Spring 2023 Daniel R. Bacalis Striving Solo Parent Scholarship Winner

Michelle Congdon Scharnott

Working, single mom, Michelle is pursuing her doctorate degree at A.T. Still University of Health Sciences. This semester, we have selected Michelle as the Spring 2023 award recipient of our $1,000 scholarship. Michelle’s essay discusses the steps she has taken to give her children a great life and the hard work she has put in to make a difference in her career and community.

Read Michelle's Essay:

Every day I have the intention of bettering myself in my career, in my community and as a mother. I am a 4.0 student at A.T. Still University working toward my doctorate in Health Science. I consider myself a life-long learner. Although I am considered a mid-careerist, I continue to work towards expanding my scope of work for continued national impact.

I am finalizing a second divorce. My first divorce was with a man I started dating at the age of 16. We have two children together and remain friends. Both of our kids work at his restaurant, and they have always lived with me. Eight years ago, I married a man that I believed was my best friend. This marriage went terribly wrong due to his substance abuse. I was able to keep my children safe during this time. He has been out of the home for 15 months now.

I am now a single mother of three. My oldest has significant learning disabilities but I always want to show him that he can always advance himself and I try to model that theory. My youngest was adopted at birth and is bi-racial. I am becoming very aware of challenges she may have in the future, and I want her to have all the opportunities. Finally, I am a licensed foster parent with the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

I believe strongly that where you live should not determine if you live. My work with the American Heart Association has focused around using data to tell a story, to drive strategy and ultimately to improve patient care. To be more specific, my team works with about 2500 hospitals around the country and 10,000,000 patient records. I analyzed that data to see gaps in care, variance in workflow and where there may be an unmet need around cardiovascular care.

With data insights, I develop innovative concepts and strategic initiatives to deploy around the country. These initiatives assist the American Heart Association to gain insight on measures or data elements generating additional strategy on how to improve adherence. I am very passionate about this work as I have seen gaps in care narrow, treatment times decrease for stroke and heart attacks and patient outcomes improve. The data has driven all this work.

My concepts and strategies have brought in about $60,000,000 in the last four years to support the AHA’s mission around quality care. I have been able to add about 10 staff members to continue to analyze the data and progress around this. With this large portfolio of work and staff, I use difference analytics to keep the team on track.

I am a contributor and love collaboration. I am always listening for the next best idea, an innovative solution or a key take away. I can bring the group quite a bit of information on how I use data to innovate and drive strategy with my team and in the hospital space.

My children come first. My intention is to continually work hard for the greater good. I know they see this. All three of my kids only know my work at the American Heart Association. They have all volunteered at many events and will continue to do so.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this and for your consideration.