With just under 30 women attending, Women in Healthcare management was proud to host our second summer event of the year. We had such an overwhelmingly positive response to our venue, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, that we chose to use them again!
Exceptional food and service all around!
It was an honor to meet so many members, and those who have not yet become members. There was a lot of talk around all of the tables, and I heard many connections and follow up’s being made throughout the group.
Happy Summer! The WHCM outdoor networking summer event was a great success at Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza on June 24th. What a wonderful way to spend a beautiful summer evening outside on the patio networking with 32 colleagues, acquaintances, and new and old friends!
Thank you to the members and nonmembers who attended and a special thank you to the 50% who responded to our follow-up survey. All survey responses were positive, describing the event as fun-filled with engaging and friendly conversations, interesting networking opportunities, and great food. All indicated they would attend a future WHCM event and several requested more events outside.
We listened! We look forward to seeing you at our next summer event on Thursday, August 15, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, 180 Needham Street, Newton, outside on the patio, weather permitting. Fingers crossed for more beautiful weather, otherwise, we’ll hold the event inside and either way it will be a fun and valuable experience.
Debbie Zirman
WHCM Vice-Chair Ladies enjoy some conversation on the outdoor patio.There was also a fire pit to gather around!Pictured (l-to-r): Debbie Zirman, our Co-chair, Jen Pendleton, our Chair, and Nancy Feeney, our Events Chair.
Recently I had the opportunity to attend a collaborative strategic development conference for service line development of new technology within our institution. I was skeptical to say the least, to see the span of attendees that would be joining from my institution. OR leadership, surgeons, pharma reps and leadership, and surgeons. Yikes, is this a recipe for conflict?
Through our daylong event, I was consistently wowed by not only our team, but other institutions in attendance, who worked through a myriad of development sessions and would re-group and debrief. The perspectives of each side voiced, heard, questions asked, plans developed! What an efficient day that I left from, buzzing with new ideas that would not have ever been possible without the joint work of all involved.
Strategic plan development for service lines consists of the “big picture”, goals, obstacles, details and of course a timeline. The discussions and collaboration that took place led to the outcome of setting 30, 60 and 90-day goals, a task we continued to struggle with for several months. Getting these players in the room together, and mapping out the individual wants and needs fed the discussion and ultimately, the plan development.
We never know what we don’t know, but through inclusion and breaking down silos, we will continue to be successful in the ever-changing healthcare landscape we are a part of. Don’t be afraid to welcome new faces to the table, don’t hesitate to ask the questions you don’t know the answer to and never let your assumptions drive the greater plan.
Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work ~Peter F. Drucker
Our spring forum team put together an engaging and topical panel discussion this past April. Moderator Claudine Swartz, a WHCM steering committee member, did a fantastic job moderating for a second year in a row; asking thoughtful questions, and playing off the conversation to keep each panelist engaged. As a marketing manager for a health system, the most interesting part to me was the discussion around encouraging patients to take control of their health, but concurrently how difficult it is to navigate the health system. How can we help patients to stay well given these complexities? Of particular interest was VAL Health’s VP of Business Development Georgia Buck and her discussion of Behavioral Economics – what makes people take an action? One concept we’ve tried to employ at my organization is that of the “tribe” mentality; meaning if you see that others
One of the “tribe” ads
(neighbors, friends) are doing something, you are more likely to do it too. We recently launched an ad campaign that had real community members (not actors) in it who were actually coming to us for their primary care, to create that tribe familiarity.
Others in our steering committee discussed with me their favorite takeaways – Jen Pendleton, our WHCM Chairwoman, mentioned what she enjoyed most and really resonated from the panel was identifying the New World order we are participating in within healthcare, i.e. consumerism. “I truly enjoyed all the work by each of the panelists… going into identifying transparency and pricing as well as choices of healthcare. Each panelist could define in their own business how they are wading the waters [of] this new business model of patients being customers.” Kristina Phillipson, a WHCM membership committee member, was also intrigued as I was by how behavioral economics can be applied to affect healthcare consumer behavior. “I heard in the panel discussion a real shift in perspective to seeing patients as consumers. Healthcare is going beyond seeing patients as just Medicare vs Commercial and paying more attention to the diverse needs of multiple consumer segments. The speakers did a great job explaining how healthcare organizations must respond to market segments while also trying to pivot some towards healthier behaviors.”
We hope to see you at our next forum or networking event!
There is nothing like ringing in the first month of the New Year with fellow women in healthcare. It is always an honor for me to meet our member and non-member attendees at these casual events, and January 29th’s event at Joe’s in Dedham did not disappoint! What a great group of 20+ guests sharing ideas and goals for 2019!
The message was clear, that healthcare, no matter how vast an institution – is a small world, it was great to see so many “I haven’t seen you in forever! Are you still working at ____?”
Thank you for those able to attend, and not getting scared by the “snowy” forecast.
We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Spring Forum event April 3!
Knowledge is your competitive advantage. In today’s challenging global economy where the most valuable asset is your knowledge, education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity – it is a prerequisite. As the economy continues to grow, companies need employees who can think critically, successfully manage change, and apply new skills using more complex technologies. Simultaneously, organizations must continue to improve the way they do business, retain and manage their talent pool, and apply new best practice models quickly in order to remain competitive and sustainable.
We know that change is constant. As a result, the need for a knowledgeable workforce – one that is best prepared to compete in this economy – is in demand. Acquiring new knowledge, learning new skills and applying new techniques can help you master the challenges of change and enable you to be more effective and innovative. Increased competence improves confidence, and begins when you take the first step, investing in your education.
Healthcare today is a complex, technical business that is rapidly evolving. Healthcare leaders not only need to stay current with medical and technological advances; they also need to develop the skills to successfully navigate the shifts from a more traditional fee-for-service business model to new patient-centric, team-based care. It’s critical that today’s healthcare leaders acquire the skills to navigate the medical, technological, economic and social factors driving these system changes, to effectively shape and positively influence the future of our healthcare system.
Certificate and/or certification programs are also another way to stay relevant in the workforce. Certificate programs may lead to designations and are registered with national and international certifying organizations. Certificate programs teach to a body of knowledge that may satisfy the educational requirements for various certifications. Examples of certificate programs are:
Innovative Healthcare Leadership*
Reengineering Healthcare – Healthcare Quality Process Improvement
Business Process Management
CyberSecurity
Design Thinking
Business Analyst
Human Resources
Project Management
Supply Chain Management
Today’s professionals need flexible solutions that fit their busy schedules, global work environments and preferred learning style. Learn online, anytime, anywhere, when the time is right for you!
To register or learn more about Bryant University’s online Innovative Healthcare Leadership Certificate, contact: Jocelyn Willis, Business Development Manager | 401.232.6249 | jwillis2@bryant.edu
*Scholarships may be available for next enrollment on January 7, 2018.
On Monday, November 5, a group of about 30 women descended on the town of Woburn, north of Boston, to network, share ideas and get to know each other. The food was fantastic! The intensity of the discussion around the room was palpable, as well as the excitement. Connections were made and overall the event was an absolute success! A huge thank you to all who were able to attend, and those that coordinated the evening!
WHCM Chair Jen Pendleton and Co-Chair Debbie Zirman with our banner!Women networking at the event
I was thrilled to see more than 50 supportive, excited ladies at our recent Fall Forum on October 3. It was a big night for our Women in Healthcare Management group, as we are entering into a “new year” with steering committee leadership and volunteers. This year, we decided to put additional structure around the needed volunteer positions, with job descriptions and time commitment asked of each position. We have asked ladies who volunteer for positions to commit to a year of helping out – October to October. At the October 3 dinner, we announced our new volunteers, and I was happy to introduce the very capable, very organized woman who will be taking over my role as President/Chairwoman, Jen Pendleton. I’ve served as Chair for 3.5 years, and before that, technology chair for 7. I have seen firsthand the positivity and sense of community around our events and the relationships that grow out of those events. There is much to be said for a community of women who lift each other up and support each other in times of need, and I will certainly be remaining an active member and part of the WHCM family.
I also wanted to briefly summarize our two breakout sessions from the Oct 3 Forum, presented by talented women who lent their time to grow the knowledge of our membership. We had Laura Willis, Brand Strategist / “Core” Counselor from a business she started, Encore Revolution, discuss personal brand and how to balance your true self with the image you present to your work and professional life. In the second session, we had Busayo Ola Ajayi, MS, SCP, SPHR, Director, Talent Acquisition, Diversity and Inclusion at Boston Medical Center and my friend Kaylee Davis, Business Development Manager from the Addison Group talk about getting hired – what are advanced strategies for finding and landing a job you love, and how to navigate that search/interview process.
I thought both sessions complimented and echoed each other. Kaylee and Busayo discussed the S curve career trajectory which happens to us at any job – at first the job is new and you are in the low part of the S – you don’t know much, then you are accelerating and learning, then leveling off again. You want to think about your next career step before you are ready to make your next move – this puts you at an advantage. They discussed words to use on your resume like ‘earned’, ‘saved’, ‘achieved’ and how what keywords you choose in your bio and on LinkedIn can help you shape your brand. Laura took the brand discussion one step further and linked it to interactions and networking. Whomever you are talking to is your “target audience” – you can build a communication bridge by finding common ground – pets and kids are usually good places to start. Think about the “so what” – you have XYZ as a strength, but what does that mean to the person you are talking to?
I look forward to the upcoming year and future networking events with all of you!
Blog post by outgoing WHCM Chairwoman Rachel Labas
We haven’t had a summer networking event in Boston in several years, so we decided to bring it back – Boston is so fun in the summer! Unfortunately, the torrential rains kept us from enjoying the outdoor patio, but close to 40 women showed up to network, and I was so happy to see new faces and meet a dozen new members, or ladies who were thinking about membership. One new member said she was “impressed by the caliber of professionals in attendance (even on a rainy day) and how open people were to offering career advice to others.”
What sets WHCM apart is that we are an organization run by women, with the purpose of helping other women in the industry. I am consistently proud of our membership, and their willingness to lift other women up – regardless of their position in the workplace or status. An interesting conversation theme I took part in at the event was discussing what other professional organizations our members belong to – one common theme is they were all were open to both men and women. But, many were involved with professional organizations specific to their field – healthcare finance or medical devices, for example. It seems like a good idea to join one general networking organization, like ours or perhaps the Boston Young Healthcare Professionals, and then one specific to your area of focus. And get involved! It’s a great way to meet people. Hope to see all my new connections (and more!) on October 3 at our Fall Forum.
Just like that, my son Dhruv has turned 1! As of this writing, he is almost 14 months. Wow!
I am trying to find a good metaphor for the last 11 months of being a full-time employee and full- time mom. A Roller Coaster ride seems appropriate, so does a stretched elastic band and being lost on an island. But I digress. Here, I reflect on my motherhood journey in the past 11 months.
First and foremost, it does take a village. I am forever indebted to my army of advisors (yoga teacher, doula, lactation consultant) and my girlfriends who helped me have child birth, breastfeeding and early parenting experiences I dreamt of. It was incredibly hard, both physically and emotionally, but having my village made me not quit. Paradoxically, being an immigrant living miles away from my real family and old friends by choice, I constantly question my choices and the implication of my choices on me and my husband as parents, and on my son. Questioning yourself becomes an intrinsic and unavoidable part of parenting. Goes something like this- Is he happy at day care? Should he be in daycare? Should I reduce my hours at work and stay home with him longer? You get the picture. It ebbs and flows – it has taken me some quiet time to realize that there is no absolute and there is no one right way of parenting and by extension of living life. I’ve also learned babies are amazingly malleable and resilient, and transitions are much harder on me as an adult than they are on him as a baby.
Welcoming the unsure messy parts is what makes parenting such a learning experience. I struggled less with the significantly increased volume of work (chores etc.) but rather with the unpredictability of a baby’s schedule. Learning to give up control is probably my biggest learning.
On its heels follows learning to compromise. It took me some time to be okay with not being able to “do it all”. I have reduced time for my spouse, family and friends, to exercise, to read, to focus on my career- to do all the things that I did before I had an infant. However, by not doing one thing also means I am choosing to do something, often related to the baby. And in the grand scheme of things, I am glad I made those choices. I chose to spend the time with my infant, because he is already a toddler!
Lastly, I’ve learned to ask for help. I’ve learned to champion for myself. In sleep deprived, guilt- laced moments, it is easy to get delusional about one’s own capacity and not pause to get a reality check. That is a dangerous slippery slope that I often remind myself to not get on. Having honest conversations with my spouse, my nanny, my manager at work has (I hope) helped them help me.
Motherhood is messy and magical. I am grateful to have had this wonderful experience and this adorable child that I call mine!
We are currently transitioning between membership systems and look forward to bringing you a more robust platform to connect in the near future. Thank you for your patience.