In today’s world, it seems like healthcare organizations are becoming increasingly interested in what the data says-performance scores, employee satisfaction, employee retention rates, patient satisfaction scores. While these things have their time and place, I think to improve the health of any organization, the human part must first be addressed. Humans are relational beings. In order to perform at their best, people need to feel a sense of belonging, they need to trust who

Part of the human experience that comes with being born into a fallen world entails hardship and struggle. It’s what we do with those hardships that defines us. While we tend to do everything we can to avoid hardships and other difficult experiences, these are actually the types of moments that create the most room for growth. The same is true in healthcare. Struggle is inevitable. Our response to the struggle plays a crucial role in whether we let it break us or whether we g

Between 2016 and 2020, I attended Calvin University, a small Christian college in Michigan. Calvin’s mission is to help its students “to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world” (Calvin University, n.d.). While I didn’t fully appreciate the influence of that mission while I was attending Calvin, I have since come to let it shape how I approach not only healthcare leadership, but my life in general. The ability to thin

Conflict is a theme that is prevalent throughout every human being’s life, whether it be with a significant other, parent, sibling, coworker, or even a random person on the street. Some conflicts are seemingly insignificant in the grand scheme of things, while others have the potential to alter the course of a person’s relationship, career, or even life. The biggest factor in the impact any conflict has is how it is handled. According to Nikitara et al. (2024), “effective co

Before one can become an effective leader and agent of change, they must first understand themselves-they must understand what makes them “tick.” As a healthcare leader, I’ve come to realize that knowing who I am as a person plays a key role in who I am as a healthcare leader. It influences how I communicate with my team, respond to challenges, build relationships, and influence change. Taking the time to reflect and learn more about my personality, strengths, weaknesses, and

When I was growing up, I never felt a true calling toward any particular profession. My mom and grandma were both nurses, but I never felt that nursing would be a good fit for me. Going into college, I continued to struggle with what I wanted my future to look like. Then, halfway through my freshman year in college, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. For three years I watched her go through chemotherapy, radiation, and countless surgeries. Through it all, I struggled t