Denise Purpura       

Director, Corporate Contracting and Procurement, Rochester Regional Health

Joined AHRMM in 1995

Denise Purpura has a “passion for procurement” and is a self-professed workaholic.  She starts her work day bright and early and has a hard time shutting things off at the end of the day. “But I LOVE it!” says Denise. “I absolutely love my job.” Denise has worked in supply chain for over 20 years, and she’s been in her current role as Director of Corporate Contracting and Procurement for Rochester Regional Health since 2009. She is responsible for the planning and execution of the Corporate Procurement Program across the health system, which includes operations, budget planning, major asset acquisitions, project management, resource planning, risk mitigation, expense monitoring, sourcing, contract management, and the complete acquisition cycle from demand to settlement. 

Denise especially likes being at the center of the action in her organization. “Supply chain is integral to everyone’s process – we interface with every single leader across the health system. We engage with a number of key stakeholders every day, listening to their needs and figuring out how to meet those needs within their budget.” There is not a lot that procurement doesn’t get engaged in; they order and track all the “normal” medical equipment and surgical supplies, but they also negotiate agreements for construction, facilities, pharma, and IT. “The healthcare landscape is continually changing. We are in a state of constant evolution. Whatever the strategic focus of the institution, it’s put in to immediate effect in procurement. We are the first out of the gate! I continue to learn something new every single day. I think that’s what I love most.”

Time is Denise’s greatest challenge – “there’s just not enough of it!” She remembers a time when there were no cell phones, no email, etc. Now the job is 24-7; things happen around the clock, and Denise and her team have to manage multiple high-level competing priorities. “The health system moves forward regardless of our schedules. We keep our doors open for patients that need care. We can’t say ‘sorry, we’ve reached our bandwidth…’ Each of us has a key role to play, and if one piece of the link in the supply chain is missing, it has ripple effect.”

Denise started her career working in manufacturing, but she was always intrigued by hospitals and healthcare as a whole. After she got married, she settled in her husband’s hometown and “lucked” into a job at Rochester General Hospital.  She also counts herself as fortunate to have worked for some inspirational leaders who let her run with ideas and were flexible in their approach to supply chain.  “They never held me back! I was given a long leash, trust, and space to try new things. Now I strive to pay that forward.” Denise considers it an important part of her job to cultivate the next wave of leaders. “Sometime it is hard to relinquish control – it’s your baby! Something you have developed and put your heart and soul into. But if we don’t give the next generation opportunities; if we don’t let them fly, they won’t.”

“I can’t say enough about AHRMM and education! I am so impressed with the breadth of their offerings and their focus on healthcare supply chain. AHRMM is the only organization dedicated exclusively to our field.” As part of her effort to develop the workforce, Denise has made a commitment to supply chain education and particularly to certification. “I’ve been certified as a CMRP for years, and initially had to pay for it on my own. In our jobs, we work with very high-level educated professionals. Many of them have multiple degrees and credentials. The CMRP gives me validity. It shows that I took the time and made the investment to further educate and prepare myself to operate at the peak of my profession.” It’s become a priority for Denise to promote and encourage certification with her supervisors and managers. “The CMRP provides them with a broad perspective of what happening in the TOTAL supply chain – not just procurement. We need to understand the how and why of what goes on in other departments so we can jointly work on resolutions to our greatest challenges.”

Denise has been influenced by many people in her life:  parents, in-laws, professors, and professional mentors/leaders. The common denominator between these individuals is that they are people who influence through their actions; “they quietly lead by example what others should aspire to.” She also notes they are people who are generally engaging, warm, and interested. “When you are with them, you are their focus. I worked for someone who would come out from behind his desk to greet and engage me every time I walked into his office. Another unifying characteristic of her key influencers: “They are people who would never ask you to do something they wouldn’t do themselves. They walk their talk. They have integrity of character.” Through her mentors, Denise learned two key things: how to treat people, and the art of being calm in crisis when you are in charge. Her favorite motto is the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Denise joined AHRMM for professional growth, and “I come back to AHRMM year after year for the people, their expertise, and the wonderful professional networking opportunities with healthcare supply chain leaders.” She tries to take advantage of all the education AHRMM has to offer, and this year has arranged for her staff to access some of the online course to help them tackle negotiations – that was the bell weather class. Last year, she heard team members discussing their Essentials of Purchasing Coursework during team huddle; it was gratifying to hear the engaged conversations!  On the job, the Knowledge Center, AHRMM newsletter, white papers, and leading practices are Denise’s key AHRMM resources.

AHRMM’s annual conference is Denise’s preferred event (when she can tear herself away from the office). “I love it all at the conference! I find the general sessions inspiring; especially the motivational speakers. The learning labs have lots of valuable information. The topics are spot on and focused on current events in our field. I especially appreciate how approachable the presenters are; it’s very easy to walk up to a speaker and ask questions, and they are always eager to help.”

While she is almost always working, she does like to spend free time “with people who enjoy having fun”.  She aspires to yoga (a promise to her sister), to help her with work-life balance. She loves sports, and was an avid hockey mom when her son played the game from four through high school. She and her husband also made it a priority to visit all fifty states before their son graduated from high school. She enjoys teaching business classes at a local college, but she had to take a break recently because of increased work demands due to merger activity within the health system.  Other down time activities include Bruce Springsteen concerts, Buffalo Bills and Sabres games, and watching her son do stand-up comedy! Denise actually has a wonderful sense of humor herself, and her son has tried to get her to do some improv and join him in the business. Only two things have held her back:

1. She’s afraid her husband would disown her, and

2. She loves her job too much!

Comedy’s loss is the healthcare supply chain’s gain.