Tom Talks Talent

About Me

My name is Tom Fenyoe, and I serve as the System Vice President of Executive Recruiting. My team is responsible for hiring all vice president (VP) and above-level roles across our ministry. Although we fill 96% of the roles internally through this executive team, there are rare occasions where we partner with external search firms as well. In those instances, we manage search firm relations in accordance with system requirements.

Other interests I pursue relate to veterans’ causes. As a veteran myself following 26 years of military service, I’m passionate about supporting veteran initiatives aiding military transition, as well as partnering with organizations providing support addressing Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS).???

What does a day in your life as System Vice President of Executive Recruitment look like?

This work requires daily relationship building and engagement with hiring leaders, fellow talent acquisition partners, other HR team members, and most importantly, current and potential future candidates. The utilization of key performance indicators (KPIs) and effective communications are critical to a successful search. Additionally, timely follow-ups are key as they set the tone and are a reflection of our values here at CommonSpirit Health.

Engaging with my executive recruitment team and partnering with the overall TA team is one of the best parts of the job. They are consummate professionals and exceptionally committed to our mission, our ministry, and their teammates…this inspires me daily. The other tremendous aspect of this work is the rewarding feeling of positively impacting the lives of others. Finding the right talent to lead people and processes impacting our patients and the communities we serve is exceptionally motivating.??????

How does executive recruiting differ from the typical recruitment process, especially in the context of the healthcare industry?

Executive recruiting is exceptionally consultative and each search is unique in terms of requirements. This type of search demands constant engagement and coordination as the process is generally lengthier and includes multiple stakeholders. As a result, this generally means additional perspectives and complexities that aren’t as common with other searches.

Additionally, confidentiality is paramount and this requires overcoming some challenging logistics at times. Lastly, requirements/expectations are generally greater which limits candidate pools immensely as well as requires strong relationships with candidates who are not actively pursuing opportunities.??

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What attracted you to want to work at CommonSpirit? Why do you stay?

I worked for another healthcare system upon retiring from the military. I remember seeing “humankindness” commercials which I initially felt were great branding and made me want to be a part of the organization. I was eventually given an opportunity to join the team and quickly learned that humankindness was more than simply a brand, but rather, a culture that I identified with and greatly admire to this day. More importantly, it’s my leader and my team that keep me here and keep me inspired. There are intangible benefits anywhere one works, but here, I believe it’s the people and the culture.???

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What advice would you give to aspiring healthcare executives looking to advance their careers in the industry?

The best advice I could give anyone is to truly value and develop your most valuable resource…your people. Regardless of the role, without a strong team surrounding you, the mission cannot be accomplished as efficiently and effectively as possible. The old adage of “treat others the way you want to be treated” should apply to everyone, especially to those in leadership positions. The better you treat your teams, the more positive the patient experience and overall impact on the community will be.

If you're passionate about healthcare innovation, compassionate care, and building healthier communities, we invite you to explore and pursue a career in humankindness. Visit our careers page today to learn more about how you can help champion the common good: https://bit.ly/3fdq204