Virginia Steele, Kathy Hunt and Deborah Coble left Memphis for bigger and better things. So they thought. Little did they know they would find their way back home.

"In 1998 my father passed away here in Memphis," said Hunt. "Something like that really makes you take stock of life's priorities. My heart's desire was then to return to Memphis where my twin and mother were."

Coble and Steele moved back to be with their families also. Coble lost her stepmother to lung cancer. She came home to be with her father. Steele was fighting her own battle with cancer.

The Road Home

All three women found their way to The West Clinic, a premiere cancer research and treatment center in Memphis. As consultants they were instrumental in expanding, improving, creating and marketing programs and services. Last October they were instrumental in the launch of The West Clinic's first international cancer center in Singapore.

"Working at the West Clinic has been life-altering for me," states Coble who orchestrated numerous public relations campaigns. "Cancer affects not only patients, but their families and friends as well. I feel strongly that as a 'messenger' I am responsible for carrying The West Clinic's message of hope and healing to patients and residents throughout the Mid-South."

Reaching new heights

The success of their work with The West Clinic made the women realize the potential for something greater. They teamed up to start a new innovative business to business consulting firm called iwest. iwest is still affiliated with The West Clinic, but it operates as an independent consulting agency for all local, national and international healthcare related businesses including hospitals and physicians' offices as well as biotechnology companies.

"We realized our approach was highly effective for The West Clinic and our services were easily transferable to other institutions," explains Steele, who served as Executive Vice President of International Business Development for the past two years. "The good news for us was The West Clinic also acknowledged the benefit and concurred with us that such a team was unique. They were willing to support our initiative by allowing us to remain consultants to their organization, as well as offer our services to others. This in itself is very unique."

"I was a V.P./Account Supervisor with a local advertising agency and a publicist in New York, but I've also worked in the trenches," said Coble. "Having worked not only on the agency side, but also in the physician and hospital setting gives me a very unique perspective. I understand what it takes to make a business grow and become viable."

Poised for the job

Deborah Coble is a highly respected publicist and marketing consultant with more than 15 years experience in the healthcare arena. Her career path led her to New York where she served as Director of Public Affairs in NYU Medical Center's Cardiovascular Institute. She conducted multi-cultural marketing and public relations campaigns, obtaining unprecedented national and international exposure for NYU's heart program. She also directed an international Hispanic public relations campaign for cardiac surgery recognized in over 17 Latin American countries.

Virginia Steele is an internationally recognized consultant in healthcare/biotechnology marketing and business development. She was employed in the management consulting industry as a Vice President and Managing Partner for several major companies. Later she started her own firm, Global Accords with practices in four states. She's also a nationally recognized cancer spokesperson and advocate.

Kathy Hunt is a nationally respected healthcare executive with notable accomplishments in not-for-profit and for-profit systems. She was lured to a hospital in New Orleans to serve as the Director of Physician Services. Her team built several first-of-its-kind programs and services. She was also recruited to work at Columbia Lakeside Hospital, a premiere women's hospital owned by the largest for-profit healthcare system in the world. Prior to joining The West Clinic, Hunt was the Administrative Director for all the Baptist Minor Medical Centers in Memphis.

Keeping the faith

iwest is more than just a business.

"Looking back, even as a teenager I was inspired by physicians, nurses, healthcare professionals and business leaders who seemed to make a real difference in other people's lives," recalled Hunt, who served as The West Clinic's Regional Director of Business Development/Physician Services. "I was not only impressed by their great knowledge and skill but how caring and compassionate they were about their call. They had passion and purpose and loved what they did. I wanted that, too."

"In order for our city to continue to thrive, we have to be able to provide available, quality healthcare," Steele said. "This serves the existing residents and entices others to want to live here. iwest is totally focused on expanding the availability of healthcare resources to the community in a cost effective manner and providing quality service to the end user, the patient. That affects us all!"

"Although any new venture requires faith," admitted Hunt. "It became clear this was the group to take that leap with. Together we can create new models of excellence, better adapt to change and perhaps better serve those who entrust their care to us. They deserve our very best."

Appeared in:

• Memphis Woman Magazine, Cover Story