Holistic Leadership: The Future of Work & Education in Healthcare

Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals work hard to heal, treat, and save their patients’ lives every day, but high stress levels can negatively impact the mental health of healthcare workers. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the psychological toll on healthcare professionals, pushing the industry towards a dire mental health crisis. Research shows that over half of healthcare professionals have reported burnout and emotional distress during the pandemic, raising the stakes for effective interventions.

So, the pivotal question arises: How can the healthcare industry better support the emotional well-being and resiliency of its professionals, and what role can leadership play in initiating these changes?

In this thought-provoking episode of Holistic Leadership, host Geoffrey Roche dives into these pressing issues with guest Dr. Jonathan Fisher, a leading cardiologist, certified mindfulness teacher, and well-being and resiliency leader.

The main points of conversation in this episode include:

• Dr. Fisher's personal journey towards addressing mental health issues in the healthcare industry

• The shift in medical school curricula towards prioritizing emotional health and well-being

• How mindfulness and compassion can play a significant role in helping healthcare professionals manage stress and burnout

Dr. Jonathan Fisher, MD, FACC, Dr. is a leading cardiologist and certified mindfulness teacher. He serves as a well-being and resiliency leader at Novant Health, aiding a team of 38,000, and also heads his own company, Mind Heart Now LLC, which provides mindfulness and leadership workshops globally. He has also co-founded the Ending Clinician Burnout Global Community and organized the first-ever global summit focused on clinician burnout. Fisher was trained at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and Harvard University and is now a founding board member of the Charlotte Center for the Humanities and Civic Imagination. Dr. Fisher lives in Charlotte with his family and his mission is to use the power of the mind-heart connection to foster a kinder, more compassionate world.

Dr. Kathleen Flarity is a highly decorated military veteran, an esteemed academic, and

a pioneer in healthcare. Her esteemed career includes serving as Deputy Director of the

University of Colorado Anschutz Center for Combat Medicine and Battlefield Research

and the role of Air Force Brigadier General. Beyond her military service, Dr. Flarity has

published over 16 book chapters and 32 journal articles, including 15 peer-reviewed

research manuscripts. She has significantly contributed to the healthcare field as an

associate clinical professor of emergency medicine at the University of Colorado Denver

Anschutz Medical Campus and the President of the Aerospace Nursing and Allied

Health Professional Society. She is also the president and founder of Flarity Consulting

LLC, specializing in leadership consulting and re-engineering clinical processes. Her

unique insights and experiences make her an authoritative voice in the evolving

discussion around healthcare leadership.

The rapidly evolving world of work has sparked challenging conversations and necessitated fresh strategies for leadership and talent management, largely driven by the seismic disruptions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. As we grapple with the transformations in the way we work and interact within organizations, leaders across the globe are forced to reassess their strategies and philosophies, particularly around talent acquisition and retention. Concerns about skilled labor shortages are not new, but they are especially present now with low unemployment and the baby boomer retirement movement starting.

So, how can leaders navigate the turbulent waves of change in today's workplace, and what innovative approaches can be employed to foster creativity and leverage talent?

In the latest episode of the Holistic Leadership Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Travis Hearn and Geoffrey Roche engage in a thought-provoking conversation with guest Steve Cadigan, renowned Talent Hacker and Advisor at Cadigan Talent Ventures. The trio delve into the future of work, the impact of the pandemic, and how to effectively harness creativity and innovation in the new work landscape.

Main talking points from the episode include:

• The shifting paradigms of leadership in response to rapid technological and societal changes.

• The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the future of work and leadership.

• Creative strategies for managing talent, including comprehensive approaches to lay-offs and talent retention.

Steve Cadigan is a globally recognized talent advisor with over 25 years of experience working as an HR executive for various companies including Cisco Systems, Electronic Arts, and most notably as the first Chief HR Officer for LinkedIn. Cadigan is also an author, having published a groundbreaking book on the future of work titled "Workquake," which reached number one on the Amazon list of hot new releases even before its official launch.

Leadership isn’t all glitz and glam. It’s a grind, and leaders need to know how to handle themselves and their teams in all situations, including crises. Communication, adaptability, proactiveness, and empathy are just some of the characteristics needed for effective crisis leadership.

But how did leaders like Dr. Stephen Tang, a CEO in the life sciences industry, handle such a profound and long-lasting crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic?

On today’s episode of Holistic Leadership, Hosts Travis Hearne and Geoffrey Roche speak with Dr. Stephen Tang, CEO, Entrepreneur, Civic Leader, and Author of A Test for Our Time: Crisis Leadership in the Next Normal. Hearne and Dr. Tang work through his crisis leadership as CEO of OraSure Technologies during the pandemic, what he believes contributes to wholehearted leadership, and the driving forces behind his authorship.

Authenticity is one the characteristics that builds a great leader, and Dr. Tang knows and lives this. When leaders hold true to their values and personalities while displaying honesty, it makes it easier for their team to trust them.

Dr. Tang shared, “I think what I learned from it was this notion in the book of wholehearted leadership, which is, you really do need to be present for your people, be authentic for your people, communicate to them in a way that they can understand that you understand the tragedy of the situation and the optimism of the situation. And thoroughly care for them not just because they’re doing work for you day in, day out, but because they’re whole people with whole, full lives themselves.”

Hearne, and Dr. Tang also discussed…

1. The reasons Dr. Tang decided to author his book

2. Dr. Tang’s experience as OraSure CEO during COVID-19 and advice for leaders walking through crises

3. How to encourage leaders to take risks during crises

“Leaders have to earn their trust every single day. So, to present yourself as credible and intimate with your people I think is vitally important. And I go back to something that I said before. What does wholehearted mean? Wholehearted means nurturing the mind, body, and spirit unashamedly...It’s truly caring about all those dimensions,” Dr. Tang explained.

Dr. Stephen Tang is CEO, Entrepreneur, Civic Leader, and Author of A Test for Our Time: Crisis Leadership in the Next Normal. Dr. Tang has been CEO of OraSure Technologies since 2011 and has served as Chairman and Member of many Boards of Directors throughout his career. Dr. Tang earned his BS in Chemistry from The College of William & Mary, his MS and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from LeHigh University, and his MBA in Strategy, Finance, & Entrepreneurship from The Wharton School.