Laura Synnott is associate teaching professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. She provides operations, project management and strategy-development consulting services to healthcare providers. Ms. Synnott previously served as a hospital operations vice president overseeing ancillary and support departments, as well as construction projects. She has overseen numerous projects including an outpatient surgery addition, an emergency department expansion and a credentials verification organization. She also has served in dozens of consulting engagements.