“If our employees are happy then they’ll make our patients happy”
What initially appeared to be a small role based in Huthwaite opened the door to a network far larger than Suzanne could ever have imagined.
Suzanne’s career has always been rooted in her passion for supporting people. After building her HR experience across manufacturing and hospitality, she found her way to Fresenius Medical Care in 2016, where she was given the opportunity to use her expertise to bolster a mission-driven organisation.
Over the past decade, she has progressed from Business Partner to Talent Development Manager, and now Country HR Partner, where she shapes a companywide culture that empowers her colleagues to deliver life-changing care. From reviewing policies such as maternity benefits to supporting talent acquisition, she develops initiatives which enable people from all backgrounds to build rewarding careers in healthcare. One of the most gratifying aspects of Suzanne's role is understanding what colleagues need to develop professionally and turning those insights into practical action. For Suzanne, one of her career highlights has been seeing colleagues she’s supported from the start of their careers grow and progress within the organisation.
Alongside her own career progression, Suzanne has witnessed significant transformation across Fresenius Medical Care. As she recalls, the UK and Ireland business has evolved from operating more independently to becoming increasingly connected with the wider global network, creating new opportunities to collaborate across borders. This connection has strengthened the organisation’s ability to share knowledge and innovations which enhance dialysis treatment options for people across the globe.
The global nature of Fresenius Medical Care has been one of the most rewarding aspects of Suzanne’s career, allowing her to build relationships with colleagues across Europe, Asia, Australia and beyond. While supporting teams closer to home across the UK and Ireland, Suzanne values the insight that comes from being part of such a diverse international organisation. This sense of shared purpose, alongside the opportunity to learn from different perspectives, has allowed her to broaden her outlook.
For Suzanne, the true impact of this shared purpose is best understood by staying connected to the people at the heart of Fresenius Medical Care’s work. Meeting people receiving treatment are moments Suzanne will never forget, bringing to fruition the behind-the-scenes work involved in providing dialysis treatment to those who need it. Today, she makes time each quarter to visit clinics, speaking with those undergoing treatment about the impact Fresenius Medical Care equipment has in their daily lives.
That sense of purpose became even more personal when Suzanne’s brother-in-law was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure. During a hospital visit, she was surprised to see him receiving treatment using one of Fresenius Medical Care’s machines, creating a powerful connection between the work she supports professionally and the experiences of those receiving care. Hearing the nurses speak so positively about the equipment gave Suzanne an even deeper appreciation of the vital role Fresenius Medical Care plays in supporting people living with kidney disease.
After a decade at Fresenius Medical Care, Suzanne remains passionate about helping colleagues grow to ensure the people behind the care feel just as supported as those receiving it. If there’s one piece of advice Suzanne could give to those looking to start a career in healthcare, it’s to build relationships. For her, meaningful healthcare starts with understanding people’s experiences and building the connections that allow us to better support one another.