The Monthly Review spotlights a different URACer each month in a Q&A. This month it's John Greene, URAC's Director of Human Resources.
TMR: When did you start at URAC and what brought you here?
John: January 2016. All of my career has been in Human Resources (with the majority being in health care, from working at an HMO, Prince George’s Hospital Center, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association). Actually, Houeida and I worked together at Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association about 20 years ago (I was in Human Resources and she was one of the attorneys in our Legal Department) and sporadically stayed in touch over the years. She reached out to me when she arrived at URAC and told me about the position. I interviewed with the entire Executive Team and the rest is history.
TMR: What were you doing before you came to URAC?
John: I was a consultant with University of Maryland Medical Center - Midtown Campus Hospital in Baltimore. I was contracted to work with one unit to increase performance management, customer service and employee morale. The unit’s quality of service scores increased by 40% after my training. I was then contracted to roll out training to the entire hospital to increase their Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores as well.
TMR: Describe yourself in three words.
John: Fun-loving, structured, rhythmic.
TMR: How do you like to spend your leisure time?
John: Traveling and seeing the world.
TMR: What’s your favorite restaurant?
John: Filomena Ristorante in Georgetown. Fresh made pasta, over-the-top décor, great atmosphere, a carafe of Sambuca and Ameretto Liquers on every table!!!
TMR: What do you like to watch?
John: Television: "This is Us," "Martin," "Living Single," "Golden Girls," "Mom". Favorite movies are "The Color Purple," "Casino," "All About Eve" and "Shawshank Redemption". As for television shows, "This is Us" has excellent writing, actors and story lines. "Martin," "Living Single," "Golden Girls" and "Mom" are all comedies and I find them hilarious. I need a break sometimes and they provide the right amount levity.
TMR: What kind of books do you like to read?
John: Novels by John Grisham, autobiographies, financial education books. The last book I read was The Automatic Millionaire.
TMR: What's your favorite vacation spot?
John: Hard question, but when I go to “vacate,” rest and rejuvenate my mind, body and spirit, I will literally travel anywhere in the world that has crystal clear blue water and soft sand beaches to relax.
TMR: Are you a cat person or a dog person?
John: Dog.
TMR: Tell us something about yourself that most people at URAC would not know about you.
John: I volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in Prince George’s County for 12 years. As a CASA, you are empowered by the courts to provide the best interest advocacy for abused and neglected children in foster care. As my last “kid” aged out of the system, I was nominated to join the Board of Directors and I accepted.
