Jill Bartolomie
Episode 92

Narrator: Welcome friends to another episode of The Story & Experience Podcast. Join your host, Japhet De Oliveira, with his guest today and discover the moments that shape us, our families and communities.

Japhet De Oliveira: Hey, welcome friends to another episode of The Story & Experience Podcast. I am actually very excited about this particular episode, which you will see as we enter into the conversation why I'm so excited about the guest that we have today. If you're brand new to the podcast, the way that it works is that we have 100 questions. They are about leadership and what shapes this particular person into the leader that they are today. They become more vulnerable and more open as you get closer to 100, and the guest gets to choose between numbers 11 and 100 where they want to go because I'll ask the first 10. All right. Are you ready?

Jill Bartolomie: Ready.

Japhet De Oliveira: I see you there smiling and speaking. That's great. All right, so would you share with us your name, and does anybody ever mispronounce it or have any difficulty with it?

Jill Bartolomie: My name is Jill Bartolomie, and yes, Bartolomie is often mispronounced. It's an Italian last name, and often it's pronounced by syllables, which people try to do, so I just help clarify.

Japhet De Oliveira: Let it roll?

Jill Bartolomie: Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's good. That's fantastic, Jill. Well, Jill, tell us what do you do for work?

Jill Bartolomie: I am a Patient Care Executive for Adventist Health Ukiah Valley. I'm a nurse by trade and have been in this role for about a little over a year now, but I've been in nursing for over 30 years and have held many roles in the nursing profession. I'm happy to be in the role of Patient Care Executive.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's fantastic. So, unpack there for somebody who's brand new to healthcare and they're trying to work out what does a Patient Care Executive do, what do you do?

Jill Bartolomie: Well, Patient Care Executive is synonymous with Chief Nursing Officer. Some organizations use that term. Adventist Health chooses to use Patient Care Executive. We're in charge of the patients experiencing quality from the time they enter the facility until the time they leave.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's fantastic. Thank you.

Jill Bartolomie: Including all inpatient stays and outpatient.

Japhet De Oliveira: And you love it, right?

Jill Bartolomie: I do. I love it.

Japhet De Oliveira: I know you do. I know you do.

Jill Bartolomie: I love nursing, so yes, this is the ultimate role.

Japhet De Oliveira: Hey, that's really good. All right. This morning when you woke up, first drink of the day, what was it? Tea, coffee, water, liquid, green smoothie?

Jill Bartolomie: Well, I did start this morning with a cup of water, and then as I moved into the office I got a cup of decaf coffee, and that's usually my go-to.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, so you just like the taste of the coffee rather than the-

Jill Bartolomie: Yes. Yeah, I don't particularly like the effects of caffeine, but I do like the taste of coffee, so decaf is my choice.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's fantastic. Your water, is it, do you have cold water?

Jill Bartolomie: Just room temperature, water. Yeah, just a cup of water in the morning. It's good.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's fantastic. Good for you. Jill, where were you born?

Jill Bartolomie: I was actually born in Bakersfield, California. I stayed there for just a year or two of my life, moved down to Southern California. Then in my formative years of adolescence and junior high, I lived in the Central Valley in Stockton before moving here to Ukiah as a young adult.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's great. That's great. Now, when you were a child in Southern California, what did you imagine you would grow up to be?

Jill Bartolomie: I had two ideas in my head. One was a flight attendant and the other was a nurse.

Japhet De Oliveira: Really? That's fantastic, so you actually ended up picking one of those?

Jill Bartolomie: Yeah. The flight attendant didn't work out so well. I mean, I never tried, but at some point I just figured I didn't want to travel all over the world. I'd rather be stationary in a location and have some stability, so nursing was my choice.

Japhet De Oliveira: So I've got to ask, what drew you to nursing at such an early age?

Jill Bartolomie: Yeah, I don't know. I think it's just service, helping others, caring for others, and it's a great profession. I highly recommend it.

Japhet De Oliveira: It's interesting you mentioned local, but you are very embedded in your local community as well.

Jill Bartolomie: I am, yes, very much so. I've been here for a very long time. Yes.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, fantastic.

Jill Bartolomie: Been here for a long time and have very deep roots here.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's fantastic. All right. If people were to describe your personality, Jill, would they describe you as an introvert or an extrovert or something else? Would you agree?

Jill Bartolomie: I'm definitely an introvert. I think that's a bit challenging in this role. There's times where I'm called upon to be an extrovert and it's quite uncomfortable, but I do my best. I think for me it's about relationships and close relationships and fostering those relationships, so being an extrovert is a little bit challenging.

Japhet De Oliveira: Hey, well done for doing it. Now about habits. Are you an early riser or late night owl?

Jill Bartolomie: I have to say I'm neither. I really enjoy sleep.

Japhet De Oliveira: Good for you.

Jill Bartolomie: I sleep well, so I don't go to bed super late, and I don't wake up super early.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. Hey, that's great. That's great.

Jill Bartolomie: Just in time for a nice night's rest.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's good. That's good. This morning when you woke up, what was the first thought that went through your mind?

Jill Bartolomie: That I get to talk to Japhet again?

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, see. It's good to connect.

Jill Bartolomie: That's what I like.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's good. That's good. All right, here's a leadership question for you. Are you a backseat driver?

Jill Bartolomie: No, I would say not. I definitely like to give autonomy and to have autonomy to make decisions whether they're correct or not, but to have guidance or give guidance is what's most important. I don't think that people learn when you tell them what to do or how to drive the car. I think people learn by coming up with ideas and trial and error, so I try to give that opportunity to the leaders here.

Japhet De Oliveira: Hey, that's great. That's great. Well, Jill, the floor is open now for you to choose between 11 and 100 where you would like to go. Where would you like to begin?

Jill Bartolomie: Let's start with 16.

Japhet De Oliveira: I like the smile. All right. 16. All right. Tell us about one of the places you traveled and why you want to go back.

Jill Bartolomie: Okay. I really enjoy Italy. I very much enjoy Italy. My husband's father was born in Italy, and my daughter was married in Italy. We've been to a lot of parts of Italy, and I truly enjoy that country. I think that if I could move out of the country, that would probably be my country of choice.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's interesting. Now, since you've gone to Italy so many times and you're married to an Italian, food?

Jill Bartolomie: Food. Well, I can say my husband did not get the Italian cooking genes, but I do enjoy Italian food. I just don't cook it, so always searching for a good Italian meal.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, my goodness. I've had some.

Jill Bartolomie: The best meals I've had are in Italy, yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira: Aren't they amazing? I mean, honestly, I feel the same way as well.

Jill Bartolomie: I don't know what it is. Even their coffee is so much different.

Japhet De Oliveira: I know. I know. It's outrageous.

Jill Bartolomie: It's interesting that Italians do choose to cook in a very simple way with simple ingredients, but it is just the most delicious food ever.

Japhet De Oliveira: I'm pretty sure there's a life lesson inside that, right?

Jill Bartolomie: Probably. Yes.

Japhet De Oliveira: Probably. All right. Hey, that was 16. Do you want to go up or down?

Jill Bartolomie: Let's go to 21.

Japhet De Oliveira: 21. All right. Oh, share the best compliment you've ever received.

Jill Bartolomie: Oh, my.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, yeah.

Jill Bartolomie: Probably that I'm a good leader, that I have patience and empathy. Because I've had so many roles in nursing, I really do understand what the leaders or staff are dealing with and going through, so being a good leader is a great compliment.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's really good. That is really good. It is. That is great. All right, that was 21. Where next?

Jill Bartolomie: Let's go to, how about 13? Playing it safe.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh no, that's fine. Walk us through. This is great. Walk us through the ideal end of your day.

Jill Bartolomie: Oh, end of my day?

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Jill Bartolomie: Wow. Well, I would say finishing a day where I felt that I was successful in some aspect, feeling that I made a difference in some way that day. In leadership, it's a little challenging to feel that every day because some of the decisions are difficult or take a long time, so it's not that gratification every single day, but a good day is feeling that I've succeeded in some way. Going home, putting on some comfortable clothing, relaxing, maybe cooking a meal with my family, having my adult children over for dinner, reading a book because I fall asleep early.

Japhet De Oliveira: I've got to ask. Do your kids live close enough that they can come over?

Jill Bartolomie: Yes. They both live locally, and they're in their late 20s, so having them over for dinner a few times a week is a delight.

Japhet De Oliveira: I'm glad how you've decided it's a few times a week, not every night.

Jill Bartolomie: No, not every night. Unless they're willing to cook. That's fine then.

Japhet De Oliveira: Ah, see, that's great. Oh, that's fantastic. Oh, that's good. Your family sounds wonderful. All right. Where next after that?

Jill Bartolomie: How about 25?

Japhet De Oliveira: 25. All right. Oh, share the most beautiful thing you've ever seen.

Jill Bartolomie: Well, I would have to say at this point in time, the most beautiful thing I've ever seen is my daughter's wedding. Like I said, it was in Italy. It was just two years ago. Yeah, it was very beautiful to see your child get married.

Japhet De Oliveira: It is. It is. That's fantastic. I bet it was a beautiful location as well and everybody got joy.

Jill Bartolomie: Lake Como along the lake in a villa with her beautiful husband. Yes.

Japhet De Oliveira: James Bond wasn't driving his car around there?

Jill Bartolomie: No, we didn't see any celebrities. No celebrities, and I'm good with that.

Japhet De Oliveira: Hey, that's beautiful. All right, where next?

Jill Bartolomie: 31.

Japhet De Oliveira: 31. Tell us about someone you'd love to eat dinner with and the sky is the limit. Oh, yeah.

Jill Bartolomie: Okay. Let's see. I think I would like to eat dinner with Brené Brown just to have a conversation about life and leadership and the journey and how empathy and authentic leadership plays a part in our own journey and the journey that we have within our work environment and the relationships that we build.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. Vulnerability and empathy and understanding is very important to you, right?

Jill Bartolomie: Yes, very important.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, it is. I'm glad for that. Thank you for sharing that, and I hope maybe one day it does happen.

Jill Bartolomie: Yes, that would be wonderful.

Japhet De Oliveira: It would be amazing. All right. Oh, good. Where would you like to go after 31?

Jill Bartolomie: How about 35?

Japhet De Oliveira: 35? All right. Share a special interest or a unique talent that you have.

Jill Bartolomie: I don't know that it's unique. It's hard to be unique among these millions of people, but I think an interest or talent that I have, a definite interest is in Pilates. I love Pilates. It's my go-to form of exercise. It's very relaxing. It's very energetic. Reformer Pilates can be intense, can be also very healing. I just really enjoy that form of activity and wish that I could do it every day. It's a wonderful thing.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's really good. That's really good. I like that. Good. All right. Where next?

Jill Bartolomie: That was 35?

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Jill Bartolomie: Let's go to 29.

Japhet De Oliveira: 29. Share three things that make you instantly happy. Just like, yeah.

Jill Bartolomie: Oh, wow. Okay. I would say a donut.

Japhet De Oliveira: A particular type?

Jill Bartolomie: A donut. Yes, I love a chocolate old fashioned.

Japhet De Oliveira: Okay. All right. All right.

Jill Bartolomie: Yes, a donut makes me super happy. In fact, my dearest friends know that I would prefer a donut cake on my birthday over anything.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, really?

Jill Bartolomie: Yes.

Japhet De Oliveira: Pretty cool.

Jill Bartolomie: Let's see. A donut makes me happy. My children make me happy, especially when they're around, and we're happy and having a good time and laughing or sharing a meal. Then the other thing that makes me happy I think is work. I think being here and doing good work, and making a difference and sharing positivity and joy and a sense of connection with the staff makes me happy.

Japhet De Oliveira: I think that's very true because when I think about the answer you gave us earlier about your ideal end of day, you just began with a great day of work, and then that feeds into you. So it's not just like, "Oh, once I leave, then I can have joy." You do enjoy it, yeah.

Jill Bartolomie: We spend so much time here, and we truly do enjoy the work that we do, and making a difference is important. Making a difference in the lives of the staff here is ultimately what's going to lead to a great patient experience as well and great patient outcomes.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yes, or taking care of the people means that they take care of the patients even better. That's true. That's good. Brilliant. All right, where would you like to go next?

Jill Bartolomie: Let's go to 37.

Japhet De Oliveira: 37. Oh, I don't know how you picked this one, but what do you like most about your family?

Jill Bartolomie: This is a very family oriented discussion today.

Japhet De Oliveira: I know, I know. It's just great.

Jill Bartolomie: What do I like most about my family? That we're intact and that we enjoy each other's company and we get to spend time together, and our family is growing. Those are all great things. We're expecting our first grandchild soon, probably in the next four weeks, so it's very exciting, and it's wonderful to see our family thriving.

Japhet De Oliveira: Well, congratulations on that as well.

Jill Bartolomie: Thank you.

Japhet De Oliveira: That will be a superb time as well.

Jill Bartolomie: Yes.

Japhet De Oliveira: Great. Good. All right, where next?

Jill Bartolomie: 43.

Japhet De Oliveira: 43. Oh, tell us about the best gift that you've ever received other than a donut.

Jill Bartolomie: Well, can I say, I haven't received it yet, but I think the best gift that I will receive is a grandchild.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, yeah.

Jill Bartolomie: My first one, but from what I'm hearing from all the other grandparents around is that it's the best gift that you can ever have in life, so I'm truly looking forward to welcoming this grandchild in the next few weeks.

Japhet De Oliveira: I've talked to some of my friends as well, and they've said the same thing. It's just they were anticipating this and so excited. Yeah. Good.

Jill Bartolomie: I'll fill you in. I'll let you know how wonderful.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, you do. You do need to let me know. Absolutely. Good. All right, where next after 43?

Jill Bartolomie: 51.

Japhet De Oliveira: 51. Tell us about something that you know do differently than most other people.

Jill Bartolomie: A really challenging question. Something I do differently than other people. I think I have really high empathy towards others, and hopefully it shows in the way that I lead and am a friend and a boss or a teacher because I think for me, empathy, I wouldn't call it a skill, but it's definitely a trait that is highly valued and can lead to great outcomes and good connections, great connections.

Japhet De Oliveira: Well, I have felt that, Jill, in our conversations that we've had, that you are an empathetic soul. I do believe that people are very as to how empathetic they are, but I think that is very true about you, and it's beautiful. I think you move things along through that, so good for you. Good for you.

Jill Bartolomie: Yeah, I try. It's definitely taken a lot of years and a lot of life lessons to get to the point in which I am in being empathetic towards others.

Japhet De Oliveira: Is there a life lesson that you'd be willing to share that helped grow your empathy or your space, or did you feel that you've always been this way since a child?

Jill Bartolomie: Certainly have not been this way always. Empathy has grown over the years. Probably most recently with the death of a child, I've become extremely empathetic.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah.

Jill Bartolomie: Hopefully, that empathy allows me to lead in an authentic and wholesome way in which the staff and patients feel that and can witness that and build strong connections.

Japhet De Oliveira: As we've talked before, Jill, I am very sorry for your loss.

Jill Bartolomie: Thank you.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yet, I will say that I have been inspired by the way you and your family have handled that loss and tried to create beautiful memories. If you wouldn't mind, I think it would be lovely for people to hear some of the things that you've actively done, yeah.

Jill Bartolomie: With the loss of our child, we developed a community scholarship locally for graduating high school students who are interested in going into industrial arts, which was our son's love. He was a great welder and fabricator and loved doing those things, so we thought that it would be beneficial to our family and the community to create this scholarship in Nash's name. We've been able to give about eight or nine scholarships to graduating seniors who choose to go into the industrial arts field.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's fantastic.

Jill Bartolomie: Yeah, so it's really been a benefit to our family to help heal and to this community and to continue Nash's legacy.

Japhet De Oliveira: Hey, that's beautiful. Forever loved, right?

Jill Bartolomie: Forever. Yes.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah. Hey, that is really beautiful. Thank you for sharing that and for helping those who may have gone through or are going through something very similar.

Jill Bartolomie: Yes.

Japhet De Oliveira: I appreciate that a lot.

Jill Bartolomie: We're all in this together.

Japhet De Oliveira: Yeah, we are. We are. You're right about that, Jill. We are always. All right, where would you like to go after that?

Jill Bartolomie: Let's go to 55.

Japhet De Oliveira: 55. All right. Jill, share, if you wouldn't mind, something that frightens you, actually.

Jill Bartolomie: Well, I would say that when my oldest child decided to become a flight nurse, that frightened me because we had recently lost one child, and I didn't think that it was very smart of a second child to choose a dangerous career, but he decided that he really wanted to try this, and I had to be okay with that choice and support him in his decision. He loves it and he is safe. Knowing the safety protocols that the flight ambulances have in place really is helpful, and being there and seeing their processes and meeting the crew has been helpful.

Japhet De Oliveira: Comforting.

Jill Bartolomie: Yes. Comforting. Yes.

Japhet De Oliveira: I can imagine. Well, and I am eternally thankful for those who are brave enough to do that as well.

Jill Bartolomie: Yes, very much so. It's definitely a career that's not for everyone, but it does take a special skill and a special person to respond in people's greatest needs, time of need, and in the most sometimes tragic and horrific events, so I'm proud of him for doing that. It's just as a mother, a little unnerving when your child is up in the helicopter all the time.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, yeah. I hear. I've got some good friends who do the same and yeah, feel the same. That's good. All right, Jill, we have time for two more numbers. Where would you like to go for your last two numbers?

Jill Bartolomie: Okay, let's go 75.

Japhet De Oliveira: 75. All right. 75 it is. Do you remember the first item you purchased with your own money? If so, what was it and why did you buy it?

Jill Bartolomie: I really don't remember the first time I purchased with my own money. I worked much through high school. I grew up in a single parent home, so having my own money was important. I would just have to say probably gasoline to get to and from school and gasoline to get to and from work and to hang out with your friends. So, being independent and having your own spending money was super important to me, and having a job and just feeling like I could help support myself in some way was important. I value those life lessons that I had as a younger person and try to instill those values in my children as well.

Japhet De Oliveira: That's really good. All right, last number.

Jill Bartolomie: Last question. Go to 56.

Japhet De Oliveira: 56. All right, here we go. Share an activity that when you start this, it just makes you lose all sense of time.

Jill Bartolomie: I'm going to say paddleboarding with friends.

Japhet De Oliveira: Oh, yeah?

Jill Bartolomie: Yeah, so a few years ago. Well, probably a decade ago, I started paddleboarding. Being out on the water with friends and having a good time really does make you. I thoroughly enjoy it and lose a sense of time, and just enjoying the breeze and the water and the friends and the conversation is such a relaxing time that truly, it's wonderful. It's a great experience. If you haven't paddleboarded, I'm sure many people have, but it's just amazing. I enjoy the water, the serenity of it all.

Japhet De Oliveira: The serenity of it all. I'm with you on that. Hey, Jill, it has been an absolute privilege and joy to be able to have a conversation with you. I thank you so much. Thank you for sharing.

Jill Bartolomie: Thank you.

Japhet De Oliveira: For sharing difficult things and good things as well, I really appreciate that. I want to encourage everybody who's listening to you to do the same, just to connect with a friend. In our world today, whether we do it online, ideally in person, much better. Maybe get a cup of tea, sit down, talk to each other. Ask good questions, and listen because we both learn from that. Jill, it was inspirational and encouraging, and I think that if anybody is going through anything difficult, to try and find good through that is always a good thing.

Jill Bartolomie: Of course, yes. Thank you.

Japhet De Oliveira: All right. God bless everybody until we connect again.

Narrator: Thank you for joining us for The Story & Experience Podcast. We invite you to read, watch, and submit your story and experience at adventisthealth.org/story. The Story & Experience Podcast was brought to you by Adventist Health through the Office of Culture.