In Honor of Social Work Month and National Women’s History Month, we are recognizing Heather Brungardt, MSW, LCSW, our VP of Workforce Development. She leads initiatives to strengthen staff engagement and expand the health care workforce. She is also the Program Director and a part of the steering committee for the Geriatric Social Work Education Consortium (GSWEC) of Southern California Program. Heather reflects, “One of the greatest services I can provide is to train and support the next generation of social work professionals to prepare them to make a difference in our communities.”
Heather has over two decades of experience as a clinician and leader within health care and non-profit sectors focused on health and social policy, patient experience, value-based care, social needs care, and care coordination. Her early clinical roles in long term care, hospice, managed care and pediatrics served as a strong foundation for later leadership roles. Heather started as a Clinical Social Work Supervisor at Children’s Mercy Hospital, and eventually grew to be the Senior Administrative Director of the Division of Psychosocial Services. Heather has also held leadership positions at the American Academy of Family Physicians, Kansas City Free Health Clinic and Truman Medical Centers.
Heather has been a member of the Society of Social Work Leadership in Health Care for over two decades and was President of her local chapter. She is currently recognized as the Immediate Past-President of the National Society of Social Work Leadership in Health Care and was named Health Care Social Work Leader of the Year in 2017.
Heather is a great role model in the field of social work, and we are proud to have her as a leader in Partners in Care Foundation. She brings incredible insight to the team and a great representation of someone who has evolved professionally in social work.
