Welcome Elnaz Troiano

Growing up down the street from Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Elnaz Troiano visited campus many times throughout her childhood with injured animals in tow—some squirrels, but most often painted turtles from a nearby creek that had been hit by cars when they crossed the road to lay their eggs.

“Every time I found a hurt animal, off we’d go to Tufts Wildlife Clinic,” says Troiano, who released one of the turtles back into the wild herself when he recovered, a year and a half after she first dropped him off. “Tufts [Cummings School] has always held such a close place in my heart. It’s full circle to be back working in my own neighborhood.”

Troiano came on board as the new hospital administrator at Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals (FHSA) at Cummings School in early September. She brings with her a fondness for animals and years of experience working in healthcare supporting medical teams.

“I believe in community and transparency and am passionate about people,” says Troiano. “I want everyone to feel supported and have a safe place to talk about what’s going great and challenges we can overcome. I see every challenge as an opportunity. Sometimes the more difficult conversations can lead to the best outcomes. Anything is possible with compassion, open hearts, and open minds.”

Troiano’s first experience in healthcare was as a volunteer at Beacon Hospice in Worcester while she was an undergraduate earning her bachelor of arts degree in political science and business at Assumption University. She spent time with patients during their last months of life, many elderly and without family, providing company and support.

While she initially planned on a career in law and interned in the press office for Governor Mitt Romney, Troiano realized she was more drawn to helping people directly in her work. She started part-time at the YMCA of Central Massachusetts while still in college, supporting their membership team, and ended up working there for the next 10 years. After graduating, Troiano transitioned into a full-time finance role for the YMCA and eventually became a manager of the membership team and later the welcome center director.

“It’s an amazing organization, all about families and serving our community,” says Troiano of her decade at the YMCA. “I met many wonderful people over my time there. I engaged in health and wellness for people and developed a love for healthcare in general.”

Keeping people and communities central to her career, Troiano made the move into healthcare when she came on as the center administrator for AFC Doctors Express in Worcester, a few months before the urgent care opened its doors. She hired staff, built up the teams, and put into place policies and procedures to run the clinic.  

“I took a leap of faith and took a shot at healthcare,” she says. “I was doing what I loved—managing and supporting teams, collaborating with people, and incorporating healthcare."

Troiano remained in that role for three years before joining Milford Regional Physicians Group as a practice manager. Over the next six years, she oversaw day-to-day operations and supported the Cardiology and ENT Surgery Teams and later the Breast Surgery, Urogynecology, Neurology, and Infectious Disease Teams.

“I got a taste of all the different healthcare specialties,” says Troiano. “It was a great learning opportunity for me. I met so many different people and took on a lot of projects. My passion is for the people and the practices.”

One day while watching her eight-year-old son play baseball, a friend who works at Cummings School told her about the open hospital administrator position at FHSA.

While veterinary medicine would be a new avenue for her, Troiano was excited about the possibility of pulling her love of animals into her career and reconnecting with Cummings School. In addition to all the rescued animals she delivered to Tufts Wildlife Clinic, at home growing up she had cats, hamsters, rabbits, and guinea pigs. In college, she volunteered at an animal shelter in Hopkinton. Troiano currently has two dogs, a 12-year-old Havanese and seven-month-old French bulldog. Goldfish and hermit crabs have joined the family at various times over the years too.

So far, she’s thoroughly enjoying the transition from human to veterinary healthcare, especially at FHSA.

“The people at Foster [Hospital] have been so supportive and welcomed me with open arms. I find myself lost every now and then, and there’s always a smiling face saying, ‘No, you want to go that way,’” Troiano laughs. “It’s a group of people with such big hearts who want to work with animals. When you get such incredibly kind, passionate individuals, how can you go wrong?” 

Personally, Troiano is into health, wellness, and fitness outside of work too. When she’s not on the baseball field watching her son play, she’s often out on a run. She is getting up to speed on overseeing the daily operations of FHSA, and becoming more familiar with the hospital, staff, and animals every day.

“Walking into the building, I see all these beautiful animals. Tufts [Cummings School] takes the sickest of the sick. I get to see that happening every single day, the amazing men and women working tirelessly to take care of these animals. It’s been wonderful.”