Although she's originally from Peoria, Sara Dill experienced a winding career path back to the area, where she currently serves as director of administration and business development at Children's Hospital of Illinois.

"I attended Bradley University and majored in accounting. Prior to graduation, I was hired by IBM in New York City and spent two years working there. I was then invited to attend a leadership program at Georgetown University as one of two Illinois representatives, so I left New York for Washington D.C. At the completion of the program, I returned to Peoria to finish my last six hours at Bradley University, graduating with a Bachelors degree in business administration. From there, I spent the next seven years in Louisville, Ky., working in management positions and receiving a Masters degree in education from the University of Louisville. I then taught in an ungraded primary school system," she said.

Upon her return to Peoria, Dill worked at Children's Home and OSF Saint Francis before accepting a position at Children's Hospital, where's she's spent the last six years of her career. She said the easiest way to describe her job is by what she doesn't do. "We're a fairly small staff for a children's hospital of our size. Because of this, in general, I handle most functions except fundraising and direct patient care. Since Children's Hospital of Illinois is part of OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, I wear the 'children's' hat for many functions including managed care, public relations, marketing, government relations, and strategic planning. I wear the only hat in areas unique to Children's Hospital of Illinois such as advocacy, and I also serve on the leadership team of Children's Hospital of Illinois."

Part of Dill's job involves physician recruitment. "Since many-if not all-physicians seek faculty appointment through the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, recruitment is very much a team effort between the hospital and the university," she said. "Each year at Children's Hospital of Illinois, we spend time looking at our recruitment needs and identify targeted areas in which we would like to recruit over the coming year. Consideration is given to the availability of particular specialists and the current growth and future capacity of the specific service line. My role often is gathering and analyzing the numbers to determine capacity issues and, at times, interviewing potential candidates."

Dill said recruitment often is difficult. "There's a lot of competition, as pediatric specialists receive offers from children's hospitals and major teaching institutions all over the country-some locations with better weather than central Illinois. We've been relatively successful, but it's an uphill battle not unique to Peoria. Personally, being from Peoria and having lived in other cities, I believe Peoria has many great things to offer. Why live anywhere else? The short commute alone is a good selling point."

Despite challenges like recruitment, Dill said health care administration is what she's wanted to do since childhood. "I remember at age seven or eight driving under the hospital with my mom and thinking that would be a place I'd like to work. At the time, I think the size of the building impressed me. Health care needs for children became a growing concern of mine when I was teaching in rural Kentucky, and it all fell together for me once I moved home. As many here at Children's Hospital of Illinois would say, it's a calling. I was attracted to Children's Hospital because of the dynamic environment of health care, the exciting growth potential, and most of all by the women who had quietly integrated all aspects of their lives into a highly successful health care system-the Sisters of the Third Order of Saint Francis-and it's the mission of the Sisters that sustains me."

Among her many successes at Children's Hospital of Illinois, Dill helped charter the first hospital advocacy center devoted to injury prevention. "Advocacy at Children's Hospital of Illinois is the conglomeration of many years of work by many people within the institution and volunteers outside the institution promoting 'best practices' for children. Our advocacy efforts focus on health, safety, and injury prevention-primarily through education. While it includes elements of activities supporting legislation to improve the health and wellbeing of children-supporting car seat laws or helmet use-and durable goods, the advocacy center exists to bring together organizations providing education and training to children and their families to reduce duplication of services and to maximize the available resources while simultaneously supporting the good works of one another. It's important to me to prevent competition among agencies and promote collaboration to best serve the children of our communities. Children's Hospital is uniquely positioned to bring medical expertise and research to specific topic areas to provide programming not only to the tri-county area, but communities throughout the state."

Her dedication to children extends into her personal time as well, as she volunteers for many youth-centered organizations. "My interest is children, so I try to do as much as I can related to them. My advice for other women looking for volunteer opportunities-although rather cliché-is to do what you love. Love what you do, and you'll be energized rather than drained. So find the focus that fulfills you."

Dill said the best aspect of her career has been the people. "I've been very fortunate to work for and with highly talented individuals from whom I've learned talents and skills. They believe in me. They've taught me countless skills that continue to serve me well as I develop both personally and professionally."

In the future, Dill wants to continue her professional and personal crusade for children's health and safety. "My goals include growth and advancement in health care administration. I want to provide children with the very best care and establish Children's Hospital as a health care partner of value for the families and the communities we serve." TPW