Leadership Circle events build a community for physician leaders to renew, collaborate
Clinicians spend years learning and refining their clinical practice, yet, as leaders, they rarely benefit from the same degree of intense study and community. Providing protected time and space for collaboration on executive vision and strategy, the AHA Physician Alliance convenes physician leaders for Leadership Circle sessions throughout the year. This community offers big-picture insights on emerging issues from thought-leaders — both in and outside of health care — as well as the opportunity to build a support network for clinicians balancing leadership responsibilities with clinical practice. The group also informs AHA on trends and issues unique to physician leaders.
Our first session covered artificial intelligence in health care and its impact on the evolution of physician leaders. Evolution is a good thing, and it’s even better with support. Just as the advent of autopilot redefined a pilot’s role to that of a risk-mitigation professional, physician leaders are finding their experience and training being called upon to address a different set of complex activities. Highlights from that discussion are here: Four must-know facts about AI, before it takes over your hospital.
Most recently, physician leaders discussed how health care delivery can address burnout while also returning joy and purpose of medicine to care teams. Although burnout is multifaceted and addressing it should be priority for organizations, removing it does not count as a win. Organizations must foster well-being so clinicians are equipped to manage change. This requires leadership – and full belief in addressing well-being as a strategic imperative. The Alliance developed a toolkit to help organizations self-assess where they are and what additional action is needed: The Well-Being Playbook: A Guide for Hospital and Health System Leaders, and highlights from the discussion are here: Three keys to recapture joy and purpose in medicine.
Physician leaders affiliated with AHA member organizations are invited to be part of these Leadership Circle events. Please email physicianalliance@aha.org to find out more about upcoming events and be part of this exclusive group.
Jay Bhatt, D.O., is senior vice president and chief medical officer of the American Hospital Association as well as president of the Health Research & Educational Trust. Elisa Arespacochaga is vice president of the AHA Physician Alliance.