We’re thrilled to present another edition of our popular #IAmCrossCountry series. You’re really going to get a kick out of Michael Skovira, CMO & VP Integrated Solutions for Cross Country Locums.

“I wake up every morning determined to make the most of those next 24
 hours because you can never repeat the same day twice.”&nbsp;


 We’re thrilled to present another edition of our popular #IAmCrossCountry
 series. You’re really going to get a kick out of Michael Skovira, CMO &amp; VP
 Integrated Solutions for
 <a
 href="https://www.crosscountrylocums.com/"
 rel="noopener noreferrer"
 target="_blank"
 >Cross Country Locums</a
 >. He has a tremendous amount of zest not only for life but for his profession
 and those he works with every day. And that zest is quite contagious. After
 you’ve spent a little time getting to know Mike it’ll be very clear he’s proud
 to say, “I am Cross Country!”

<img src="https://cdn.builder.io/api/v1/image/assets%2F4a00fe4b226d46c0ba577a04a847079d%2Fea6fcec7eb294262a4f23916dbdda131" style="width: 30%;"/>


 Q. Tell us a little bit about what led you to pursue a career in
 healthcare.


 A. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been passionate about wanting to
 positively impact the lives of others. While in college, I became a certified
 EMT to serve the local communities. That job provided me with the opportunity
 to witness some of the most joyous moments, and sadly some of the darkest
 moments, in people’s lives. More importantly, I realized that I had the
 opportunity to make a difference and potentially save so many lives by serving
 in healthcare. There is nothing more precious than a human life. And that is
 what we focus on in healthcare.&nbsp;


 Q.
 How did you land at Cross Country, and more specifically to work with Cross
 Country Locums?


 A. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was working clinically on the front lines
 of an Emergency Department in NYC. I witnessed firsthand the overwhelming
 volume and acuity of patients that flooded the doors and challenged today’s
 healthcare staffing models. I was treating patients one at a time, but I
 wanted to do more. I wanted to make more of an impact and address this dilemma
 on a larger scale. After being introduced to Cross Country leadership it was
 clear that this was my opportunity to make that impact. I am blessed to be
 able to leverage my clinical and hospital leadership experience to support
 health systems across the country, while still working clinically in the ER
 alongside my fellow clinicians 1-2 times per month.&nbsp;


 Q. What do you enjoy most about your current position with the
 organization?


 A. I genuinely enjoy that my role is multifaceted. One day I’m meeting with
 our credentialing team to pilot our enhanced credentialing workflow. The next
 day I’m on the road visiting a hospital that needs our partnership and
 support. And while on the road I’m taking a call from one of our Locums
 physicians who needs advice on how to handle a particular dilemma they are
 facing. This is just a snip-it of my role and I couldn’t be happier. I am
 afforded the opportunity to not only impact so many health systems, but also
 my fellow clinicians on the front lines as well as my Cross Country family
 here as an organization. And ultimately that all translates to better care for
 the patient at the bedside.


 Q. You have so much energy! What motivates and inspires you from
 day-to-day?


 A. I am a man of faith and I strongly believe each and every one of us are
 here to serve a purpose. I wake up every morning determined to make the most
 of those next 24 hours because you can never repeat the same day twice. And
 that motivates me to also motivate others. Because regardless of the
 circumstances we’re placed into, our accomplishments today will position us
 for tomorrow.


 Q. In your opinion, what do you find the biggest challenge working in the
 healthcare industry?


 A. The lack of altruism. There are so many competing priorities in healthcare
 today that cloud the importance of altruism. Financials, market share,
 innovation, legislation, you name it. These are all important drivers for
 healthcare, and rightfully so. But at the end of the day, we must never lose
 sight of why we entered this field. And that answer should be to serve others
 first and foremost. This is one of the principal reasons why I joined Cross
 Country. I remember when COVID-19 was surging, and bill rates were at an
 all-time high for travel staffing. Instead of capitalizing from the market
 bill rates, Cross Country voluntarily shrunk their profit margin and passed
 those elevated bill rates to the healthcare professionals to ensure health
 systems were getting the support they needed to care for the patients. I knew
 right then that this was the team I needed to join.&nbsp;


 Q. Do you have any funny or entertaining stories when it comes to working
 in healthcare?


 A. The ER is quite the dynamic environment. One day I was working during an
 annual event called “Santacon” where hundreds of event goers dress up as Santa
 and partake in an all-day holiday bar crawl. Many of these “Santa’s” ended up
 in our ER as patients for one reason or another throughout the evening. And at
 one point, I looked around and realized there were Santa’s on stretchers all
 over the ER singing, ringing bells and spreading Christmas cheer throughout
 the department. There were even a few elves and Frosty’s skipping around. It
 was the jolliest the ER has ever been.&nbsp;


 Q. In this world where everyone seems to be going a hundred miles an hour,
 how do you maintain work-life cohabitation?&nbsp;&nbsp;


 A. I’ve always been a strong believer in work-life harmony rather than
 work-life balance. If you’re passionate about the work you do, and if you love
 your career, then it should naturally complement your life. I follow my
 passion when it comes to my career so that I never have to focus on work-life
 balance. My career accentuates my life.&nbsp;


<img src="https://cdn.builder.io/api/v1/image/assets%2F4a00fe4b226d46c0ba577a04a847079d%2Fe7c543434b3b46798a1267ae649c08fb" style="width: 30%;"/>


 Q. With so many folks working from home these days, do you have any tips or
 practices for “taking a break” during the day?&nbsp;&nbsp;


 A. I always say that you can’t care for others if you aren’t caring for
 yourself. It’s easy to remain at the desk from morning to night when you’re in
 the comfort of your own home. And that’s why it’s important to designate time
 for a brief stretch, to eat lunch, and to “reset” throughout the day. This may
 not always be feasible 100% of the time, but it’s important to build wellness
 and self-care as a part of your daily schedule and routine.&nbsp;



 Q. Do you have one outstanding or incredible moment when it comes to
 working with patients?


 A. I’ve had so many incredible moments over the years, but one moment that
 stands out was during the COVID-19 pandemic when my good friend was brought
 into the ER with COVID and difficulty breathing. He was in bad shape and his
 wife was in tears. My team and I were caring for him and my adrenaline was
 through the roof as I cared for him, and simultaneously tried to comfort his
 wife who’s also a good friend. Fortunately, we stabilized him and admitted him
 to the hospital where he made a full recovery. There can be lots of emotions
 when treating patients in high-acuity environments, but when you’re treating
 someone who’s personal to you the intensity is magnified. And it’s a stark
 reminder that every patient you treat is someone else’s family, friend or
 loved one. It’s a reminder that no matter how difficult the day can be, it’s
 important to never lose your passion or your compassion when working in
 healthcare.&nbsp;



 “So, if you are going to pursue a career in healthcare, you be sure that
 you are entering into this industry to truly serve the patients.”



 Q. If you had once piece of advice for someone seeking to carve out a
 career in healthcare, what would it be?


 A. My advice would be to take out your cell phone and scroll to a picture of
 that one person in your life who means more to you than anyone else. That
 “special person.” And then stare at that photo for 10 seconds and think of how
 much they mean to you. One day they are going to be a patient on a stretcher
 in some form or another. So, if you are going to pursue a career in
 healthcare, you be sure that you are entering into this industry to truly
 serve the patients. Don’t do it for the thrill or for the benefits. Don’t do
 it for the flexibility or the career opportunities. Because this isn’t an easy
 field, and you need to be in this for the right reasons. Every decision you
 make, on both the good days and the bad days, must always be in the best
 interest of the patient. Because every patient you impact, whether directly or
 indirectly, is someone else’s “special person.” &nbsp;



 Now were we right about Mike or were we right about Mike? He most certainly
 has a passion for working in healthcare and serving others. And it’s a
 refreshing perspective we could all draw inspiration from. We could not be
 more thrilled to have him working with Cross Country Locums and the Cross
 Country team.&nbsp;


 If you’re interested in being considered for a future #IAmCrossCountry profile
 or know someone who has a great story and would be a great feature, fill out
 the information on
 <a
 href="https://share.hsforms.com/18SgIj5fPQ4euVLeE_6H5sgcb5sd?fbclid=IwAR37V7BSzNFpow2CB5X1N7TC2lZjieVAqCmFxudc24iLt9GPKYJxsRRJ85s"
 rel="noopener noreferrer"
 target="_blank"
 >the campaign landing page</a
 >…and be sure to complete the “Tell Us Your Story or What Makes You Unique”
 section of the form.&nbsp;

Michael Skovira #IAmCrossCountry