Editor’s note: McKnight’s Home Care, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Long-Term Care News are profiling the McKnight’s 2023 Women of Distinction honorees daily from July 5 to Aug. 15. For additional McKnight’s Women of Distinction content, visit this page.

Tina Sandri was certified by the American College of Health Care Administrators as a nursing home administrator in 1994. She has worked in a variety of long-term care environments, including for-profit and nonprofit chains, nonprofit hospital based and freestanding organizations. 

Forest Hills of DC has benefited from Sandri’s energy, creativity and enthusiasm. Over the years, she has instituted a safety committee, introduced risk management practices to department heads and conducted staff member and resident education on principles of risk management. She also has developed quality assurance programs for the dietary, housekeeping, maintenance and social services departments; co-developed a certification program with the National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses; and sponsored the first LPNs in the United States to be certified in gerontology.

Sandri always is looking to the future and engaging in new approaches to provide care for older adults. As one example, FHDC was approached by and agreed to contract with George Washington University’s accountable care organization as the only 5-star nursing facility in the ACO. Under Sandri’s leadership, FHDC was the fourth nursing home in the United States to be Magnet/Pathways to Excellence certified. 

Sandri has been an active member of both LeadingAge and the American Health Care Association and their respective Washington, DC, affiliates. She currently serves on the AHCA Board of Governors. Sandri has been named to the national Moving Forward coalition’s steering committee to help guide long term care to the next set of actionable recommendations that will affect nursing home quality.

Sandri is engaged with agencies such as the Department of Labor, the Workforce Investment Council and many others to advocate for FHDC’s new apprenticeship program to address workforce challenges. Based on discussions with FHDC employees, she approved modifying licensed nurse schedules to 12-hour shifts to increase flexibility and personal/professional life balance, both factors that have been identified by the US surgeon general as important for workforce health and sustainability.

A registered yoga instructor, Sandri continues her education in this area and shares simple yoga practices with staff.

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Home Care, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Long-Term Care News. PointClickCare is the Diamond sponsor of this year’s program. PharMerica is the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors include American HealthTech, Healthcare Services Group, Omnicare, Sentrics and ShiftKey.

Visit this web page to see lists of honorees from 2023 and previous years.