JANET CHRISTIE, SENIOR VP FOR HR, RETIRING
Christie has guided the Human Resources team for more than 30 years
After 32 years serving in Human Resources at UF Health Shands, Janet Christie, MBA, senior vice president for HR, has announced her retirement. Since 1990, Christie has been the guiding force behind the vision and direction of human resource functions for our hospital system.
Christie’s responsibilities have been vast and varied, as she has seen – and helped – Shands Hospital grow into the UF Health Shands we know today. She maintained oversight for employment and recruitment, employee relations, compensation, benefits, payroll, human resource information systems, human resource development and occupational health – just to name a few key functions.
Needless to say, Christie’s steady leadership skills, passion for her work and numerous accomplishments have left an indelible mark here at UF Health Shands.
Perhaps most importantly, the connections she made with people are what come up time and time again when people talk about Janet. She has been a beloved and respected presence at UF Health Shands for decades, and she will be missed!
Below are just a few quotes from colleagues, some favorite photos and a video that speak to Janet’s leadership abilities, warmth and sense of humor.
Congratulations on your retirement!
Janet’s leadership at UF Health has been empowering and engaging. She is passionate about working with people and it shows as she travels about. She knows so many employees and the connection she has with each one is palpable. She is a force to reckon with for goal setting and accomplishment, all the while engaging and motivating those she works with along the way — always moving the organization forward.
Janet has been an inspiration to UF Health employees fortunate enough to meet with or work with her directly. She embodies the Maya Angelou quote, “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” She is passionate about her work with people, creating relationships that are unforgettable.
Janet is an inspiration. A great leader. Working with her has motivated and encouraged me beyond measure. I will miss her greatly, and I willingly embrace her convictions and passion for the work we do as human resources professionals.
- Denise Huggins, benefits manager, UF Health Shands HR
Janet has been here for more than 32 years as our HR leader, but she’s so much more than a figurehead. She is so well-known and loved by so many in the organization. And if you think about it — before she came to UF Health Shands, Janet was the HR leader at Alachua General Hospital, and over the years, many of those employees have transitioned to come to work at UF Health Shands. Her reach has been wide and deep, and she has impacted so many people.
- Gayla Beach, assistant vice president, UF Health Shands HR
When I came to town, (Janet) was one of the ones that certainly welcomed me with open arms, we had a lot in common about coming from different parts of the country to Florida, and she made me very comfortable right from the start. Her impact on the Milestone Awards has been tremendous. When I first got here, it was in a smaller venue. Now we’ve expanded where we take over the O’Dome. It’s almost 1,000 people. And she’s front and center.
- Jim Kelly, interim CEO, UF Health Shands
Janet always has the best interests in mind for all employees, especially those employees who have no one advocating on their behalf.
Janet is able to sense when her co-workers are close to going into a diabetic coma (resulting from low blood-sugar levels), makes emergent runs to Krispy Kreme, loads up her van with dozens of fresh and hot doughnuts, then quickly navigates to work, administers the proper dosage of doughnuts to each employee and thus averts what would have otherwise been a catastrophic outcome.
- Jim Smith, compensation manager, UF Health Shands HR
