Drawing on her passion for her work and deep understanding of her industry, Audrey Marie Neylon, Doctor of Health Administration (DHA), is known for making positive changes and establishing solid relationships with her team and internal and external entities. Since 2022, she has been the system director of mental health and addiction business solutions with Fairview Health Services. In this capacity, she brings more than 14 years of administration experience and more than seven years of leadership experience.
Dr. Neylon specializes in implementing front-end systems and revenue enhancement initiatives in healthcare organizations while steering teams in the right direction to ensure overall success. Her administration career started as a patient registrar, centralized scheduler, prior auth specialist, financial counselor, mental health point person, and being accountable for eight departments with around 100 employees. Dr. Neylon describes her journey as “exceptional.” After obtaining her associate degree in Medical Administrative Specialist in 2008, she continued her impressive academic path at the University of Phoenix, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in health care administration in 2013, a master’s degree in health administration in 2015, and her DHA in 2023 while working in the health care sector. Her relentless pursuit of excellence from an academic and professional standpoint has enabled her, her teams, and her partnership with other entities to lead the way for better healthcare services and reimbursement.
Dr. Neylon attributes much of her success to her challenging upbringing, which shaped her strong work ethic and perseverance. As the oldest of eight siblings, she had to leave school in 12th grade in order to take care of her younger siblings while her mother struggled with substance and alcohol abuse, often disappearing for months at a time, she recalled. Dr. Neylon never knew her father and lacked parental guidance and support. These circumstances led her to become a teen mother at 17 and give birth to her first son at 18. Despite facing the challenges of being a high school dropout and a single mother on welfare, Dr. Neylon was determined to turn her life around to set a positive example for her son.
Dr. Neylon was able to participate in a program offered by the state of Minnesota for teen moms, which played a crucial role in her story. This program helped her obtain her GED and find suitable housing for herself and her young child. While in the program, she applied for a Section 8 voucher focused on transitioning from welfare to independence. The program’s goal was to assist her in obtaining her GED, finding gainful employment, and becoming financially independent so that she could pay her bills without relying on welfare or Section 8 assistance. Dr. Neylon successfully completed the program and achieved financial independence, allowing her to purchase her first home. She credits her accomplishments to hard work and views them as crucial to her personal growth. Dr. Neylon remains dedicated to making a positive impact, continuously seeking self-improvement and professional development.
Dr. Neylon’s excellent work in health care administration has received widespread recognition. In 2022, she was honored with the prestigious Rising Employee for People Engagement Recognition from Fairview Health Services, which is a testament to her exceptional leadership and commitment. Additionally, her former employer, Allina Health, recognized her as a Key Contributor in 2017, 2019, and 2021, acknowledging her significant contributions to the organization. Dr. Neylon’s professional standing is further evidenced by her membership in the International Society of Female Professionals and her service on the board of directors for the Conflict Resolution Center.
Dr. Neylon’s active contribution to the healthcare community is driven by her deep insights and extensive expertise. These were prominently featured in a profile published by Healthcare Business Review, where she discussed the challenges in the mental health space, identified key areas for improved services, and shared her visionary outlook for the future of the mental health sector. Her dedication to advancing healthcare was further highlighted in a separate Q&A article, “Tech Innovations to Improve Healthcare Processes,” providing a comprehensive view of her knowledge and dedication.
Dr. Neylon believes that her success can be ascribed to maintaining a perspective rather than striving for perfection. She acknowledges her mistakes and uses them as learning opportunities, and now she is sharing her experiences and perspective with others in the hope that it will aid them in their own life journeys. Dr. Neylon values every opportunity that comes her way and never gives up on herself, even during challenging times. She has developed a strong work ethic, focuses on continuous self-improvement, and is passionate about making a positive impact every day.
For Dr. Neylon, the guiding principle in her work is to achieve results. She believes that to accomplish goals and maintain high productivity, she must incorporate forethought, structure, systems, planning, intelligence, and an honest purpose into all that she does, while keeping things simple. Additionally, she always remembers that 20% of the information she receives will provide 80% of what she needs to make sound decisions in the workplace.
Outside of her professional life, Dr. Neylon finds joy in her family. She cherishes spending time with her husband and two sons, a testament to her commitment to balance. She also enjoys mentoring others, reading numerous leadership books, and exercising, all of which contribute to her personal growth and well-being.