Maureen Warwick was already working in the health-care field as a nurse when she met Linda Wojtowicz 10 years ago.
But it was Wojtowicz who encouraged, guided and sometimes pushed Warwick to give more to the profession, which, in return, yielded unimagined benefits.
In nominating Wojtowicz as the 40 Under 40 Mentor of the Year, Warwick described her mentor as a "true visionary ... someone whose passion for the art of nursing, and the health- care profession as a whole, is woven into the belief of her everyday life."
Warwick began working for her mentor a decade ago when Wojtowicz was chief nurse - and later the CEO - at Sierra Vista Regional Health Center. After what Warwick described as "a few career twists and turns" for both women, they met up again at Tucson Medical Center, where Warwick is director of patient care services and Wojtowicz is senior vice president and chief operations officer.
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"She embodies many of the traits and characteristics of the 21st-century transformational leader, and is able to articulate a vision that inspires others and motivates them to move forward with her," Warwick wrote. "I have watched her bring about a positive evolution in clinical practice and leadership in our organization, consistently focusing on the importance of the 'art' of caring, while implementing numerous quality and patient safety initiatives that improve patient outcomes. She models the desired behaviors, is not afraid to take risks and is accountable for outcomes, while always acknowledging others in celebrations of successes."
As Wojtowicz has done for hundreds of nurses, students and healthcare professionals, she urged Warwick to make the most of her career, even under sometimes daunting circumstances.
"With her mentoring and support, I have been able to live a life I would never have imagined," Warwick wrote. "Her advice to me has been: 'Nursing is about doing the right thing versus doing it right. Always do the right thing, always put the patient first.' In health care, we face many difficult decisions every day, and using this mantra that she taught me, I find the answers come easier than one would expect."
Wojtowicz's reach extends beyond the walls of Tucson Medical Center.
She is a longtime American Heart Association board member, and she is active on the YWCA board. She also is a member of several professional nursing organizations and was a medical missionary in Bolivia.
