In 1998, Dr. Tim Fox, PT, DPT, GCS-EMERITUS, CCI, founded FOX Rehabilitation, and this year we’re celebrating our 25th Anniversary. Each month, we’ll be introducing you to a different FOX colleague, and sharing their journey with our practice.

We are excited to spotlight colleagues representing our FOX footprint, which spreads across more than 27 states. These are the people who have built and continue to grow our practice, work hard to provide clinically excellent care, and lead our mission of rehabilitating lives and abolishing ageism.

Today we are featuring Regional Quality Assurance Liaison, Katherine Hoener M.A., CCC SLP, in our Missouri Northeast 1 region.

Q: How long have you worked with FOX?
I completed New Hire Orientation in November 2020—so a little over 2 years.

Q: What position did you start out in and what do you do now?
Before joining FOX Rehabilitation, I started out as a PRN at an assisted living facility. I was contemplating leaving the field of speech pathology to study to be a physician assistant—I was looking into programs and everything. I remember telling Erynn Salamone, Manager of Recruitment with FOX, that I had never heard of FOX before and was reluctant in many ways and she said, “that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, give us a shot!” Once I was exposed to the culture and passion that is FOX, I immediately wanted to increase my involvement. I transitioned to treating part-time in 2-3 assisted living facilities and completed House Calls as a staff speech-language pathologist. I still felt a calling to serve in a higher capacity and waited for an opportunity. In August 2022, I interviewed for and accepted the Regional Quality Assurance Liaison (RQAL) position for Kansas City and St. Louis, MO while still providing clinical treatment to patients.

Q: Can you tell us what you do as a Regional Quality Assurance Liaison?
RQALs help with new hire orientation by onboarding new clinicians to the practice, working on fun initiatives to improve the quality of the region’s documentation, engaging clinicians in what the research says we should be doing, and helping transform that to the various disciplines. We are detectives in problem-solving for the region regarding clinician scheduling, point-of-service documentation, clinical excellence events, etc. We also educate on new initiatives from the practice and connect with clinical specialists on projects.

Q: Where do you call home?
For me, home is not a place, per se—it is a feeling. It’s the feeling I get when I’m with my core family, all in one place, laughing and carrying on. Typically, this is around the holidays, when all of us are together, wherever that may be. With the passing of my father, I learned that life is about people, and home resonates where they are. If I must pin a location in the literal sense, typically this happens around the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri.

Q: What is the best part of your job?
Helping clinicians overcome their deficits—whether that be in documentation, point of service, communication, clinical knowledge, etc.—and discover their own strengths to improve their clinical quality or their confidence in how they administer care to patients, partners, and the team. Watching where they started and how they evolve into that next level with a little encouragement, time, and resources.

Q: How would you describe FOX’s culture in one word?
EMPOWERING.

Q: Is there a favorite memory that stands out in your mind during your tenure with FOX?
Probably all the Thursday morning CFY task force meetings. Those meetings, even though sometimes they may not have seemed like much to others, were my favorite memories within FOX. For 30-45 minutes we collaborated on how to develop a program for SLPs to complete their CFY with FOX. It was eye-opening to see the inner workings of leadership and to see how people can come together to improve the practice was truly inspiring. In past work lives, I was not able to see this in a positive effective light.

Q: Anyone over the years who have mentored or inspired you?
This is an even split between Jonross Neptune and Jennifer Ruoff. They treat everyone like they will make a difference. They set an example to gently inspire in their communication style, listen to understand rather than react and remain positive in challenging circumstances. They treat everyone with the same dignity and respect even when their roles may be superior within the practice. On bad days, you can find them offering some quite hilarious jokes layered with impeccable wisdom. Both have carried me through some dark days and helped me gain priceless perspectives in clinical and leadership avenues. More than anything else, they are selfless, and this cascades down to all the people they invest in.

Q: What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
I happen to be a twin.

Q: What would you consider your biggest work accomplishment so far?
FOX recognized and invested in me to represent Missouri as their Regional Quality Assurance Liaison. I always wanted to be in leadership but wanted to be aligned with the RIGHT organization to do so. I had not found that before FOX, and as much as I chose them, it was quite an accomplishment for FOX to choose ME for this role.

Q: Do you have a favorite quote or mantra?
Yes, I do have a favorite quote.
“It is no longer enough to be the best company in the world, you have to be the best company FOR THE WORLD” – Jeff Henderson

Q: What does FOX’s 25th anniversary mean to you?
It means well-intended, quality healthcare, which everyone DESERVES to receive, will not only withstand the test of time but will continue to grow and flourish and overcome barriers or temporary setbacks. It means resilience wins. FOX is the largest practice providing Part B House Calls, and my friends—you cannot stop what is FOR the world.