boat” by Daniel James Brown.
What’s your favorite quote?
“For our own success to be real, it must contribute to the success of others.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt.
