Getting to Know Ann-Marie Knight
UF Health Jacksonville's Vice President of Community Engagement and Chief Diversity Officer
Ann-Marie Knight joined the UF Health family at the end of July. She serves as vice president of Community Engagement and chief diversity officer. In this dual role, she partners with UF Health Jacksonville leadership to engage with local and state officials, other community and physician leaders and agencies to strategize on improving the long-term health of the community and reducing health disparities. She also helps provide vision and leadership for the diversity, inclusion and equity efforts across our enterprise.
Knight came from Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, where she served as operations administrator for the department of surgery and critical care medicine, and later served as director of community engagement and diversity and inclusion.
With more than 19 years of progressive experience, she attributes her professional acumen to her 24 years of naval service where she retired as a medical service corps officer.
In her short time here, she has already cultivated close, trusting relationships, made big plans for the future and developed a vision for how to get there. She is truly motivated by everyone’s passion of serving patients who are the most vulnerable in our community. She has found herself smiling after walking out of meetings where this passion spills over into the discussion.
Since joining the UF Health family at the end of July, she has already cultivated close, trusting relationships, made big plans for the future and developed a vision for how to get there.
Being a Champion of the Community
Knight’s long-term vision is to improve community health and increase recognition and understanding of the contributions we make toward the well-being of citizens in the region and beyond. There is a unique opportunity to deliver unmatched community benefit and, at the same time, demonstrate to civic, government and philanthropic leaders the value we bring to the community. One major strategic initiative that will serve as the driving force of community efforts is the Urban Health Alliance of Jacksonville, formerly known as the Jacksonville Urban Health Alliance. UF Health Jacksonville will convene and lead the alliance to address the most critical health needs and, thereby, close the gap on health disparities in the community.
Another equally important goal is to support and focus on staff’s interests. Specifically, ensuring that there are opportunities for everyone to engage in the most meaningful manner for personal fulfillment and in support of growing practices. Knight shared, “Colleagues who volunteer together build a trust and respect for each other as individualizes that sometimes doesn’t easily surface in the day-to-day activities of caring for patients.”
But first, the data must be captured. It’s imperative to know about and record the amazing work that is already being done by various departments and partnerships and see the impact.
She is in the midst of creating a platform where every team can share their community activities. It is an effort to capture the data as well as recognize and celebrate the hard work that is happening on and off campus.
Knight regularly meets with key stakeholders. Here she greets Kasey DeSantis, Florida’s current first lady, during a visit at UF Health Jacksonville.
Driving Innovation with Inclusive Diversity
In looking at her other area of focus and when asked about short-term goals for diversity, her answer was simple. “Keep doing what you’re doing,” she said. She is thoroughly impressed with the collegial nature of the work environment.
Looking to the future, her long-term vision for inclusive diversity is to align all efforts with “IDEA,” which stands for inclusion, diversity, equity and access. IDEA is a concept that strives to generate a variety of ideas that ultimately drive innovation and excellence. This is yet another step in working toward a “One UF.” She looks forward to working with Madeline Joseph, MD, associate dean for equity and inclusion for UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville, to implement this concept across all departments.
As an enterprise with the mission to heal, to comfort, to educate and to discover, she is excited about the opportunity to influence all four paradigms through a lens of ‘inclusivity.
Taking a Risk
When looking at her career path, Knight attributes her time in the military to the person and leader she is today. She spent 24 years in the Navy and credits this experience as one of her greatest accomplishments. The strong leaders, mentors and shipmates taught her how to lead, manage and establish core values that guide everything she does. She followed her dreams, took a risk and had the opportunity to serve our country.
When transitioning out of the military, she knew she wanted to get into health care. She was drawn to academic medicine and other nonprofit models of care. Immediately following her military service, Knight served as administrative officer for the Veterans Affairs Clinic in Jacksonville, where she was instrumental in operationalizing the Jefferson Street location.
Knight attributes her professional acumen to her 24 years of naval service where she retired as a medical service corps officer.
Eliminating Today’s Noise and Staying Focused
With her military service and more than 19 years of experience, when it comes to career advice, she doesn’t look to the past but rather focuses on the future and encourages others to do the same. Knight knows that today’s digital world and distractions can be overwhelming, so she encourages others to manage and eliminate the noise and stay focused. Specifically, stay focused on what you’re passionate about. Although the passion may take some time to find, it is the key to success.
She turned to retired Navy Vice Admiral Raquel Bono, who encouraged her to take time to clearly define goals and have a clear path on how to achieve those goals. Knight witnessed Raquel practice not just the golden rule, but her redefined platinum rule of “treating others exactly the way they want to be treated.” Knight strives to emulate this approach in all that she does.
Ending on a Personal Note
It’s clear that Knight has a very successful career and great advice to offer. Outside of the office, she is equally as impressive. She lives in Springfield with her husband, two sons, mother and mother-in-law. To say the least, she has a full house to keep track of! They picked Springfield because of the small, friendly neighborly feel, and because it reminded Knight of a favorite place she once lived, a small village in Cornwall, England.
When it comes to football, she’s more into it for the camaraderie and snacks. Her interest in the sport seems to be growing, thanks to her husband taking over their living room. While Baylor University is her alma mater, the Gators now have a soft spot in her heart as an employee at UF Health.
For her next vacation, she hopes to conquer her fear of heights and ride a rollercoaster for the first time. It seems like she’ll need some encouragement, so this could be an agenda item during your next meeting with her. And when she’s not here on campus, you may find her at an auction or estate sale, or spending time in her garden.
If you haven’t had a chance to meet her yet, you will soon. She is generous, energetic and her passion for the community and our enterprise is amazing. Her energy is infectious and she will most certainly put a smile on your face.
