Danielle Koons, Regional Vice President of Market Development for the Pennsylvania Region, has been nominated as a 2026 Woman of Influence with Marquis Health Consulting Services. In an effort to showcase woman who lead with strength, inspire with grace, and lease a lasting mark on the women around them, we are honored to highlight Danielle.

With a long-standing career in healthcare and being named a Woman of Impact with the American Heart Association, Danielle’s tenacity is exemplified each day. From humble beginnings to now standing in a leadership position, no task is too big or too small for Danielle to tackle.  “I have been in healthcare now for 17 years. When I was in high school, I always had a strong interest in healthcare, so I volunteered at the hospital every summer. I was part of an Explorer’s program where I went through different hospital departments and learned about what each one did.” Danielle adds, “I started as a clinical liaison. Somebody took a chance on me and saw something in me, and it’s been a great ride ever since. From the very beginning, I knew this was where I wanted to stay. I loved every aspect of it—the hospital interactions and the personal experience of having gone through that journey with my grandmother, who spent four years in a nursing home. I pretty much knew this was where I wanted to be.”

Now after facing adversity in the healthcare industry as a woman, Danielle shares her vulnerability in what challenges she’s faced. “Getting into healthcare is challenging because of the clinical aspect. I think that was always my biggest barrier—not being a clinician and not having that RN title behind my name. One of my biggest challenges was getting people to understand that I had enough knowledge to be effective and that I could be taken seriously, even without that clinical title.”

Thanks to the positively fostered environment in Marquis, Danielle has felt uplifted since day one with her team. “I think I learn something from everyone. Each person brings something different to the table” says Danielle, adding, “I think we all collectively work together and make each other better by leaning on one another’s expertise.”

The one woman who has inspired Danielle throughout her career growth? “Jen Hertzog” Danielle states, referring to Marquis’ Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. “I worked for her at a previous company, and she took a chance on me by putting me into a role that I probably didn’t have any business stepping into at the time. She saw something and said, “I think this is the right fit.” Danielle shares what this taught her as a leader growing her own team, stating “What that taught me is the importance of seeing potential in people and being willing to take a chance on them. Not everyone is going to fit a cookie-cutter mold or the industry’s expected path. I’ve carried that lesson with me, especially when I’m interviewing candidates. Someone might not match exactly what I picture on paper, but taking the time to see what they bring to the table and how they could grow into a role can make all the difference.”

As a mother to two teenage boys, Danielle is experiencing a new transition in motherhood while her older son prepares for college in the fall. “It’s almost a new phase of parenting” she states, “Gentle parenting at this stage of life—because he’s an adult now, and he has to learn things on his own. That’s been the challenging part for me, figuring out how to pull back a little while still being there when he needs me.” The one lesson she wants her children to learn? “I also want them to know not to let anyone tell them they can’t do something. That’s something I want my kids to carry with them. If someone tells you no, or says you can’t do something, let that be the motivation. Don’t let it stop you.”

Since becoming a 2026 Woman of Impact for the American Heart Association, Danielle has taken to this advocacy with great pride, sharing the difference she hopes she can make for women’s cardiac health. “Over the years working with the American Heart Association, you hear so many stories about women with heart disease—hypertension, high blood pressure, what they often call the silent killer. You sit in these meetings and hear these stories, and you think, ‘That’s never going to happen to me.’ Then I found myself dealing with high blood pressure, and it felt like a real slap in the face. It was a moment of realizing, this can happen to you, too. That’s why continuing to raise awareness around women and heart health is so important, because we’re often overlooked when it comes to heart disease.”

After celebrating six years with Marquis Health Consulting Services, Danielle brings her excitement each day to work. From motivating peers to influencing young female leaders, Danielle’s motto stands true: “If you have the desire, the passion, the drive, and the motivation, you can do anything you set your heart on.”

Inspired by Danielle’s story? If you’re passionate about making a difference in healthcare and want to grow your career with a supportive, mission-driven team, learn more about opportunities at one of the centers we support by visiting our Careers Page: https://mqshealth.com/caring-careers/

Written by Alex Halfinger, Social Media Manager at Marquis