Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. LaShonda Hornsby Bailey.
Hi Dr. LaShonda, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey started in the classroom. As an Allied Health Professor and former High School Teacher, I was passionate about preparing students for careers in healthcare. I poured my heart into teaching, but what weighed on me was watching so many of my students, bright, motivated, and capable, struggle to find jobs after graduation. They had the passion but no clear pathway.
In 2016, I founded Beating Heart Health Staffing to bridge that gap from classroom to clinical setting. The company was born out of a deep desire to put my students to work, to open doors, and to give them the confidence and opportunities they deserved. The name itself is personal, it comes from my experience caring for my brother while he battled cancer and later advocating for my father after his stroke. In both moments, sitting beside them and watching their beating hearts reminded me of the power of presence, love, and compassion. That became the essence of my company.
Over the years, I’ve expanded my vision beyond staffing. Today, I’m also building out Beating Heart Health for WOMEN, an initiative inspired by my doctoral dissertation research on “The Emotional Perceptions of Weight Gain in Menopausal Women after Bariatric Surgery.” This work is deeply personal and has fueled my passion for women’s health advocacy and wellness.
Now, as I prepare to launch for our 10-year anniversary in 2026, my focus is on expanding staffing services in Orlando Central Florida while also growing mentorship programs for Medical Magnet students, workforce pathways for new graduates, and community initiatives that address both opportunity and equity. My story has always been about service, heart, and building something that lasts, not just for me, but for every student, professional, and family we touch.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has definitely not been smooth, but every challenge has shaped me and strengthened the mission of Beating Heart Health. In the early years, I wore every hat, from recruiter to marketer to administrator, often working on little sleep while attending minority business conferences, college fairs, and community workshops to build awareness. There were times I doubted myself and times the business had to be put on pause while I focused on family, school, and full-time work.
I’ve also faced the same struggles many women and minority entrepreneurs encounter: access to capital, balancing professional goals with caregiving responsibilities, and constantly proving the value of a purpose-driven model in an industry that often focuses more on numbers than people. On top of that, I navigated personal grief while losing my siblings and father, experiences that left a deep mark but also became the foundation for the compassion and advocacy that drives this company.
The struggles have been real, but so have the lessons. They taught me persistence, creativity, and the importance of aligning every step with my purpose. Today, those challenges remind me that Beating Heart Health isn’t just a business; it’s a calling born from both pain and passion, and that’s what keeps me going.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ve spent over 20 years in the healthcare profession, with experience that spans regulatory compliance, training, and quality management. Early in my career, I served as an Allied Health professor, where I had the privilege of teaching and mentoring students who were preparing to enter the medical field. That role gave me a firsthand view of both the potential of emerging healthcare professionals and the barriers they face in transitioning from the classroom into meaningful employment.
Beyond education, I’ve worked extensively in regulatory compliance and quality management, overseeing operations and leading teams to ensure standards were not only met but exceeded. Managing my own department taught me the importance of balancing policy with people, making sure that compliance never overshadowed compassion.
Most recently, I earned my Doctorate in Health Science, where my dissertation research focused on the how women feel and cope with weight changes after bariatric surgery during menopause. That academic journey deepened my expertise, sharpened my leadership skills, and inspired my continued advocacy for women’s health and wellness.
Together, these experiences shaped my professional identity and prepared me to lead Beating Heart Health with both vision and integrity, ensuring that every placement we make reflects not only skill and professionalism but also the heart that true caregiving requires.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
For me, risk-taking has always been about planting seeds, nurturing them, and then waiting for the harvest. It means having faith in the unseen, investing time, energy, and resources into something that may not produce results right away, but trusting that with persistence and care, growth will come.
One of the biggest risks I took was stepping away from what I call “corporate complacency.” I had a stable career, but I knew that my true passion was in creating pathways for others, for my students, for new healthcare professionals, and for the community I serve. Choosing to lead with my passion meant walking into uncertainty, but it also meant walking in my purpose.
“Being a woman founder and CEO is a risk, but the heart behind Beating Heart Health is my own, and that makes every risk worth it.”. There are challenges at every step, from financial hurdles to systemic barriers that women entrepreneurs often face. My lived experiences, my personal story, and my unwavering commitment to service are what keeps me moving forward, even when the road feels uncertain. To me, risk isn’t about recklessness, it’s about courage. It’s about daring to believe in the seeds you plant, and having the faith to keep watering them until the harvest comes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.beatinghearthealth.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beatinghearthealthstaffing
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beatingheartstaffing
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lashonda-hornsby-bailey-mshsa-health-science-doctoral-candidate-866022122
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/groups/789575946547495
Image Credits
Basil Lewis
