An Interview with Vlada Rubarkh to Celebrate Women’s History Month
interviewed by: Melanie Farley
With International Women’s Day on March 8th and the whole month of March being dedicated to Women’s History, it is a great time celebrate the accomplishments of women. So, we decided to start in our own backyard, by interviewing our founder, Vlada Rubarkh, who has been a community and business leader for more than 20 years.
Read on to learn more about how Vlada got started in her career, her most important female role model, and to hear her advice for young women who want to be leaders.
How it all started…
Vlada’s nursing career began after graduating with a BSN from Thomas Jefferson University in 1994. Shortly thereafter, she fell in love with cardiology while caring for cardiac patients at Hahnemann University Hospital in a subacute critical care unit. She shared that helping patients before and after their procedures “was rewarding and gave her a great sense of accomplishment.”
She continued her career in home health care settings, where she discovered that patients who were stuck at home were not having their social and emotional needs met. She said:
The idea of opening an Adult Day Center, where we can address all needs of an elderly person including, health, socialization, and structured activities, came along quickly.
And the rest, as they say, is history. Vlada has been co-operating the Center with her business partner, Anna Ufberg, ever since. Since they opened in 1999, Northeast Adult Day Care has become a hub for the elderly community in the region, helping so many. Vlada said:
I have been fortunate enough to see Northeast Adult Day Care thrive and help thousands of elderly people and their caregivers for the last 23 years.
Vlada’s biggest female role model
Vlada shared that her mother has always been a role model to her. Her mother’s devotion and dedication to her family along with her incredible work ethic was a constant source of inspiration for her. She said:
My mother always gave 100 percent, and nothing was ever too difficult, especially when it came to her family. She will live in my heart forever.
Advice to young women
Vlada’s advice to young women who dream of becoming leaders in their communities was simple:
- Take risks & don’t be afraid to fail
- Do the right thing
- Don’t be lazy
- Develop your interpersonal and communication skills
Great advice. It’s so inspiring to celebrate the bold, ambitious women in our communities. Happy Women’s History Month!
Would your senior loved one benefit from expert adult day care in a warm, welcoming environment? The healthcare professionals at Northeast Adult Day Care can provide skilled care, monitoring, and social interaction for your loved one! Reach out to learn more, [email protected].