Facility Administrator at DaVita Inc.
How an Air Force officer executed a seamless transition to the medical world.
By Warren Duffie 

Jovan Hollins believes the communication skills he developed as an Air Force officer are directly responsible for his civilian success. In the military, he worked with rocket scientists, aerospace engineers and technicians to successfully launch top-secret communications satellites. Now, in charge of three dialysis clinics, he meets daily with world-class doctors and medical professionals.

“I have to deal with a lot of issues each day,” said the former captain. “From reviewing financial budgets and discussing patient care to interacting with our cleaning crews, I communicate with a wide range of audiences and people. My Air Force experience made me very effective at this.”

On the Job
Hollins, 33, hones these skills every day as a facility administrator for DaVita Inc. – a FORTUNE 500 company that is the largest independent provider of dialysis services in America, for patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease.

Hollins is essentially the CEO of three of DaVita’s Arizona clinics, two in Scottsdale and one in Payson. He oversees 33 employees – including nurses, patient care technicians and social workers.

Hollins works from 0830 to 1800. Much of his day is spent meeting with staff and doctors, interacting with patients, and reviewing budgets and proposals.

“One thing I really love is the autonomy DaVita gives me,” said Hollins. “As long as corporate policies are followed, I can run my clinics in my own way. There’s a lot of freedom.”

In Uniform
A Seattle native, Hollins was an All-American basketball player in high school. He wanted to attend a university that would allow him to play basketball and offer a challenging academic environment. So he applied to and was accepted by the Air Force Academy.

After graduating with an engineering degree in 1999, Hollins attended pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, learning to fly the T-1 aircraft. However, he was injured during training and assigned to Los Angeles Air Force Base as a project manager. He helped oversee the construction, testing, and launch of communications satellites for the Department of Defense.

The Transition
Because of his training injury, Hollins was discharged from the Air Force in 2007. To prepare for civilian life, he took transition classes, networked with academy colleagues, and attended job fairs. Then a friend contacted him about an attractive opportunity.

“He was recruited by DaVita but chose a job with another company,” Hollins said. “He told me he told the recruiter to contact me. She did and we talked for awhile about DaVita and the chance to run a clinic. I liked the size and culture of the company. It also has seven core values that match those of the Air Force. It seemed like a great fit.”

After a phone interview and a face-to-face interview with two regional directors, Hollins was hired in 2008.

“It was a very seamless transition,” he said. “I’m a people person and was used to working with very smart, accomplished people. The pay is also comparable to what I was making in the Air Force and the benefits rank with the best in corporate America.”

Hollins’ Advice
Take transition classes. “Develop a list of questions before attending the classes and don’t be afraid to ask them.”

Cultivate a network of civilian contacts. “These could be friends, relatives, and former military colleagues. Maintain regular contact with them.” 

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