Denise Price Thomas is “Home Grown & Nationally Known” as a Speaker, Trainer, Author & “Edu-tainer.” She is encouraging, inspiring, funny and she keeps it REAL. In fact, she has been referred to as the “Healthcare Evangelist” because she will tell it like it is! Denise’s healthcare career began in 1975 at a local hospital and led to an invitation to join a surgical practice. Certified in Health Care Management through Pfeiffer University, she retired as Surgical Practice Administrator after 32 years with the same practice.
When her Daddy, her hero, was diagnosed with cancer, they discovered that many times compassion & care were missing from the other side of healthcare. Through this journey, she made a promise to her Daddy that she would make a positive difference in the lives of others. She has kept that promise. Her passion is her profession as she trains professionals in Customer Service, Compassion, Communication, Camaraderie and more. She is known for creating “characters” to engage attendees and add laughter to her lessons. She is also an “Undercover Patient” highlighting the positive and applying polish to areas that need to shine brighter. Providing one-on-one training is also important to Denise. Her motto is: “Together, we shine brighter.”
“Gladys Friday” (glad it’s Friday) is her alter ego and she understands that Laughter is like a Medicine, so she addresses the “Funny Side of Healthcare,” delivering a large dose of Health, Hope & Humor. Together, they are two speakers in one.
Denise has accepted invitations to speak for national & state conferences held in NY, Philadelphia, California, Alaska, Chicago, SC, NC, Georgia, Kentucky, Kansas, Boston and more. She has served on the Steering Committee for North Carolina Medical Mutual as well as Southeast Quality Care. She is a volunteer for many charities and is a mentor for youth. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Cancer Services of Gaston County. Denise is the Founder of “The Topless Cruise, Convertibles for a Cause” an annual event she has created where 100% of every donation assists local patients who have cancer through Cancer Services.
Her parents said, “Denise arrived in this world reaching out to others and she still is.” She and her husband Reg, live in Belmont, have three adult children and ten grandchildren. Although she is called by many names, her favorite names to be called are Mom & Nana.
