Senior Director Clinical Success

Q&A: Get to know RESTORE-Skill’s Senior Director of Clinical Success, Julie Gala

What do you do at RESTORE-Skills and in what circumstances would I come to you for something?

  • My focus at RESTORE is to ensure the clinical success of our users by providing education, program development, and support. I am passionate about educating and developing for clinicians to enhance their competence in caring for the population they serve. With my experience in several clinical roles, I have supervised clinicians, developed mentoring programs, delivered education to advance clinical knowledge, and expanded resources to support practice. As a result, I jumped at the opportunity to join RESTORE, utilizing these skills to revolutionize skill-building. Customers will come to me with any clinical needs for my support of clinical success.

What energizes you at work?

  • It's exciting to witness clinical success after a clinician has used a new technique or strategy with their patients! I am passionate about person-centered dementia care and am a PAC Certified Independent trainer eager to change the culture in dementia care. The positivity of my team energizes me, and we do not have a lack of energy at RESTORE  - we are all focused on the common goal of revolutionizing skill-building and are so excited to find opportunities to support our customers.

What three words would your friends use to describe you?

  • Outgoing, compassionate, respectful

If you could snap your fingers and become an expert in something, what would it be?

  • I would become an oncologist. Cancer is highly prevalent in my family, and I would love to find a cure to protect others from losing loved ones.

What led you to this career path?

  • My bachelor’s degree is in Early Childhood Education, and one of my courses was taught by a speech therapist. I researched career responsibilities and continued with a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. I always thought I would work with a pediatric population. However, I was introduced to adult care during my second-year clinical rotations. Through this experience, I gained a passion for identifying and supporting functional changes in cognition, communication, and swallowing. Fast forward several years with a practice in long-term care, I truly found my niche in supporting healthcare providers to be the most successful they can be. I held positions supervising therapists, developing resources, performing training, and assisting with clinical support. When the opportunity to join RESTORE opened, I jumped at the chance to channel my clinical knowledge into a gamification platform that can increase patient participation while reducing refusal and social isolation.

What’s something you recently saw that made you smile?

  • My 3-year-old daughter Isabella laughing hysterically at Peppa Pig on the television.

What’s one song or artist you are embarrassed to admit you like?

  • Justin Bieber- in his recent work, not the early pop stuff. But, I can’t help it, I enjoy the tunes!

What is the most exotic food you have ever tried?

  • Squid ink and several other local dishes in the Basque Country in Spain

Are you a dog person or a cat person (or neither)?

  • Dog person- I have two sweet labrador rescues (Emma and Maggie) who have traveled all across the country with us.

If you could choose a superpower, what would it be?

  • Teleportation, so I could travel anywhere anytime.

What is the top destination on your must-visit list?

  • Italy as I would love to visit the hometowns of my great grandparents

What’s changed you about the COVID-19 pandemic, and why? 

  • I have focused more on work-life balance due to the transition to remote work and realizing that time is precious. We need to make every day count with the ones we love. I am very dedicated to my work and at times I allowed it to consume my home life. 

 

Posted in Employees, News.

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