Editor’s Note: McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care are profiling the McKnight’s 2022 Women of Distinction honorees daily July 5 through Aug. 11. For additional McKnight’s Women of Distinction content, visit this page.

The leadership role of Julia Shiner, MD, MPH, in two of Erickson Senior Living’s most important initiatives to protect residents and employees has not gone unnoticed by colleagues and residents.

Shiner, vice president and medical director of employee health and well-being, and her team of healthcare professionals partnered with Erickson’s information technology department to help develop an integrated infectious disease management system that generated a protocol that continues to protect the well-being of more than 27,000 residents and 14,000 employees located in 11 states.

These data have allowed Erickson to make important decisions regarding supplies, protocols and vaccines that have benefited residents and employees, said Jeff Getek, senior manager of external communications at Erickson.

The initiative also earned Erickson a Gold Award as Innovator of the Year in the Senior Living track of the 2021 McKnight’s Excellence in Technology Awards. But more importantly,  it allowed Erickson to achieve low COVID-19 positivity rates among its residents and workforce. 

Also under Shiner’s direction, Erickson hosted 55 vaccination clinics dedicated to corporate employees around Maryland and in a network of communities, making vaccination easy and efficient.

Before joining Erickson, Shiner received the E. Randall Bass Award from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2014.

Shiner has expanded on the success of one of Erickson’s signature initiatives — employee health and well being centers — to create an industry-leading model designed to provide employees with convenient access without having to leave work.  She also is an advocate of many company wellness and mental health programs.

“Dr. Shiner consistently challenges us to be innovative in the way we serve employees,” stated Kathryn Victor, a regional director at Erickson.

When her co-workers were asked about the qualities that make Shiner such a respected leader, they overwhelmingly highlighted her fortitude and calmness in the face of challenging situations, according to Getek.

“No job has been too big, whether it’s been on a weekend or a holiday. Dr. Shiner’s ‘can-do’ spirit is a source of inspiration to all of her peers,” said Matt Narrett, MD, Erickson’s chief medical officer.

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care. The program’s Diamond sponsor is PointClickCare. Silver sponsors include OnShift and PharMerica, and the Bronze sponsor is Reliant Rehabilitation. Table sponsors included Dreamscape, Gojo/Purell and Sound Physicians.