缅北强奸

缅北强奸 is spotlighting Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) employees and leaders during AAPI Heritage Month. Tejal Bhalani joined Superior HealthPlan in 2019 as a Utilization Specialty Therapist and is now a Clinical Educator. She is also a member of the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Fellows Experience Program (SLBDI) and 缅北强奸鈥檚听MOSAIC and I.N.S.P.I.R.E听Employee Inclusion Groups (EIGs).

Tejal is a physical therapist by background. In the following Q&A, she shares how she applies her clinical skills to training 缅北强奸 team members, the importance of allyship, and the significance of AAPI Heritage Month.

Q.听听听听Tell us about your background and your current role as Clinical Educator at Superior HealthPlan.

础.听听听听I migrated to the United States from India in the late 1990s after completing my bachelor鈥檚 degree in physical therapy. I then graduated with a post professional degree in physical therapy in 2001 from the University of Florida. I started my career working as a clinical physical therapist and was further promoted to a management position. Throughout my healthcare career, I worked across various interdisciplinary settings and had the opportunity to work with multiple healthcare providers as I pursued my purpose to serve our diverse community. I continue to volunteer regularly at work-sponsored events, my kids鈥� school, and other non-profit organizations to give back to our community. I also serve as a board member for a local public charter school.

After almost two decades in the clinical arena, I transitioned to a Utilization Specialty Therapist position at Superior to apply my clinical skills and experiences to the next level. Three years later, I came across the opportunity for a Clinical Educator role and I am beyond thrilled to belong to our incredible education, performance monitoring, and medical program specialist team. In my role, I facilitate and assess training programs for our health plan Appeals department for our clinical and management staff in both office and remote settings. I incorporate a variety of training methodologies, including e-learning platforms. I also onboard and mentor new appeal clinicians and support the ongoing development of existing appeal clinical teams. In addition, I monitor, analyze, and prepare status reports, assessments, and evaluation tools. I feel fortunate to be a part of the 缅北强奸 family as it has fostered and nurtured my ambitions and purpose.

Q.听听听听What is the most meaningful part of your job?

础.听听听听The opportunity to indirectly serve our members by participating in training the teams who process our member requests. The opportunity to interact, communicate, and collaborate with multiple teams and ensure an effective outcome for our members and providers is rewarding. I work with teams from diverse backgrounds and understand regulatory guidelines and quality requirements from an operational perspective as I train our employees who help members get needed services. The ability to impact the community we serve nourishes and boosts me to excel and perform in a 鈥淪uperior鈥� manner each day.

Q.听听听听Who influenced you most during your career and why?

础.听听听听Mother Teresa has been one of the most influential personalities. Her selfless devotion and tireless attitude to improve lives around the world has truly been inspiring to me. I have also been fortunate to have great leaders, mentors, peers, sponsors, and advocates who have been role models in my motivation to excel. I currently also have an excellent mentor who is very supportive and encouraging.

Personally, my husband has been a pioneer in my career. He recognizes my strengths, weaknesses, and skills and motivates me to advance and take on challenges. His work ethic and approach to his personal and work life is inspirational. He truly is my friend, philosopher, and guide in my journey.

Q.听听听听How do you feel about 缅北强奸鈥檚 approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)?

础.听听听听缅北强奸 is strongly committed to driving innovation through DEI. I am proud that 缅北强奸 embraces and respects the experiences and ideas that employees bring and share through various platforms and programs. DEI leadership is a shining star of our organization with multiple recognitions. As a current fellow, I also value and commend the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative (SLBDI) Fellowship program that focusses on enhancing leadership capacity for people of color.

I am involved in multiple EIGs that are 缅北强奸鈥檚 key drivers for an inclusive work culture. These EIGs partner with the 缅北强奸 Talent Attraction team to host multiple events. Our Talent Attraction team receives training to become certified Diversity Recruiters. 缅北强奸 recently achieved a huge milestone and was again named a Top 50 Company for Diversity by DiversityInc. I was excited about the appointment of Sarah London as our new CEO. She has exemplified how 缅北强奸 supports a diverse workforce right from the top. Our workforce comprised of 76% women and 48% people of color further illustrates 缅北强奸鈥檚 approach to DEI.

Q.听听听听Tell us about why you became involved with the I.N.S.P.I.R.E and MOSAIC EIGs?

A.听听听听I wanted to learn more about 缅北强奸 and be involved with the company in more ways than my assigned role. I regularly visited CNET to stay current with the company news and read company emails and that鈥檚 when I heard about the various EIGs. I researched and felt inclined to join MOSAIC and I.N.S.P.I.R.E. I reached out to the EIG leadership and offered to volunteer. I took on a co-lead role and multiple other volunteer roles. I have not looked back since and have loved every bit of my time spent with the EIGs. My commitment, the opportunities available, and my passion for growth have poured into my success within the organization and beyond. A critical component of my ability to participate in anything beyond my title role has been the support I have received from my managers and leadership. Without their support, this truly would not have been possible.听

I have learned so much from these roles 鈥� collaboration, communication, time management, networking, resource management, operational management, technology, and financial management are key features that continue to impact, improve, and enhance my interaction not only across my team, but across multiple cross-functional areas.

Q.听听听听What is the importance of allyship to you, and how can employees be better allies?

础.听听听听Allyship is equally as important as DEI. It is very important for engagement with the added benefits of increased productivity, trust, transparency, belonging, feeling of safety, personal growth, professional growth, and longevity with the organization. Employees can be better allies by leaning into the 鈥渓isten, learn, and act鈥� approach. One needs to improve awareness, educate one鈥檚 self, and participate/take action.

For example, if an employee or People Leader notices someone on the team not participating or engaging in weekly meetings or huddles or is underrepresented, they should reach out and listen, learn, be open minded of their perspectives, and create an environment to promote opportunities for that team member to engage, as well as be their powerful voice when needed.

Allyship is an ongoing process of relationship development to ensure inclusion and equity in a diverse environment.

Q.听听听听What are your thoughts on the significance of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month?

础.听听听听As an individual of Asian origin, it is an honor to have achieved a heritage month dedicated to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Besides being proud, it is extremely encouraging and motivating to hear about the recognitions and contributions that Asian Americans have added in the fields of science, medicine, literature, art, sports, etc. and their unique journey to bejewel the legacy of the United States. It boosts my present and future to reflect on these efforts and strive to work toward multiplying and enhancing the success journeys of the past.