Q & A with Inova Loudoun Hospital’s new CEO, Deborah Addo

Meet Deborah

Deborah Addo was named CEO of Inova Loudoun Hospital in April 2017, a position she held previously at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital. Here, she talks about her first few months on the job.

What has been your top priority at Inova Loudoun so far?

I’ve worked to connect to the community at every level, from meeting staff and volunteers to talking with local leaders and donors. Another priority has been our Master Plan expansion [read more about the future of Inova Loudoun Hospital]. Construction is going well, but I realize it can be disruptive for patients and staff. I plan to host a number of town hall meetings across the county for the community to provide input, ask questions and share concerns.

Will the meetings focus on construction issues?

If that’s what people want to talk about, then yes. But I expect that we will address a wide range of topics. We really want to be responsive to patient needs — even more than we already are — and that starts with productive conversations about expectations and policies.

What are some lessons Inova Mount Vernon taught you that you’ll apply at Inova Loudoun?

The people are the bedrock of what we do. That means patients, administration and medical staff working together. It’s great to have state-of-the-art programs, new buildings and medical innovations, but if you don’t put patient quality and safety first, you don’t have anything.

What do you do for fun?

I’m a licensed minister, so for me, it’s fun to teach and speak at retreats. I spend most of that time with women’s groups and young people. I love providing a message of hope and healing. I also enjoy spending time with my family and friends, and I adore fast cars. Sometimes I take my car to the racetrack just to be able to drive as fast as I want. That keeps me from getting speeding tickets!