Encore Fellows Spotlight: Molly Olson
Molly Olson recently retired from Intel with over 35 years leading strategic programs and managing technical design and operations teams in the semiconductor and electrical equipment industries. She is a certified New Ventures leadership coach and focuses her consulting and coaching on strategic planning, implementation planning, program management and leadership development. She and her husband of 32 years have two grown and married sons and spend time traveling and working on their 100+ year old house.
Molly joined the Providence Portland Service Area Advisory Council through Intel’s community volunteer program several years before she retired. When Molly asked what fellowship would be most useful the Board determined that the opioid crisis was a critical community health issue that Providence could help impact.
Molly’s Encore Fellowship role is to bring together the experts in pain management and addiction services in the Providence Portland Service area and determine what actions could substantially and sustainably reduce the loss of life and cost of substance use disorder with focus on Opioids.
In this role, Molly facilitates two workgroups composed of community and Providence experts. These include medical experts from multiple healthcare systems and community leaders providing addiction treatment and support social services.
These teams have reviewed the current state of services and best practices in the Opioid substance use disorder area. Conversations with teams across the tri-county area are in progress on existing prescribing and disposal practices. Discussions on best practices in addiction de-prescribing and pain management are happening across different healthcare providers.As the recommendations come together, the business plan for funding and the metrics for success will be set and delivered to the advisory council. The Portland Service Area Advisory Council will then determine what recommendations will be made to Providence management.
If you ask Molly she will tell you, “It is possible to add value despite not having a background in healthcare systems. Bringing a system engineering mindset and asking questions that help the experts think of new ways to move towards solutions is something your many years of work in the high-tech industry prepares you for. Don’t wait for retirement to get started!”