Tag Archives: leadership

Women’s History is Now: Why We Must Keep Pushing Forward

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It’s the last week of Women’s History Month. I’ve been pondering what to write over the past week given the ongoing assault and threats to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts nationwide. Last year I wrote about the diversity initiatives in our health IT industry and was optimistic about what I saw happening.

If I’d written this year’s post a week ago, I would have been upbeat and inspiring having just heard our minister, the Reverend Susan Milnor, deliver a sermon titled “Trust Women”. She opened with these words:

“Lived experience is history in the making, and we know this about history.  As much as we would like for it to be linear progress toward justice and equity, it isn’t. Dominance and greed circle around again, and we have to challenge what’s asserted and enacted and propagandized.  The point of studying history isn’t just to be proud of the giants of the past; it is to be inspired for the work that still needs to be done, or done again.  Sadly, the struggles of our own time are beginning to sound way too much like those of the past. The good news is that there is so much inspiration, so much strength, in the lives of the women who came before.”

After talking about women who dedicated their lives to ensuring reproductive rights and the right to vote, she closed with these words:

“I hope we will learn the lessons of history that submission and compromise don’t get us very far, but courage does.  And I hope we won’t be in the fight alone.  It’s so important that men and nonbinary people join with women in solidarity.  

Perhaps in that advocacy, it’s time to leave aside complicated arguments and just insist on deep, spirit filled confidence.  Say it whenever you can. 

I trust women to make decisions about life. 

I trust women to use as much reason as others when they go into a voting booth. 

I trust women to serve on the Supreme Court, where they have largely outperformed a lot of men.  

I trust women in professions even if encouraged by a diversity effort because they are some of the most ethical professionals and most reliable workers.

I trust women to know what their last names are. (A reference to the proposed SAVE Act, introduced into Congress in February, which would create a federal voting requirement in which one’s birth certificate and current ID must be in the name.)

I trust that women are people, and their consent to being governed is needed. (A reference to one of the creators of Project 2025 saying we should return to women not having the right to vote.)

The work of seeking freedom and agency is holy work because it is the work of realizing a fuller humanity.  We can trust women never to give up. We have been here from the beginning, and we will rise, if necessary, again and again and again.”

If your weeks are anything like mine, I go up and down depending on what I read in the news and realize the many backward steps happening on so many fronts. Continue reading →

Guardrails Matter: Protecting Ethics, Trust, and Stability in Health IT

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I don’t know about you, but my head is spinning these days. So much happening at such an incredible speed. While it may sound like I’m talking about the typical workday for health IT leaders in fast paced organizations, I’m referring to the bigger picture of our federal government under the new administration. I’ve not written a blog in several weeks – in part for loss of words and in part because I’ve had a partial work break spending time in warmer climates.

In the spirit of amplifying important messages from others, my re-entry to blogging is to share an important blog written recently by my StarBridge Advisors colleague, David Muntz – “Protecting Trusted Guardrails: The Perils of Removing Essential Protections”. David has firsthand experience working in the federal government. He left his CIO role at Baylor Health in 2012 to accept a White House appointment to serve as the first Principal Deputy National Coordinator and CIO at ONC (Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator) through the following year. He was a member of HHS’ Chief of Staff Council and Chair of the Federal Health Architecture and mHealth Councils.

The message in his blog is a strong one that health IT leaders can relate to.

Guardrails, whether physical, organizational, or ethical exist for a reason. They safeguard patient safety, data privacy, free expression, and public trust while ensuring that critical institutions operate with integrity and accountability. When these safeguards are dismantled or weakened, the risks to individuals, organizations, and society become profound.

David explores the vital role of independent oversight, regulatory protections, and ethical leadership, drawing on his decades of experience in healthcare, government service, and executive leadership. Recent mass firings and policy shifts raise urgent concerns about transparency, security, and long-term stability.

Key questions that apply to our work as health IT leaders:

  • What happens when critical oversight is removed?
  • How do we ensure ethical governance in a rapidly evolving world?
  • What are the long-term consequences of dismantling trusted institutions?

Now more than ever, we must stand for principled leadership, responsible governance, and a commitment to the greater good. We must uphold the values that sustain our institutions and protect our future.

I encourage you to read his blog and as always stay informed, vigilant and engaged.

Related Posts:

Finding truth post-election: staying informed, vigilant and engaged

From MLK to Today: Defending Democracy, Diversity, and Justice Together

 

From MLK to Today: Defending Democracy, Diversity, and Justice Together

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The irony of Martin Luther King Day and this presidential inauguration falling on the same day is one that’s hard to wrap my head around. So, I was glad to see there were several local events over the MLK holiday weekend sponsored by the No Place for Hate committee in our town.

My husband and I attended a free showing of the 2018 documentary, “I Am MLK, Jr.” on Friday night. (You can find it on various streaming services at home). What a powerful story it told. In just 12 years and 4 months, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a profound impact on our democracy and fight for social justice.

Seeing that movie made me wonder what Dr. King would say if he were alive and witnessing the inauguration today.

On Sunday afternoon, we attended a program that included a keynote from Reverend Rahsaan D. Hall, President and CEO of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts. At an earlier weekend rally in Boston, the Boston Globe quoted Reverend Hall as saying in response to the new administration, “We’ll double down on the three D’s of defending democracy, demanding diversity, and defeating poverty” as their north star. On Sunday, he delivered a passionate talk with a closing message that emphasized repeatedly that change takes total participation.

Yes, the fight for social justice continues and it does take total participation. Some of Dr. King’s most famous quotes are especially poignant as we prepare for this next administration:

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?”

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

“The time is always right to do what is right.”

Shortly after the election I bought two of Timothy Snyder’s books, “On Tyranny – Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century” and “On Freedom”. But I’ve hesitated to jump in. As this new administration becomes reality and we see more clearly what lies ahead, I decided it was time to read “On Tyranny”. I read it in a little over an hour on Saturday and I highly recommend it. Some of the key lessons: don’t obey in advance, support institutions, believe in truth, and contribute to good causes.

On Sunday night, we watched a virtual event sponsored by Red Wine & Blue – “Keep Calm and Listen to Heather Cox Richardson: Inauguration Eve”. It was just what we needed. Richardson writes a daily newsletter called, Letters from an American, which is also available as a podcast. For well over a year, I have made reading her letter my first “to do” with a cup of coffee each morning. As a history professor, last night she put things into perspective and reminded us that small groups of people can change history.

Red Wine & Blue sounds like they are trying to do just that – their website describes them as, “A national community of over half a million diverse suburban women working together to defeat extremism, one friend at a time. We train and connect women from across the country of all political backgrounds – including many who have never been political before – to get sh*t done and have fun along the way.” In what they call TroubleNation, they already have over 500 chapters for grassroots community organizing in 49 states.

As I’ve closed some of my past blog posts, now more than ever we need to stay informed, engaged and vigilant.

Related Posts:

Finding truth post-election: staying informed, vigilant and engaged

Martin Luther King Day and why it matters – 2020

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – why it matters

Hate has no place

Staying Positive, Telling the Truth, and Defending Care: Timely Advice for Health Leaders

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In the weeks following the November 5th election, I significantly reduced my news intake, but I continue to read and stay informed as I encourage everyone to do. Objective perspective and advice on how to navigate the changes we are going through as a country is always welcome. I was struck last week by an insightful article that one of our best healthcare leaders wrote. I’ve highlighted his articles in the past in this blog. His latest is one of the best things I’ve read in recent weeks. You guessed it – I’m talking about Michael Dowling, President and CEO at Northwell Health.

On this 4th anniversary of what has become known as “January 6” or simply “J6” on social media, and as we watch the way a peaceful transition of power is supposed to be, Dowling’s advice to healthcare leaders is timely. In the article, “Michael Dowling: 6 priorities for health leaders in a new era of change and disruption”, published in Becker’s Hospital Review on January 2nd, he discusses 6 key areas to consider:

  1. Maintain a positive attitude.
  2. Tell our positive story.
  3. Be a conveyor of truth.
  4. Be supportive of new opportunities.
  5. Defend access to care.
  6. Values matter.

While they all resonate with me, #3 really strikes a chord as we consider some of the potential new faces who will be leading and influencing healthcare in the new administration. As Dowling says: “We must never waver from our responsibility to preserve credibility and trust in evidence-based science. Scientific discoveries and their resulting treatments have had profound, positive benefits in increasing the lifespan of people worldwide. We must not be afraid to denounce skeptics who promote misinformation and stoke public fears.”

The last point is also a powerful one for me, yes, values do matter. As Dowling says: “Now more than ever, we as healthcare leaders need to promote the values of decency, respect, integrity, honesty and trust. We must be positive role models who embrace a sense of unity, togetherness and community — not anger and resentment.”

Leadership is hard. Staying true to your values is hard. But we owe it to those we serve.

Related Posts:

Towards a more civil society

The healing power of humanity

Finding truth post-election: staying informed, vigilant and engaged

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It has been over a week since the election. For some of us, an incredibly long week of processing our reactions and considering how we go forward. My first response was disbelief and dread. Then came the sadness. As the days go by, I am thinking more and more about how to continue to have a voice and make a difference. I won’t just sit by and watch. I want to help make a better future for our Nation and for the World.

Misinformation played a big part in our elections. As I said in 2016, we must stay informed, be vigilant and engaged. Separating the facts from fiction is more important now than in the past.

If you share my concern about the level of misinformation, I offer a few resources to consider adding to your reading or listening list.

Heather Cox Richardson writes a daily newsletter called, Letters from an American, which is also available as a podcast. For well over a year, I have made reading her letter my first “to do” with a cup of coffee each morning. As a history professor, she is a master at framing the events of the day in a historical context. The November 12th letter was a master class in “careful what you ask for”. It was downright chilling to read.

Joyce Vance writes a daily newsletter called, Civil Discourse. She is a former United States Attorney, currently a law professor and a legal analyst for MSNBC and NBC. She also co-hosts two podcasts, #SistersInLaw and Cafe’s Insider. As she says, “I believe that being a citizen is the most important work any of us can do. As citizens, a key part of our role is to educate ourselves and stay informed”. She focuses a lot on the legal issues, so I don’t always get through her newsletter but the one dated November 9th, “The Importance of Information” is well worth reading to understand the level and impact of disinformation in 2024.

Yes, you may consider these two sources liberal and want more centrist or both-sided sources, but I am looking for big picture context from fact-based, credible resources to inform and inspire me. If you have other recommendations, I’m open.

A friend and former colleague during my Michigan days recently shared on Facebook that she regularly reads Tangle. They self-describe as a “non-partisan politics newsletter giving a 360-degree view on the news – opinions from the left, right and center so you can decide”. As they say, “unbiased news for busy people”. I just subscribed to check it out.

And as social media platforms are evolving, I’m ready to make my move from X to Bluesky. It’s well past time for that given what X has become.

The future is what we make it. To stand idly by and watch is not in my nature. That’s why I use a wide range of sources, treating each with a bit of skepticism, working to develop a Truth that will help benefit the Greater Good based on facts and evidence supported by optimism. We can always be better – individually and collectively. I will continue to support organizations and political leaders who share my values and sense of purpose.

Your Voice is Your Power: Standing Up for Democracy in a Divisive Election Season

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As we go about our daily work and home life, who can forget that there is an election going on? Even if you are not watching or reading the news you can’t escape it. Nor should you. This is probably the most consequential presidential election of our lifetime. We all must ask ourselves what kind of world we want for our children and grandchildren. Who speaks to our values? Who can we trust with our future and our democracy?

If you know me or are a regular reader of my blog, you know my answer. Yes, I have a button that says, “We are not going back”. And I have my “I voted early” sticker. With this consequential election a week away, I can’t be silent.

I proudly display my RBG art in my home workspace where she is visible over my shoulder on all my zoom calls and podcast interviews. It is often a conversation starter with both men and women when they see it for the first time.

While we may want to shy away from speaking out and openly supporting the candidate of our choice, I have great respect for people who are willing to publicly state their support for Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz as our next President and Vice President. This includes a growing list of business leaders. And not to be ignored, many long-standing Republican leaders and former Trump administration officials are warning us based on their first-hand knowledge and experience that he is unfit to lead and a danger to our democracy.

I am encouraged to see healthcare leaders willing to post their very insightful support for the Harris/Walz ticket on LinkedIn which is supposed to be a professional network and not political. Continue reading →

Championing DEI – personal stories and lessons from leaders

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We learn from our own experiences, and we learn from other’s experiences when they are willing to share their stories. The impetus behind starting this blog was to share and help teach others, especially next generation leaders.  I have shared lessons learned both professionally and personally over the years. And I have shared many stories along the way.

My latest contribution in this sharing space is based on my ongoing commitment to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. As a member of the CHIME DEI committee for the past few years, I’ve come to know many colleagues in deep ways as we share our stories with each other and work to educate the broader CHIME community.

The newest offering from the committee is a video series called “Inclusive Insights: Personal Stories of Diversity in Action”. An insightful interview with Cletis Earle last month was the first in the series. Cletis is the CHIME DEI Committee Co-Chair and former SVP and CIO at Penn State Health and College of Medicine. I encourage you to view it here. He covered how DEI played a role in his career, why organizations should not turn away from DEI, how he advocates for DEI at work and in his community, and shares advice for colleagues trying to enhance diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in their organizations.

I’m honored to be the second person in the series to share my story – it is available here. I covered common myths and misperceptions about DEI, challenges I have faced in my career and how I overcame them, the role that mentorship and sponsorship play in fostering diversity and inclusion, the role of allies, and more.

When I first joined CHIME as a new CIO in 2000, the makeup of the group was very different from what it is today. There is far more diversity among health IT leaders today compared to back then. CHIME’s explicit commitment to DEI in recent years through the committee’s work and the programming at in-person conferences is encouraging.

We have made progress but there is more work to be done. We’re in it together.

Related Posts:

The transformative power of bold leadership in healthcare

Celebrating Women’s History Month: Championing Diversity in Health IT

One year later – an increased focus on diversity, equity and inclusion

Maximizing health IT investments requires a holistic approach

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Evaluating the value of IT investments in healthcare is a significant challenge for health IT leaders and their organizations. With the growing demand for digital health solutions and the increasing interest in AI, establishing a comprehensive IT investment valuation process has become crucial for health systems both large and small. My colleague at StarBridge Advisors, David Muntz, recently wrote an excellent blog post describing what we call the VOI framework – “An Effective Strategy for Valuing HIT Investments”.

Traditional metrics like ROI, IRR, and TCO are often used to assess IT investments. While these financial measures are important, relying solely on them can be insufficient. As David outlines in his blog, StarBridge Advisors has developed a Value of Investment (VOI) framework that combines traditional financial metrics with additional elements that capture the broader impact of IT investments.

I encourage you to read David’s entire blog post where he expands on these core elements of the VOI framework:

    1. Flexibility: Modern IT solutions provide new capabilities, such as using smartphones to locate the nearest mobile imaging device or utilizing AI for image evaluation with high precision. This flexibility improves operational efficiency and patient care.
    2. Intangibles: Non-physical assets like clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and brand loyalty play a crucial role. Personal stories that highlight the human impact of IT investments often provide the most compelling evidence of value.
    3. Social Value: IT solutions that meet patient and family needs, such as enabling control over care environments or providing interpreter services, significantly enhance patient experiences and outcomes.
    4. Risk Management: Effective risk management is essential to achieving the anticipated value of IT investments. The framework identifies nine risk categories with targeted questions to help organizations determine acceptable risk levels.
    5. Accountability: Ensuring that those responsible for implementing and using the IT asset are accountable for achieving results that drive continuous improvement and better outcomes.

Additional analyses include stakeholder impact, capability-based assessment, market positioning, strategic alignment, and intellectual capital.

Evaluating IT investments requires a comprehensive approach. StarBridge Advisors offers the expertise and tools to help you develop and deploy a personalized VOI framework. David and I are happy to explore with you how we can help you maximize your investment.

Related Posts:

What do healthcare CEOs want from technology in 2024 and beyond?

Beyond cost cutting: Health IT’s role in financial health

 

Building bridges for success: the role of interim leaders in healthcare IT

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I have written in the past about interim management in terms of when it makes sense for an organization and shared some lessons from my own experience. Following my career as a CIO at two leading academic health systems, I have served four different healthcare providers as an interim leader – three as CIO, one as CTO. As a principal at StarBridge Advisors the past 7 plus years, I have placed and overseen interim IT leaders at many healthcare organizations. I know firsthand how interim leaders provide an important bridge during leadership transitions and can make a significant impact on an organization in a short time.

I recently had the opportunity to do an interview with the Advisory Board on interim management. We covered a lot of ground together. Some of the highlights from our discussion:

    • Rising Executive Turnover in Healthcare: healthcare organizations are grappling with a 66% increase in hospital CEO exits in 2023 and there is a resulting surge in demand for interim leaders.
    • Role of Interim Leaders: interim leaders play a critical role in steering organizations through transitions, making quick assessments, and delivering tangible results within a six-month timeframe.
    • Preparing for Transition: clear communication and preparation are needed when bringing on an interim leader, including briefing books, townhall meetings, and the support of the hiring executive is critical.
    • Driving Long-Term Improvements: organizations can leverage the expertise of interim leaders to drive sustainable change, focusing on agreed-upon areas of improvement and setting the stage for the permanent leader’s success.

The Advisory Board article, How to navigate executive turnover: A Q&A with StarBridge Advisors’ Sue Schade (advisory.com), is available to non-members if you set up a free account.

When your organization has a critical IT leadership gap, turn to StarBridge Advisors. We can make available to you fully vetted, world-class healthcare IT executives, inclusive of CIOs, CISOs, CMIOs, CNIOs, CTOs, and others. And if you choose to use an internal interim, we can provide coaching support to them to ensure they are well positioned to be successful in the role. Our advisors all come from health system backgrounds and have a wealth of knowledge and experience which often stretches far beyond the provider space.

Related Posts:

Bridge Builders: Interim Management Solutions for Health Systems

Talent shortage? Great resignation? Interim leaders can help

Interim Management – Providing a Bridge During Transition

When an interim CIO makes sense

Stepping into an interim leadership role

Celebrating Women’s History Month: Championing Diversity in Health IT

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What better time than Women’s History Month to highlight the many initiatives lifting up women in our health IT industry.

It has been 10 years since I started speaking out more publicly as a health IT professional about women’s issues though I am a long-time feminist having come of age during the women’s movement of the 1970s. In 2014, I was asked to do a keynote talk on a topic of my choice at a 200-person health IT conference. It was one of those vendor sponsored, invitation only events. I was the speaker during the first night’s dinner. I titled my talk: “Our Future Workforce – Unlocking the Potential”. I talked about the fact that not enough women were going into STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields and the need to encourage and support women at all levels. Prior to the talk I wrote this post – Technology, where are all the women? – and afterwards I wrote this one describing the positive response to my talk – Women and technology, part 2 – from an audience that was probably 80% men!

When I launched this blog several months before that talk in 2014, I made sure to create a category called “On Women and Work” knowing I’d be periodically writing about women’s issues, and not just in March each year.

Fast forward to 2024. I am certainly not a lone voice in our industry. Many women focused initiatives have emerged. Here are just a few to highlight: Continue reading →