Quintana Patterson ─ Data and information security leader with a talent for ensuring health and industry related information compliance…
September 8, 2022 • 3 Minute Read
Quintana Patterson
IT Clinical and Compliance Manager
University of Colorado,
Anschutz Medical Campus
Are you looking for a data and information security leader with a talent for ensuring health and industry related information compliance? We know the person—Quintana Patterson!
Quintana Patterson is the IT Clinical and Compliance Manager for the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus School of Medicine. She serves as the primary contact for IT operations for the Community Practice Clinics and the partner bridge between campus affiliates. With over 20 years of experience in the IT industry, Quintana has broken through all kinds of barriers to achieve her position. Her passion as the IT Clinical and Compliance Manager is ensuring her organization is compliant in health and industry related information, data security frameworks and regulations, assisting the units and departments with annual risk assessments, and working with other governance teams to streamline processes. Outside of work, she is a member of a few organizations that support and uplift women in the cyber security space.
Please meet this IT Wondrous Woman™, Quintana Patterson!
Our 10 Questions for this IT Wondrous Woman.
Fun Facts
1. What’s the one thing about you that your business colleagues don’t know about you?
I previously owned a Suzuki Katana 600 and that is my alter ego name.
2. Before the pandemic, how many air miles/KMs did you flying annually?
Less than 10,000. Although in 2019, I managed to travel to Las Vegas three times in a four-month period.
3. What is the most adventurous food you have eaten and what city/location did you eat it?
Escargot in my 10th grade French class in high school. That was enough for me.
Your Career
4. What are the top two experiences, achievements or failures that shaped your journey as a successful leader?
I would say the first one is being a single parent because no matter what failures or setbacks I encountered, I had to keep getting back up. Not only to be an example to my children but also to force myself to keep trying. The second would be having people leaders (managers) that believe in me and my skillset. I have had some good ones and some bad ones. It is the good ones that inspire me to be great.
5. Did you have a mentor in the early part of your career and, if so, what is the biggest lesson you learned from your mentor or influencer?
Sharon McGee-Canady. As a Black woman in the IT industry, she was the director of the IT teams at the college I attended. Just seeing her in that role, the knowledge she had about each department, (i.e network, database, telecom) and the way she walked with confidence, helped build my determination to be a life-longer and a good representation for those that come up behind me in the industry. I will forever be grateful to her for that.
Walking In Your Shoes
6. What is one piece of business or career advice you would give to your younger self?
Always, always believe that inner voice. Do not let anyone convince you that your knowledge or skillset is not enough. Stand strong in your abilities.
7. As a leader, how do you remain a resource for people early in their careers?
I am a strong believer in uplifting others. Whether it is a family member, co-worker, or women in the industry, I feel people do better when someone else believes in them. Even if I am the only person, that makes me feel good.
Today’s Business Environment
8. What is the most interesting project you have worked on in the last few years?
At one of my previous organizations, I was able to improve the process for reviewing the security and compliance practices of our third-party vendors. I researched several solutions and they were able to customize the solution to meet the needs of the organization. We were using it such a unique manner, the vendor asked me to present the use case at their annual summit.
9. What skills are you currently developing or refining (in yourself) that will make you a more successful leader in the digital economy?
Being in higher education as well as the healthcare industries, there many compliance regulations and laws that are in play. I was recently promoted to the role of IT Clinical and Compliance manager over several specialty clinics and ensuring that I am not only knowledgeable about the types of services that are provided at those clinics but also what regulations are applicable.
10. What is your greatest business challenge today?
I feel my greatest challenge right now is compliance and risk assessments for the divisions at my organization. The information gathering phase is what I am working to develop “best practices” that can be followed every two years. I am exploring solutions that will help ease the process, knowing a technology solution will only be implemented to support the overall process.
