After a successful run that spanned five decades, the final Impact was published in January 2020.  Impact was UTMB Health’s employee newsletter. It evolved from a one color printed tabloid newspaper to a full color magazine with a digital component. We’ve archived the past several years on these pages for your review and enjoyment.

Emily Blomberg

Spotlight on Emily Blomberg, vice president, Professional and Support Services

Nov 21, 2016, 07:52 AM by KirstiAnn Clifford

Emily Blomberg
Emily Blomberg currently serves as vice president for Professional and Support Services. Her responsibilities include management of Radiology, Clinical Pathology, Pharmacy, Clinical Equipment Services, Food Services, Environmental Services, Rehab Services, Laundry and Transportation. She joined the UTMB family in August 2010 as the director of Health System Operations.

Prior to UTMB, Blomberg was director of business development for the Department of Surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine. In this role, she worked to develop a strategic marketing plan, implement a regional strategy for physician outreach and referrals, develop a robust continuing medical education program, and manage a technical and design team through the development of a new department website. Before that, she served as a senior management analyst at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. She brings with her a rich experience of health care administration and a broad understanding of academic medical centers.

Originally from Minnesota, Blomberg received a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in health care administration from the University of Minnesota.

What does Best Care mean to you and how do you contribute?
Best Care to me means delivering quality care 100 percent of the time, no matter what. It’s everyone’s job. My contribution is to ensure that support services are fully integrated in the patient care experience and outcome.

What are the biggest challenges you face as VP for Professional and Support Services?
Keeping up with the rapidly changing world that is UTMB is a constant challenge. The growth and expansion of the Health System has been incredible. I am so thankful for the team of professionals I am privileged to work with in support services. They handle change and challenge with skill, patience and alacrity.

What was your first job?
I started working when I was 15 as a waitress at a small diner in Rochester, Minn., called “Grandma’s Kitchen.” I worked every day after school and Saturday mornings. I put all my tips in a large Coke bottle bank and saved them for college. I absolutely loved working there, and still love going there for breakfast to this day, when I’m home! Unfortunately, my tips only paid for several courses at the University of Minnesota.

What do you like to do outside of work?
As Dave Matthews says, “Turns out, not where, but who you’re with that really matters.” I have a very close family and group of friends and love to spend time with them. I am very active and love to be outdoors running, skiing, swimming, hiking and standup paddle boarding. I recently signed up for two half marathons this fall so we will see how that goes!

What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
Something people don’t know about me is that I love fishing. I grew up fishing in Northern Minnesota on Gull Lake with my dad, brother and dog, Bubba. We would get up at 4 a.m. and hit the lake with our donuts, coffee and worms. My father was an expert angler and could always find the fish. When I was six, I hooked a 48-inch Northern Pike that almost pulled me out of the boat. Luckily, Bubba had a tight hold on my overalls and kept me from taking a morning swim.

What’s something you always wanted to do but have not done yet?
There are a gazillion things I haven’t done yet, with base jumping and cave diving leading the current list.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Tops on my list at the moment are Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. I really love to learn about the history and architecture of the area, not to mention the landscape is beautiful. I’d also like to spend a portion of my time there volunteering through Habitat for Humanity.

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