Apopka, Fla. – Growing up in the countryside of Manatí, Puerto Rico, Dr. Omayra Mansfield, chief medical officer at AdventHealth Apopka, fondly recalls the simple joys of her childhood—climbing trees, running through fields, and enjoying "Quenepas," also known as Spanish limes, with her two sisters. Her father’s career in the Army took the family across the United States, providing them with opportunities to meet many different people. "I have tender memories of growing up with my sisters in Puerto Rico. When we moved to the United States, we often traveled back to the island to visit family. Those trips were filled with adventure, enjoying the foods and customs of our culture, and family time,” Mansfield recalls.
Her parents fostered in them a love for reading and curiosity about the world. “My parents wanted us to explore the world. They encouraged us to read and travel,” she says.
Mansfield credits her family for inspiring in her a curiosity and purpose-driven approach to life. She pursued a career in medicine, eventually finding her calling as an emergency medicine physician in Florida. In 2020, Mansfield joined the leadership at AdventHealth Apopka, unaware that her first year as a hospital leader would coincide with a global pandemic. This unprecedented situation required her to build trust and provide sound guidance to the more than 750 team members at the campus.
“I was hired as the chief medical officer at AdventHealth Apopka in February 2020, not knowing what was about to happen in the world. The first few months were tough,” she recalls.
Mansfield is the co-author of “The Trust Transformation,” an evidence-based training program developed at AdventHealth during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. The book encapsulates the power and principles of interpersonal trust, offering a deep dive into the four attributes of transformational trust: Trustworthy, Authenticity, Dependability and Influence. It provides guiding principles to cultivate trust in every aspect of life, whether personal or professional.
Originally conceived as a four-hour class for team members and a workshop for leadership teams, “The Trust Transformation” has already impacted the lives of thousands of AdventHealth team members.
“The pandemic led us to write the book. What we observed laid our foundation, and as we shared it with others through workshops at AdventHealth, we saw firsthand how this work was helping people perform and thrive,” she adds.
“The Trust Transformation” will be released on Nov. 5 and can be pre-ordered here.
Mansfield’s journey with AdventHealth spans over 12 years. Her commitment to the community extends beyond the hospital walls. As a board member of the Hope CommUnity Center, Dr. Mansfield provides vital, evidence-based information to the Hispanic community and leads workshops to educate West Orange County residents on health issues and available resources.
Balancing her professional and community roles, Mansfield is also a devoted mother of two and a loving wife. In her book, she not only addresses the building of trust but also explores its intersection with religion, offering a blueprint for creating positive change in communities and relationships.
In celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, Mansfield emphasizes the importance of being a role model for the next generation and leading by example.
“When I consider what I want for my children, and for our youth, it is to continue to learn and take advantage of the opportunity of an education. This is one thing that no one can take away from you,” Mansfield says. “One thing you can do is pour into yourself from a knowledge standpoint because education will be the one thing no one can ever strip from you. Then, just go for it. There are no limits.”