Born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia, Jill Horne grew up the oldest of three children of a Philadelphia firefighter and a newspaper advertising professional. She loved school, often spending hours reading and writing for her classes, and discovered a talent for language as a young girl.
At 14, Jill experienced a loss that helped shape her future. Her beloved grandmother came to live with the family while in hospice care for lung cancer (although she never smoked in her life). After seeing the dedication of both her family’s care and the professional healthcare team, Jill felt drawn to the healthcare setting as a possible career choice because it was an environment of caring. She didn’t love science, though, and the thought of drawing blood or performing medical procedures didn’t appeal to her either.
As she advanced through her high school years at Nazareth Academy, she learned that healthcare embraces many career paths. And she dreamed of working in a hospital one day, where she could contribute to the mission in her own way.
The first in her family to graduate from college, Jill earned a Communication degree from the University of Scranton. During her college years, she also took courses in Business and Health Administration, and even explored Social Work. She landed her first job with help from her internship connections, working in corporate communications for Cigna before joining Fox Chase as a communications assistant.
Jill has held a variety of positions within Communications and Marketing at Fox Chase in her nearly 25 years with the institution, engaging in media relations, producing print and electronic publications, developing web content, and focusing on employee-directed communications. Her association over the years has expanded from her role as an employee to also include volunteer service with the Board of Associates and perhaps, most importantly, support as a loving friend and family member to a number of patients who have sought and received care here.