We had the good fortune of connecting with Norma Castaneda and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Norma, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Growing up, my father was a farmer, and my mother was from Mexico she only spoke Spanish. I assumed the role of translator and advocator for her as many doctors seemed too rushed to listen to her. These memories continue to drive my mission, compelling me to spearhead strategic initiatives as the COO of Fidelis Health Group, dedicated to supporting English as a Second Language patients.

When you have a chronic disorder, you are constantly in pain, you have little resources, and navigating the health insurance process and doctors when you don’t speak the language is incredibly frustrating! So, in my first two years at Fidelis, we focused on developing our operations so our patients became part of our family. We provide 24/7 access to bilingual clinicians, secured supply chain integration, provide insurance claims assistance, coordination of home nursing services, and unwavering commitment to quality-measure assurance ultimately culminating in the prestigious URAC accreditation.

The truest satisfaction I find in my work is witnessing once-immobilized patients regain their mobility and embrace an improved quality of life, all because they have embraced a healthier lifestyle, received regular infusion care, and made the most of our resources and constant support. In this transformation, not only do their lives improve, but their loved ones also experience profound relief and gratitude.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am big on accountability, integrity, and delegation. Every day, my Fidelis team has a 10 A.M. huddle, and whether it’s 10 minutes or an hour, we meet. Healthcare moves fast and our patients need us to be there for them. We are such a tight-knit team that we continuously support each other, strategize together, measure progress, and inspire each other. It’s funny, we have other pharmacies wondering how we are operating so efficiently with half the staff that they are. It’s because we are all aligned with the same mission, core values, and focus of being our patient’s Loyal 24/7 Health Partner.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would start in San Diego and visit the beautiful beaches in La Jolla. Next, we would stop in Old Town San Diego and have some amazing Mexican food and homemade tortillas from the wonderful restaurants. Then, we would head over to Sunset Cliffs to watch the beautiful Sunset. After, we would head north to visit Laguna Beach and take a stroll to all the beautiful shops then have dinner at Nick’s. I’d then have us head north again to Hermosa Beach, where we could stroll the shops and have a beer at Hennessey’s while overlooking the ocean. Next, I’d take us to Malibu to visit the amazing beaches and have lunch at Malibu Farms while overlooking the ocean. After, we would take a tour of the Getty Villa and finish off the day with wine tasting at Malibu Wines.
At some point in the week, we would make our way down to the Coachella Valley, where I would show them around Palm Springs and enjoy the many shops and restaurants. Next, we would head to Palm Desert, where I could wow them with a beautiful stroll around the El Paseo shopping district. And, of course, I would make sure not to miss showing them the quaint little area of Old Town La Quinta!! While in the Coachella Valley, I would take them to play some golf since there are over 132 golf courses to choose from. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t take them to have a picnic at the Empire Polo Ground while watching a game of Polo and taking in the beautiful artwork and architecture from the many festivals that take place in that beautiful area!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
For 16 years, I worked on the executive team for BIGHORN Golf Club. I was fortunate enough to learn from some of the brightest and most accomplished CEOs and COOs who shared their entrepreneurial success stories. I listened intently, put their advice into action, and believed it was possible to have it all. When we believe that we are truly limitless – we attract trusted colleagues and friends who support our dreams and who believe in us, making us unstoppable!

So why would I limit myself to working for just one company when I could grow Fidelis Health Group and build multiple businesses like HR Advantage and The Advantage Companies. Businesses that fully develop and serve our client’s HR and operational backbones.

And I am proud to say that I have taught my kids to be limitless, too, by taking them with me on business trips here and abroad to learn firsthand about different cultures.

Website: https://www.fidelis-rx.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fidelisrx/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fidelis-rx/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fidelisrx

Image Credits
Photos by Brandon Harman

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.