Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hannah Bretting. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Hannah, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I started college with no major and no real direction. I felt lost, but I trusted God had a plan for me—I just couldn’t see it yet.
My aunt, an OR scrub nurse, saw I needed help. She got me a job at the surgery center where she worked. I started in the recovery room, helping patients. I also assisted patients who stayed overnight after surgery. My tasks were simple: vitals, bring water, change beds, check on people when they woke up groggy and scared.
That’s where everything changed.
One night, an older woman was in a lot of pain after knee surgery. She kept apologizing for needing help. I walked her to the bathroom, slow and steady. On the way back, she asked if I believed in God. I said yes.
When she got back to bed, she said, “God sent you tonight.” I felt it too.
All the women on my dad’s side are nurses. I grew up around it but never wanted it for myself. But in those quiet, late-night moments holding a hand, easing fear, I felt God showing me: This is it. This is where you belong.
I believe God places each of us here for a reason. Mine is to care for people when they’re at their weakest. That job didn’t just give me direction, it gave me certainty.
Today, as a healthcare administrator, I don’t have direct patient care every day. But every decision I make—about staffing, resources, policies, or budgets is rooted in what’s best for the patient. I still remember where I started: in that recovery room, holding a trembling hand. That’s my compass. That’s my calling. And it still guides me, every single day.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
As a healthcare administrator at the Chronic Pain Recovery Center in Spring, Texas, I spend my days weaving together the threads of compassion, efficiency, and hope in a place that’s more than just a clinic, it’s a bridge back to real life for people whose worlds have been upended by chronic pain. Our center is CARF-accredited, which means we’re held to the highest international standards of excellence in rehabilitation and healthcare. That accreditation isn’t just a plaque on the wall; it’s a rigorous, multi-year commitment we renew through continuous audits, outcome tracking, and patient feedback. It ensures every program, policy, and interaction from intake to discharge meets proven benchmarks for quality, safety, and measurable results. In my role, I oversee the day-to-day operations: streamlining HIPAA-compliant workflows, aligning multidisciplinary teams (physicians, physical therapists, counselors), and making sure CARF standards are lived, not just listed.
What lights me up most? Hands down, it’s our work with workers’ compensation patients, guiding them toward sustainable recovery and a return to work. Imagine a construction worker sidelined by a neck injury or a flight attendant grounded by back pain—facing months of uncertainty, fearing they’ll never get back to work. We meet them with a CARF-validated approach: pain management, job-specific physical therapy, behavioral health support, and vocational counseling. We’re not just treating pain; we’re rebuilding futures. I’ve seen patients arrive discouraged and hopelessness then leave with a tailored plan they actually believe in. One story that stays with me: a flight attendant in her 40s, off the job for over a year after a shoulder tear. Through our structured program, she regained strength, confidence, and returned to work, suitcase in hand. Moments like that? They’re why I show up.
Professionally, I’m focused on scaling impact while staying fiercely patient-centered. Chronic pain affects millions, and in Texas, workers’ comp cases are rising. Our CARF-accredited center plays a vital role in restoring productivity for individuals, families, and employers. What I’d love readers to know about our “brand” is simple: we listen first with patient centered care, and we never lose sight of the person behind the chart.
Exciting updates ahead?
Right now, we’re in a season of steady growth and refinement. No flashy launches, but the kind of quiet wins that matter most: higher patient success rates, smoother workflows, and a team that’s more aligned than ever. We’re always brainstorming fresh ways to serve better (ideas welcome!), and staying true to our mission FEEL BETTER, LIVE BETTER.
Visit us at www.chronicpainrecoverycenter.org or call 936.271.0221. Come for a tour, bring your questions, or just see how we’re making a difference every single day.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three forces forged my leadership in healthcare: communication, empathy for patients and coworkers, and adaptability. I lead by speaking clear plans to my team, gentle truths to patients, so trust flows both ways. Empathy isn’t selective; it’s the pulse behind every policy, whether I’m holding a trembling hand or covering for a coworker who is out sick. When unexpected issues arise, adaptability steps in: What can I fix in the next 15 minutes? Then we do it. True leadership isn’t the corner office—it’s in the hallway with your team as you collaborate together where lives change. Speak truth. Feel deeply. Pivot fast. Lead from there.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
Dare to Lead gave me three leadership truths for healthcare:
“Clear is kind”
“Rumble with vulnerability”
“Trust in small moments”
Courage over comfort. Every day.
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