Iona University alumna Alison Flynn Gaffney ’98, ’02MS lives out dream to “change the world one person, one patient at a time”
Iona University alumna Alison Flynn Gaffney ’98, ’02MS serves as president of the Healthcare Work Dynamics business at JLL, a Fortune 500® company with annual revenue of $20.8 billion.
JLL is a leading global commercial real estate and investment management company that, through its Healthcare division, provides a variety of real estate, project development services and facilities solutions for hospitals, physicians, and healthcare providers.
As a leader, Flynn Gaffney notes that her favorite part of her work is impacting the healthcare industry at a national level through an “incredible team of experts” that are focused 24/7 on the environment of care and discovery.
“We connect innovation, mission, safety, and efficiencies so that our clients can deliver the incredible life improving and saving work that they do,” she said.
Flynn Gaffney is responsible for evolving and growing JLL’s Healthcare products and services to meet the needs of health systems while developing attainable real estate solutions to improve the patient and care team experience.
During her short time as president, Flynn Gaffney has created new forms of communication to foster diversity of thought, learning, alignment and trust among previously siloed groups, both regionally and globally. She has also increased female representation in leadership for the company by 5 percent in a 12-month period.
The Riverdale, N.Y., native earned a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Services Administration from Iona. During her time at the University, Flynn Gaffney balanced a full-time healthcare job while commuting to school.
“The spirit of Iona, ‘Certa Bonum Certamen,’ has carried me through challenging times,” Flynn Gaffney said. “I have shared those words with many over the years to motivate and inspire.”
When looking back at an impressive 30 years of executive-level business experience in the field of healthcare, Flynn Gaffney relates that “the community of Iona has been critical in my career journey through the diverse, lifelong relationships formed as well as the high level of ethics and integrity instilled in us all, both as undergraduate and graduate students. I am proud to invest in the University that invested in me.”
For current students and aspiring professionals, Flynn Gaffney advises to “network, take risks, ask for help and never give up. Get comfortable becoming uncomfortable. Educate yourself and invest in yourself to become a subject matter expert in whatever brings you joy!”
Learn more about JLL Healthcare: jll.com/healthcare