Vice President of Finance and CFO, St. Mary’s Medical Center
LinkedIn: Angie Swearingen
From a very young age, Angie Swearingen exhibited a passion for helping others. “From kindergarten to my senior year in high school, I wanted to be a teacher,” she says. “I think my passion for teaching children and contributing to the health of others is rooted in my desire to help those around me.” That same desire put her on the path to an unexpected career in the health care industry. Today, she serves as the vice president of Finance and CFO for St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, WV.
Swearingen is passionate not only about her career but also about her employer. St. Mary’s is a health care ministry founded by the Pallottine Sisters in 1924. “Those founding sisters were in leadership roles long before women had many top administrative jobs in the workplace,” says Swearingen. “They created a hospital from nothing and made it thrive, even during the Great Depression. Their example of determination and stewardship paved the way for women like me to be successful many years later.”
Swearingen’s career began at St. Francis Hospital in Charleston, WV. As a decision support analyst, she was responsible for building a cost accounting system from the ground up, and, within six months, she became the hospital’s controller. Later, she served as CFO for Greenbrier Valley Medical Center in Ronceverte, WV before accepting a market CFO position in Hilton Head, SC. From there, she returned to West Virginia and joined St. Mary’s.
She has been fortunate to have great mentors and co-workers throughout her career who have taught her the importance of a having strong work ethic, knowing how to build relationships and being passionate about her work. “Life is too short to not be happy at work, and for most of us, we spend more time in our job and with our co-workers than we do our families,” she says. “I take pride in the work I do, and I value the relationships of those I work with.”
As rewarding as her career has been, Swearingen says the two most joyful days of her life were when her two sons Trey and Chase were born. “Being a parent is such a gift, and my husband and I feel so blessed every day,” she says. Swearingen identifies the defining moment in her personal life as the diagnosis of her oldest son, Trey, with autism at the age of 2. “My husband and I had to overcome our fears and try to understand how best to help our son as we faced this challenge together,” she says. “I’m so proud of how Trey has overcome the obstacles associated with autism, and our bond as a family couldn’t be stronger because of how we’ve approached this.”
Swearingen is enthusiastic about giving back to her community. She sits on Marshall University’s College of Business and Health Informatics Advisory Board committees. Because of her personal connection to the cause, she leads the St. Mary’s team in the Autism Awareness Walk every year in Huntington. She has also been involved with United Way in multiple capacities throughout her career, such as serving as a leader of the St. Mary’s employee fundraising campaign and sitting on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters, one of United Way’s funded partners. She has also served as a United Way board member and ambassador.
Looking back on her career, Swearingen is thankful for the ones who have stuck by her side. “I could make a list of people whom I’ve worked with or for over the last 16 years who have inspired, encouraged and supported me,” she says. “I think that’s what fuels my passion and love for my job—I work with very talented people who collaborate daily to ensure the mission of the hospital is carried out.” She reserves her biggest thanks for her husband, Ron. “He has supported me through my entire career. There is no way I could do what I do without the support he gives me.”
What is your favorite . . . ?
Color – Green (Go Marshall!!!)
Food – Carbs
Cartoon Character – Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
Ice Cream – Vanilla Bean
Animal – Dog
Book – The Bible
App – Pinterest
Midnight Snack – Cashews and apples
TV Show – “Scandal”
Movie – “Black Hawk Down”
Smell – My mom’s cooking
Sports Team – Marshall University Thundering Herd
Car – Infiniti
Place – The beach
Written by Maggie Matsko
Photography by Tracy Toler on location at Smith Company Motor Cars
