Peninsula Health extends a warm welcome to Ms Jana Gazarek who joins the organisation as Executive Director, Operations (Chief Operating Officer), overseeing a range of acute and sub-acute medical services, allied health, emergency, community and surgical care.
Jana began her clinical career as a podiatrist at Northern Health working across acute and sub-acute services, community health and private practice.
“I soon realised I was passionate about making a difference to more than just the one client,” says Jana. “I knew I wanted to make an impact and a change within our health system and the way health care is delivered.”
It was not long before Jana was appointed to senior leadership positions at Northern Health, which included her role as Operations Director Medicine and Emergency Services. Jana moved across to St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic accepting the role of General Manager Specialty Services, Cancer and COVID-19 Vaccination program.
“The COVID-19 pandemic, although scary for most of us and the community, I think brought our health system together,” says Jana. “It allowed us to be innovative in our thinking and highlighted what’s possible.” Jana says the mass vaccination programs and new models of care implemented were key examples of this.
In September 2021, Jana joined the Royal Melbourne Hospital as the General Manager of Access, Critical Care and Investigative Services. Here she had the privilege of introducing Victoria’s first Digital Coordination Centre (DCC), the Royal Melbourne’s very own mission control, which utilises real-time data to ensure patients get the care they need, when they need it.
“I am really excited about coming to Peninsula Health and belonging to an organisation that is deeply embedded in the community, one that values its local population and is committed to delivering outstanding health care,” shares Jana.
“Peninsula Health is a health service that delivers such a breadth of services across the lifespan. I love the fact that the people who work here live locally, are members of the local community and really feel a part of a collaborative health service that boldly works towards health lives for all.”
Jana joins Peninsula Health at a pivotal time as the hospital redevelopment at Frankston approaches its final stages, set to be operational by January 2026.
“The biggest priority for me is getting into the beautiful new hospital at Frankston and thinking about how we may use the opportunity to do things slightly differently from a model of care perspective.”
“I want Peninsula Health to be a service that provides timely access to the right care through every touch point in our service to the community we serve,” adds Jana. “This of course then drives efficiency and innovation which is really great from a research perspective and for workforce attraction.”
“My passion is around patient access and flow through complex systems, and I look forward to working with our teams at Peninsula Health to understand how we can do that for our local community.”
Jana started at Peninsula Health in November, and says she is excited about the possibilities to enhance care in Frankston and on the Mornington Peninsula.
“I have already met so many wonderful people,” says Jana. “But I am most looking forward to getting out and visiting our various sites, to talk to our clinicians and people on the ground.”
“I want to understand what works well, and what are some of the challenges and barriers that we need to think about and address, particularly as we prepare to move into the new redeveloped Frankston Hospital.”