Case Study
Accelerating a Physician Leader's Time to Impact
It’s an incredible time for leaders in healthcare, in both positive and negative ways. On the downside, modern healthcare leaders confront concerning issues ranging from clinician burnout, a highly competitive external marketplace, and organizational conundrums ranging from staffing shortages to workplace violence. On the bright side, what an amazing time to be a healthcare executive! Leaders see breakthroughs happening almost daily, whether through AI, gene therapy, operational innovations, or new means of patient care.
Physician executives play an increasingly important role in this time of transformation. They are being asked to do more as department chairs, chiefs, CMOs, and even CEOs. However, the shift from clinical to executive positions involves a substantial personal and professional transformation for physicians, demanding competencies and insights not typically imparted during medical education, decades of bedside experience, or even M.H.A. or M.B.A. programs.
Physician leaders require assistance, especially in transitioning into senior leadership roles. This is where WittKieffer can help. Through our Accelerating Impact for Physician Leaders program, we help newly placed physician leaders – CEOs, CMOs, and other C-suite executives – achieve rapid and enduring effectiveness through hands-on, personalized support during the transition process.
The most compelling differentiator for our program is that it provides physician leaders coaching from experienced, credentialed leadership consultants plus direct consultation with experienced, highly successful physician leaders themselves. Read more on WittKieffer’s Accelerating Impact for Physician Leaders offering.
Case Study: Giving a New Physician CEO a Much-Needed Boost
A recent engagement with a newly promoted physician CEO at a prominent Pacific Northwest academic medical center illustrated just how effective this kind of program can be. The client, a newly appointed physician CEO, had a long tenure at the institution as a distinguished chair and trusted clinician. The strengths that allowed her to thrive in the chair role included being a deeply respected clinician/surgeon and being recognized as an approachable and empathetic leader. Because of these competencies, she was asked to serve in an interim CEO capacity when the chief executive position opened up. Soon the organization removed the interim tag and made her the permanent CEO.
There was one problem: The new CEO had never had any sort of formal leadership training, with most of her career spent as a practicing physician. What she had accomplished in administrative roles was based on her strong instincts, sharp intellect, and well-honed “soft” skills. It was clear to her – and the board who hired her – that in assuming the CEO position she could immensely benefit from coaching, mentoring, and onboarding support. The thinking was: Why not accelerate her time to success, leveraging the strengths that made her an exceptional clinician and addressing challenges that are unique to physicians taking on senior leadership roles?
The organization contacted WittKieffer’s Leadership Advisory team and asked it to create a structured, customized program for the physician CEO. The objective was to help acclimate the CEO and equip her with a road map for short-term success while developing her skills and knowledge to lead the hospital effectively for years to come.
Goals and Structure
The program to accelerate her impact consisted of:
- Goal Setting: Objectives for expediting her impact as CEO were derived from interviews with WittKieffer consultants combined with market-specific leadership assessments and aligned to the strategic objectives of the organization
- Dedicated Action Development Sessions: Four sessions were planned over 4-6 months:
- Kick Off: An in-person session with “coach” and physician mentor to initiate the program.
- Three Coaching Sessions: Hosted by an experienced coach, these meetings focused on leadership development and strategic planning.
- One Physician Mentor Session: Conducted by one of WittKieffer’s experienced physician executives, this session provided guidance from someone who could share insights unique to physician leaders.
- Close and Wrap Up: Reviewed progress and set future objectives.
- Ongoing Development Coaching: Additional support was made available beyond the structured sessions.
The program was designed to address the unique challenges of transitioning from an academic chair to a CEO role, focusing on executive-level responsibilities and hospital management. The curriculum was designed to address specific leadership competencies, strategic goal-setting, and effective management practices.
Outcomes
The transition into the CEO role has gone extremely well. The hospital’s KPIs are all tracking strong, senior system leaders are pleased, and the leader is now being seen as “THE CEO,” not simply the interim.
The Accelerating Impact for Physician Leaders program’s structure and personalized approach were instrumental in her seamless transition and ongoing success. The combination of goal-setting, coaching, and mentorship proved to be a powerful accelerator for her leadership journey. For this particular CEO, it truly is an incredible time to be a healthcare leader.