03/11/2026
🌟 Administrator Appreciation Week Spotlight: Susan Phan 🌟
During Administrator Appreciation Week, we are proud to recognize Susan Phan for her leadership, compassion, and dedication to our residents, families, and team members. Susan brings both heart and expertise to her role, and we are grateful for the positive impact she makes in our community every day.
Susan shares:
“I have always been drawn to roles where I can make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. My career in senior living and healthcare leadership for the past 15 years has been shaped by a deep passion for serving residents, supporting families, and empowering the teams who care for them every day. Over the years, I have grown into leadership roles where I’ve been able to combine operational excellence with compassion and strong team development. What motivates me most is creating an environment where residents feel valued, families feel assured, and staff feel supported and inspired to do their best work. Being able to build strong relationships while leading a community toward high standards of care and service is something that truly fulfills me.”
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Q: What drove you to seek a career as a Community Administrator?
A: My decision to pursue a career as an Administrator came from a desire to make a broader impact. While individual roles allow you to help people one-to-one, leadership allows you to shape an entire culture of care. I realized that by guiding a team, improving processes, and fostering a positive environment, I could influence the quality of life for many residents and families at once.
I’m passionate about building strong teams, mentoring others and ensuring that every resident receives the dignity, respect and compassionate care they deserve. The opportunity to lead a community and create a place where people truly feel at home is what continues to drive me.
Q: What attracted you to bring your talents to Riverside?
A: Riverside’s reputation for quality care, strong values, and commitment to serving the community strongly resonated with me. I was especially drawn to the organization’s focus on compassion, integrity, and teamwork. Those align closely with my own leadership philosophy. I wanted to be a part of an organization that prioritizes both exceptional care for residents and meaningful support for staff. Riverside’s dedication to excellence and community impact made it a place where I felt my leadership, experience, and passion for service could contribute in a meaningful way.
Q: Can you describe some of your best moments serving in your current role?
A: Some of the most rewarding moments come from seeing the positive impact our work has on the residents and families, including when our community comes together for meaningful causes. For example, organizing and participating in events such as the Wear RED for the American Heart Association and Breast Cancer Awareness activities has been incredibly rewarding. Seeing residents and staff unite for a shared purpose creates a sense of connection and pride within the community. Moments like those remind me how powerful it is when people come together not only to care for one another but also to support causes that impact so many lives. Those experiences truly highlight the heart of what community living is all about.
At the same time, I deeply value the quieter moments. Spending time with a resident, listening to their life stories, learning about their experiences and understanding what truly matters to them is just as meaningful. Those individual moments remind me that every resident brings a lifetime of memories, wisdom, and individuality into our community.
Lastly, it’s about the many celebrations I share with my team. I recognize many of them with the Champions of Caring events, serve our staff during employee appreciation events, and celebrate their achievements from one level to the next of their career journey. I’m especially proud of the times when our team comes together to solve challenges and improve experiences for our residents. Seeing staff feel empowered, supported and proud of the care they provide is incredibly fulfilling and reinforces the importance of the Riverside Health Mission: To care for others as we would care for those we love.
💙 Thank you, Susan, for your leadership, compassion, and commitment to creating a community where residents, families, and team members feel valued and supported. Happy Administrator Appreciation Week! 👏
