Congratulations Tanvi Bhakta – Director of Medical-Surgical Nursing

Recently during the Expanded Executive Committee meeting, the committee recognized ZSFG’s Director of Medical Surgical Nursing, Tanvi Bhakta, MSN, RN, CNL for the Values in Action award. The purpose of this award is to celebrate a leader who embodies and models the ZSFG values (Joy in our Work, Thirst in Learning, and Compassionate Care). 

Upon starting in her director role, she quickly forged partnerships amongst staff and divisions – for example, asking how Med-Surg and Department of Care Coordination could work more purposefully together. She has consistently shown a high degree of excellence, creativity, a detailed knowledge of patient level and system level factors, a focus on empathically supporting frontline teams, and also just a willingness to not take ourselves so seriously that we can’t also laugh and have fun while doing the important work in front of us.

“ZSFG is fortunate to have her clarity, thoughtfulness and empathic leadership. She is an invaluable resource who elevates the care we provide to our patients and improves the work environment for our providers every day. She was an absolute rock during the most difficult moments of COVID, bringing organizational skills, optimism and an incredible work ethic to uncharted territory,” shares Hemal Kanzaria, MD, MSc, Medical Director of Care Coordination – the pervious Values in Action awardee who nominated Tanvi. He continues, “She was a key partner for the physicians in DOM caring for patients with COVID, and our department recognized her contributions with the 2021 Robert Lull Award for a Subspecialty Consultant to the Medicine Service.”

It is the mark of a truly outstanding leader to be able to pivot in role and priorities yet retain one’s authenticity and unique strengths, all skills Tanvi embodies. Hemal describes her as an excellent example of a “warm demander”–someone who has high personal standards and works to achieve them, who cares about the lives of others and believes in their ability to do hard things, and who will always be shoulder to shoulder with you in a tough spot.

Thank you, Tanvi for your leadership, comradery and grace.