2019 Women in Building Services: Cathy Dolan Schweitzer, Columbia University Irving Medical Center / Health Well Done

Name: Cathy Dolan Schweitzer

Title: Senior Project Manager

Company Name: Columbia University Irving Medical Center; and President of Health Well Done

How many years have you been in your current field? 22 years. 

List up to three CRE organizations that you are currently a member of: 

• Professional Women in Construction, 
• Center for Health Design 
• National Speakers Association NYC 

What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months? 
Publishing “Health Well Done,” A people centered management approach to building healthcare environments. The very foundation of my book is to create optimal healthcare environments, and in order to achieve that we need to promote collaboration among team members. This idea came to me when I was a cancer patient in 2011. Knowing how to foster a healthy culture within the team, and how to organize the efforts of individual members is no easy task. That is why using  “HWD” simple project management process that follows the three-step integrated approach of “Healthy Patient, Healthy Team and Healthy Project” is a blueprint that can be used for project success.

What trend(s) do you predict to dominate your industry in 2019? 
My prediction is that project delivery will continue to be a team-based endeavor involving many stakeholders and collaboration is the key to all success practicing inclusivity with your teams as you refine your project management approaches. 

Which of your philanthropic endeavors are you most proud of? 
I love working on the Professional Women in Construction NYC Advisory board (PDAC) We provide leadership, advisory resources, for career development, and growth of PWC membership. I am amazed how many great causes the members are involved with to making this world a better place and it brings me great joy getting to know the members personally and professionally.

What does it mean to you to be a team player? 
To be a team player I must first know myself, and it is most important to communicate an interest in my team members success and well-being. Being open-minded, a good communicator and having s sense of humor is key.  Let’s face it, many times projects get stressful and one of the best ways to alleviate frustration, defuse the “blame game”, starve off power plays and keep the team going in the right direction is to infuse a bit of humor.