Forty Under 40: Melinda Steinsiek

Melinda Steinsiek, 38, knew at an early age that she liked caring for people.

She earned a nursing degree from the University of Arkansas in 1987 and spent a couple of years as a floor nurse in a Springfield, Mo. hospital, a few years at Sparks Medical Center in Fort Smith working in the Critical Care Unit, and 10 years in the operating room at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville.

Originally from Cabot, Steinsiek has worked for North Hills Surgery Center since 1999.

Steinsiek said shes happy with the move to administration because caregivers need a lot of support and she enjoys finding new ways to support them. Evelyn Rudko, director of surgery at WRMC, influenced her career the most, Steinsiek said. Rudko encouraged her to move into administration.

I was always drawn to nursing, Steinsiek said. Now, I care for a different group of people. Now, I care for the employees.

North Hills Surgery Center has about 50 employees and does 600-700 surgeries per year.

Steinsiek is active in the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce where she serves as chairman of the team committee for Leadership Fayetteville. She also supports Childrens House.