From learning to leading

Louisa Ford is the Director of Operations, Surgery and Anaesthetics at Eastern Health, but her career begun with different aspirations.

Starting as an Eastern Health graduate, Lou was interested in perusing a career in midwifery. But during her exposure to the Emergency Department, suddenly that was no longer the case.

“In my last rotation, I found my people and spent the next 14 years working across emergency departments.”

Throughout her 21 years at Eastern Health, Lou has held various leadership roles including Associate Director of Nursing, eventually moving into the surgery and anaesthetics space.

“I have been incredibly lucky at Eastern Health to have some great colleagues and mentors that have really pushed me outside of my comfort zone, and I think that’s where we do the most growth.

“You need to grab opportunities that present. Make sure that you are honest and authentic with your team, but also look after yourself in the process.”

With the reopening of Eastern Health Blackburn, Lou is excited by what can be delivered in 2025.

“Over the last couple of years, we’ve been really focusing on our catch up for activity, and certainly for the year ahead, it will be Eastern Health’s biggest year yet. We are pulling out all stops, not only to get maximum throughput and efficiencies, but make sure that we’re providing great care.”