Rosa Costanzo       

Vice President, Supply Chain and Strategic Sourcing(Chief Procurement Officer), Jackson Health System  

Joined AHRMM in 1997

What does it take to go from an entry level position in hospital environmental services to being a vice president in a healthcare system? If you look to Rosa Costanzo for your answer, it takes drive and determination, humility, and a strong work ethic. Rosa has worked in healthcare her entire life. She landed her first hospital job in 1979 in “housekeeping” as it was known back then. She was only 16 years old, but she says, “Even from a young age, I had a burning drive to ‘be better.’ I always had a strong sense of accomplishment.” Rosa’s parents immigrated to the United States from Cuba when she was just two years old. “They came to the U.S. with 3 small kids and only the clothes on their backs. They had to restart their lives from nothing. My dad worked three jobs and my mom worked two. They valued education and modeled hard work. I learned a lot from watching them.”

Once working, Rosa pursued opportunities that opened up within the hospital, taking positions in laundry and sterile processing. She put herself through college and graduate school while working various jobs in materials management. Slowly and steadily she rose up through the ranks, and now she bears the title (and responsibility) of Vice President, Supply Chain and Strategic Sourcing.

Watching her parents struggle and work hard and having to make her own way through school and work her way up from the ground level has had a strong influence on Rosa’s leadership style. “I invest in people. I tend to be the type of leader who has an open door policy and makes time to talk to the team. I am not above rolling my sleeves up and getting busy with my crew! And since I have had the privilege of working in many different positions over the years, I think I have a unique perspective and insights that can be helpful as they grow in their positions.” Rosa has always valued professional development, and even in more meager times, she was willing to pay for her professional membership in AHRMM and for additional training. Now she’s in a position to advocate for her staff to take advantage of professional development opportunities. Because hospitals have limited funds for such things, she has worked with her health system’s HR department to allow her employees to use tuition reimbursement monies for conferences.  

Talking to Rosa, you get a sense of how much she values her co-workers and the contributions of each. “Everyone has an important role to play, from the janitor to the CEO, and each should be treated the same, with dignity and respect.”  Rosa acknowledges that though she works hard and takes pride in her work, her co-workers and employees have played a significant part in her success. “My team makes me look good. You are only as good as your team.” Rosa’s motto is: You don’t build a business – you build people and then people build the business.

Interacting with people, helping them grow and achieve excellence, is what Rosa enjoys most about her job. She takes great satisfaction in mentoring and investing in people. She focuses on keeping high performers and helping low performers identify what’s holding them back and get help, or move on. Rosa’s commitment to her staff is evident by a plaque she keeps in her office. It was given to her when she was a director. It is the Outstanding Director Appreciation Award and it reads, “For having the fuel that allows ordinary people to attain extraordinary results.”  Although she has attained several significant milestones and achieved great supply chain savings, etc., it is this of which she is the most proud. Also, in 2018, she was honored by the South Florida Chapter of Public Administration at an event recognizing women trailblazers. Asked about the secret to her success, Rosa suggests, “I listen more than I speak. I’ve learned you need to really listen, not just to think how you will respond…” Her other advice is summed up in the acronym OHIO --  Only Handle It Once! “As supply chain professionals, we have to make decisions all the time. You can’t be afraid to make a decision or to delegate. Do not prolong, overanalyze, etc. Listen, be decisive, move forward. You will sometimes make mistakes, but learn from them and move on.”

And the most challenging aspect of her job? Budgeting, and maintaining the right fit between cost, quality, and outcomes. It’s Rosa’s job to help vet products and processes, conduct value analysis, and in some cases, make recommendations to the board. “We have several VA programs, -- OR and IR (Interventional Radiology and Cath Lab), and one for med surg.”  Rosa is not a voting member and does not chair the meetings. She is there to support and educate. Any supply increase is challenged from a quality and outcomes perspective; they have to show that the supply increase  will result in improved outcomes  for our patients and the  community. “One of the toughest parts of my job is having to say no and working efficiently while enforcing our procurement requirements.”

Rosa has been working in supply chain for over 25 years and in her current role since 2011. She’s been a long-time member of AHRMM (more than 20 years), and especially enjoys the annual conferences.  “The AHRMM annual conference gets me out of the hospital and removes me from my day-to-day commitments. I love it because there is a broad variety of topics and activities. It’s a wonderful opportunity to collaborate and network with other professionals. Getting away from my daily routine allows me to free up my mind; I go to sessions and take notes, and then go back to my facility with new energy and ideas to improve processes and saving money.

Rosa considers herself a private person, perhaps even a bit shy or hesitant in crowds. But at the AHRMM conference, she finds you don’t have to be gregarious to engage with others. She has conversations with session speakers and other attendees, and it happens organically, sitting in a presentation or at lunch or in the elevator.  “You exchange info and keep in touch. In the hospital, no one else does what we do – it’s incredibly helpful to have colleagues you can call on occasionally.”

In addition to the annual conference, Rosa also appreciates and uses the list serve and healthcare supply chain lexicon, and accesses case studies, leading practices, and white papers through the Knowledge Center. But the AHRMM offerings she cannot do without are the online education sessions for certification and the certification resources available on the website. “I attained my CMRP credential in 2004. The CMRP validated my competency at a time our field was mostly male-dominated (and probably still is). I felt I needed extra recognition as a woman. I know I am a strong credible woman with valuable experience, but the credential letters give some added validity, which is important as I interface with a lot of people with advanced degrees and credentials and am often the only female in the room.” An addition, Rosa feels the CMRP classes provide a solid knowledge base, and set a standard for essential knowledge in supply chain.

“As AHRMM members we have lots of resources available to us – so many tools. I find it difficult sometimes to take advantage of them all! I commute to work and I really like that I can listen to 5-10 minute clips of education in the car. I also appreciate that webinars are part of the membership package – that is a tremendous value. I always get something out of the webinars – some are very basic, some more advanced; they reinforce what I know and refresh my knowledge base. I’ve found that sometimes it’s necessary to get back to the basics.”

Asked to describe her AHRMM membership in 10 words or less, Rosa says, “AHRMM membership has been my commitment to my professional career.” Additionally she adds, “My membership in AHRMM provides networking, guidance, and reference for my role and related challenges.”

Rosa’s free time is all about kids and family. She just became a grandmother, which has been a thrill. She also loves to travel. She’s been on some amazing trips, often with her husband who travels internationally for work. As a busy supply chain executive, mother, and grandmother, she doesn’t have a lot of spare time, but she still makes space for travel, even if it’s just for a few days. Recently she went to Zurich…for a weekend! Other favorite places include, China, Thailand, Morocco, and Italy. “Experiencing other cultures is a wonderful education in and of itself. It exposes us to other ways of being and helps us appreciate other people, their struggles, and quest for empowerment.”

To unwind, Rosa enjoys fishing, and she collects stamps and coins. “Being outside and on the water is therapeutic. It relaxes me and gives me a realistic perspective of my place in space and time.” That is therapy well-deserved for someone who has worked hard to get where she is and invests so much time and energy in others.