Lauren Gjolaj

Lauren Gjolaj, a registered nurse with an MBA, knows that a team commitment to high-quality patient care changes lives for the better. As the director of clinical operations at University of Miami Hospital and Clinics, Gjolaj works with the outpatient services team at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Our Comprehensive Treatment Unit (CTU) team lives this core value of excellence every day as we strive to improve the delivery of our services and create value for our patients,” she says.

In addition to helping patients and families, Gjolaj is part of a team of dedicated Sylvester employees who have been widely recognized for their dedication to continuous improvement. In June, the CTU team received the Sterling Team Showcase Greatest Customer Impact Award for “Using a Multidisciplinary Approach Between Pharmacy and Healthcare Providers to Improve Quality of Care for Cancer Patients in a Comprehensive Treatment Unit.” Last year, the CTU team was honored for “Systematically Decreasing Wait Time in an Outpatient Oncology Treatment Unit,” and the Florida Hospital Association honored the CTU team with the “Innovation of the Year in Patient Care Award.”

Gjolaj, who joined the University of Miami 10 years ago, earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UM in 2009. She and her husband, Joseph Gjolaj, a professor of orthopedics, have a young daughter, Johanna, who attends UM’s Canterbury School. “One of my favorite spots on campus is the UM Hospital cafeteria, where my husband and I had our first date,” she says. “I also enjoy spending time in the peaceful green courtyard between Sylvester and the Hope Lodge.”

A third-generation nurse, Gjolaj understands the importance of delivering personalized care to patients and families in an efficient way. “On a personal level, I am driven to learn and grow as a nursing professional,” she says. Today, Gjolaj’s responsibilities include infusion services, utilization review, visit navigation, and ambulatory clinics at Sylvester.

“Our team focuses on providing the best possible patient experience,” she says. “That’s especially important with cancer patients whose time is so precious. I’m proud that we have a clear vision and mission at our university. Through teamwork, we are building a better U together.”

DIRECCT Talk focuses on the ways faculty and staff exemplify the DIRECCT values—diversity, integrity, respect, excellence, compassion, creativity, and teamwork—that drive UM’s culture.