Kimberly Gardner is the credentialing and volunteer coordinator at UofL Health – Shelbyville Hospital.
Kimberly began her career with our organization April 28, 2014. In her current role, she maintains credentialing for more than 300 physicians and allied health professionals for Shelbyville Hospital in addition to coordinating the volunteer program and operating the gift shop at Shelbyville Hospital.
“Since becoming UofL Health, I feel we all share and are dedicated to the same mission and vision,” says Kimberly. The Shelbyville Hospital team has become her extended family over the course of the past eight years. Just like blood relatives, sharing the same values is a pillar that glues them together. “I truly enjoy working with my friends in the Quality department and across the organization”.
Kimberly’s role in the system is similar to being an investigator. She ensures providers are who they say they are. It’s critical that providers’ credentials are carefully and thoroughly examined to ensure that their credentials are current and relative to their practice. Kimberly also makes sure that providers are fully vetted by their peers – the medical executive team.
Kimberly comes to work each day with a positive attitude and will assist in anything she can do to help her hospital and community. Aligning with her goal for UofL Health, she wants to continue to grow and learn as much as she can to hopefully become a certified credentialing specialist.
“I am very enthusiastic and compassionate,” Kimberly said. “When there is an opportunity to volunteer, or if I see an area where I can serve, I do my best to help. Earlier this year, I was able to help our hospital med/surg team by answering their phones and assisting on the floor.”
While this meant extra hours for Kimberly to get her own job done, that opportunity gave her an even greater sense of mission to serve the community and support Shelbyville Hospital. She does not volunteer for praise or recognition, but for personal satisfaction “knowing I made a difference during this trying time.”
Did you know Kimberly has a master’s degree in criminal justice and her main focus was on serial killers throughout the program? In her spare time, she loves watching anything true crime as she gets to analyze the characters. Like her current role, her dream job was to be a homicide investigator. Currently on her watchlist is Deadly Women, See No Evil or The Perfect Murder — basically anything on the ID Channel.
One of Kimberly’s favorite travel destinations is New Orleans for Mardi Gras. She has visited several times and, each time, it’s a new experience. It is her favorite time of year, as she loves the parades (there are several of them), the beads, the food and the people. The streets are filled with music, laughter and a whole lot of fun!
Do you like the band Tears for Fears? You and Kimberly can be roadies together as the band is coming to Indianapolis this summer and she already has box seats and a backstage pass.
“A few years ago, I saw a video of Ted Yoder playing the song on a hammered dulcimer,” said Kimberly. “I loved that so much, my husband surprised me with my own hammered dulcimer so I could learn to play the song – it’s not going so well!”
If you see Kimberly, be sure to say “Hello!” Take this piece of inspiration from Kimberly as you go about your day: ‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade’ – Elbert Hubbard.
“Over my life, I’ve gotten lots of lemons…but I just keep making that lemonade. We just have to keep moving forward. If you have too many lemons, you can toss me a few and I’ll make you a pitcher of lemonade!”
