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November 6, 2020 Women Who Mean Business

LaBarbera leads Gaylord through growth, pandemic

PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED Sonja LaBarbera, president and CEO of Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, at the Wallingford-based hospital with Shekinah Hawkins, a mobility technician.
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

For Sonja LaBarbera, the best part of her job is seeing patients get well again and walk out the door.

In early 2019, LaBarbera became the first woman to serve as president and CEO of Gaylord Specialty Healthcare in its history. The 137-bed Wallingford-based nonprofit hospital provides rehabilitation for people who have been injured in traumatic accidents or suffered an acute illness, such as a stroke. LaBarbera oversees a staff of 935 employees at the organization, which had annual revenue of $81.2 million in 2019.

“I love to go and sit with patients and families,” LaBarbera says. “All you have to do is sit with a patient in the gym and you’ll realize the impact this organization has on their life.”

LaBarbera started at Gaylord in 2005, with her first role as director of inpatient therapy. Her background is as a speech language pathologist, and she rose through the hospital ranks, serving as chief operating officer prior to her promotion.

Even in her current leadership role, LaBarbera says she will help patients get out of bed and “do whatever it takes” to help them on their journey to recovery.

LaBarbera says this regular interaction coincides with her motto: “It is all about the patients.”

“I like to be out in the units,” LaBarbera says. “Sitting in my office is not the place I like to be. I get my energy from being around people.”

Patients are at the forefront in LaBarbera’s office, too, as she has decorated her walls with their artwork.

Open-door policy

Becoming a hospital CEO was never part of LaBarbera’s career plan though she always knew she wanted to help people. Aptitude tests she took in high school suggested she’d excel as an air traffic controller.

“I like chaos and taking chaotic situations and being able to move forward,” she said.

A teacher encouraged LaBarbera to look into becoming a speech pathologist. While she initially wanted to work with kids, once she experienced treating adults, she found the career path she wanted. Opportunities for advancement arose, and the business side of hospital work appealed to her, helping her get where she is today.

While LaBarbera always loved taking care of people directly, she realized she could impact more patients as a manager.

“Becoming the Gaylord CEO for me meant being able to bring the patients into every business decision I make,” LaBarbera says.

When asked about her accomplishments as president and CEO, LaBarbera quickly mentions leading Gaylord through the COVID-19 pandemic. Many patients who were discharged from other hospitals have come to Gaylord to regain their strength and recuperate.

“A lot of these [COVID-19] patients came here very ill,” LaBarbera says. “It brings a sense of accomplishment and hope to help people — many of whom had been on ventilators — regain strength and get back to their families and living their lives.”

LaBarbera is also overseeing an ongoing $10-million hospital renovation project, one of the largest in its history. More than 100 inpatient rooms along with family and staff areas are being renovated to give the hospital a more home-like atmosphere. The project is slated to be finished within the next couple of years.

In spite of the coronavirus pandemic, Gaylord also opened an outpatient location in Cromwell, and LaBarbera plans to continue to grow the hospital’s outpatient footprint. Gaylord has also expanded its telehealth offerings in recent months.

LaBarbera is known around the workplace for her energy and collaborative management style, and she tries to be approachable, inspirational and motivational.

“I have an open-door policy — the best decisions are made from the front lines,” LaBarbera says.

Dr. Stephen Holland, Gaylord’s chief medical officer, said LaBarbera’s greatest attribute is her compassion.

“She shows warmth and empathy for the staff and the patients,” Holland said. “It is part of her character and it is infectious, because others strive to be like her.”

LaBarbera enjoys helping staff advance their own careers. She welcomes people coming to her and seeking professional advice. She hopes her position as a CEO, along with other women in leadership roles, will inspire others looking for career advancement.

LaBarbera’s advice to women in the business world? Don’t be afraid to fail, and be willing to try new things. Find a mentor, surround yourself with people who encourage and challenge you. If you make a misstep, learn from it, she says. 

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