This HR leader hears, heeds, and helps those who heal others

"I get personal fulfillment from seeing people thrive and grow, evolve and overcome," says Kenya Pitt. "It's just my nature."

Pitt is the chief human resources (HR) officer for Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (PPMC). She became the HR leader at PPMC in September 2022 following more than seven years at other Penn Medicine entities, most recently with Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania. Since starting her latest position, Pitt has prioritized getting to know the people in each department and understanding what they need to feel supported. She listens attentively and translates their challenges, strengths, and aspirations into actionable plans to make PPMC a better workplace, patient care provider, and community leader.

Raised in West Philadelphia, Pitt knows firsthand how life-changing it can be to have someone believe in you. That lesson is never far from her mind as she envisions new possibilities for the hospital's employees-present and future.

Pitt devotes much of her time to workforce strategies, from compensation to talent acquisition to employee retention, committed to enhancing the lives of Penn Medicine's nearly 4,000 employees based at PPMC.

She is always looking for ways to connect with staff-even popping into the cafeteria to pick up breakfast provides an opportunity for conversations.

When she asks an employee, "How are you?" Pitt isn't asking them to report on how their job is going. Rather, she wants to how they're feeling as an individual, "head, heart, and mind."

"The pandemic left a lot of people feeling anxious, hurt, and uncertain," Pitt says. "And because most of us spend more of our awake hours with our coworkers than we do with our families, we often bring those feelings to work."

Although HR already offers many mental health and wellness resources for employees, Pitt wanted to ensure the staff were aware of the breadth of services available to them and how to access help when needed.

This story is by Abby Alten Schwartz. Read more at Penn Medicine News.