LEADERSHIP PROFILE
Patty Manning, MD: More Than Meets the Eye
LEADERSHIP PROFILE
Patty Manning, MD: More Than Meets the Eye
Patty Manning with her family (l-r): Bill Courtney, Patty, Will Courtney, Grace Courtney, Travis Courtney, and Nikki Goren Courtney.
We all know Patty Manning, MD, as Chief of Staff at Cincinnati Children’s, developmental pediatrician, personable and professional.
But there’s a lot more to Manning than meets the eye.
Did you know she’s a twin? And her twin sister is also in healthcare, a respiratory therapist and smoking-cessation counselor. Says Manning, “I’m super proud of the work that she does. We joke that when we’re together we can cover a wide range of healthcare needs.”
Manning hails from New Rochelle, NY. When she was 12, her family moved to Texas. “I went from having a distinctive New York accent to speaking with a Texas twang in a matter of a few years,” she says.
Manning takes great pride in her family, particularly her dad, a first-generation Irishman whose parents were not “well to do.”
“He lived in an apartment building in a diverse neighborhood and built relationships with people from all backgrounds,” she explains. “His life, the way he grew up, his friends—none of that was lost on me. So I learned to be very accepting of all people. I attribute a lot of that to my dad.”
There’s one story that Manning loves to tell. “My dad was good friends and delivered newspapers with a guy named ‘Dickey’ Roundtree.”
His real name: Richard Roundtree. Sound familiar? It should, Roundtree is the actor who made famous the character John Shaft in the "Shaft" movies from the '70s.
Manning is also proud of her mom who has struggled over the years with mental health issues.
“She’s always been very open and transparent about it,” Manning says. “And that was also part of my childhood, her dealing with different aspects of her illness. I think her openness and acceptance of that also made me of the mind that this isn’t different than other kinds of healthcare issues, it isn’t something to be hidden away, to be shy or embarrassed about.”
Manning and her husband, Bill Courtney, have three children. Her son Travis is engaged and planning a September wedding. He’s completing his residency and is on track to be a physician specializing in radiation oncology.
Her middle child Will is in the education field and is non-binary “I’m proud of their courage to express who they are at a time when it’s not always easy to be so open about one’s identity,” says Manning.
And then there’s Grace, who’s headed to Notre Dame on a diving scholarship. Grace was 14 months old when Manning and her family adopted her from China.
Manning gets a catch in her throat as she talks about the decision to adopt.
“We just had this feeling that our family was not complete,” she recalls. “As mystical as this sounds, we believed that she was out there, and we just needed to go find her. So, we did.”
Manning says the experience has been wonderful. “She’s an over-the-top amazing kid. A two-time state championship diver at Wyoming High School. USA Today recently featured Grace among the top high school athletes in country. Grace was the only one selected in the swim/dive category from Ohio.
Patty enjoys catching up with supply chain technicians Raphael Price, (left) and Nathan Wadell in the Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Center.
Patty and Bill strike a yoga pose.
Patty's mom and dad, John and Cathy Manning, have taught her to be accepting of all people.
What inspires her
Manning is clearly inspired by her own family. She’s also incredibly inspired by all the families we’re so privileged to serve at Cincinnati Children’s.
“I’m constantly amazed at the patients I support directly in clinical care, as well as their parents, and I love following patient and their families over time. I’m so very proud of the patients I see and the things they accomplish, and I'm grateful for all they have taught me.” Last but not least, I’m inspired by my colleagues here.”
Manning points to the pandemic as an example of how the Cincinnati Children’s team stepped up to meet extraordinary challenges.
“COVID became this shared stressful experience that solidified the relationships I had and gave me new relationships with colleagues,” she says. “Just like a family, you go through a lot of trials and tribulations, and over time, those experiences bring you even closer. I have such gratitude for people who worked together in the early days of the pandemic, not knowing anything about the disease. We were completely dependent on each other. It’s memorable in a way I can’t put into words. I’m just so grateful for the experience.”
Inspiring others
As a female leader in healthcare, Manning believes it’s important to model openness, transparency, and even vulnerability.
“It makes you a better leader,” she says. “I believe in the importance of relationships, communication and trust—I want to inspire people that way.”
On a personal level, she encourages others to see the value in all people, including those who have different abilities.
“One of the things I enjoy most is introducing my peers to my colleagues who work with Project SEARCH, a jobs program for people with a wide range of disabilities. Raphael Price and Nate Wadell are two of my favorites,” she says. “I worry that we don’t always recognize what people of all abilities can bring to a relationship or a work environment. I believe so deeply that all people can bring something of value, and I hope I’ve modeled that for others.”
Favorite ways to relax
- Doing yoga
- Enjoying the beach in NC
- Spending time with family and friends and cooking for them
Secret career goals
- Singing backup for a musical performer
- Being an ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter