Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/576097
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT THOUGHT LEADERSHIP 153 to do it in a…patient-centered way so we can retain the patients. What do you consider your great- est talent or skill outside of the C-suite? I do a great Elvis imitation. [Laughter.] No, just joking. I have to tell you, one of the things my wife has been unimpressed with is how much time I have le over at the end of the work day. I can compete with just about anyone when it comes to parking it on a beach and reading and taking it easy. I am not a person who, when not at work, is training for an Ironman or composing a symphony. I'm good at unplugging and disconnecting when not at work. How do you revitalize yourself? I'm part of a big family. I'm lucky that my father is still alive and I have a large extended family, and I'm married and we have grown kids who are terrific. I'm lucky in my life with my family and friends. I also bike and read. What's one piece of advice you remember most clearly? It's less advice than a rule for living: Be happy with your work. As my career developed, I was given great opportunity, both with where I was and the kind of individuals I worked with. I learned a lot from patients and men- tors and have been lucky that although my career has led to increasing levels of complexity and responsibility, I've always found the work very, very satisfying. e fun of my position now is the very talented leadership team of mission-driven people I work with. ey have different ideas and perspectives on the best strategy to help the system and people we serve. ey're a very strong group of teammates, so even when stuff is flying, we're able to enjoy our- selves at work. Aside from having big goals and things to accomplish, you better get satis- faction out of your work, and I do. What do you consider your great- est achievement at Cook County Health & Hospitals System so far? I think the most important accomplish- ment is having assembled a leadership team that is gelling, talented, and has good experience from in our system and outside our system that can address huge complexities coming in healthcare in next couple of years. e biggest source of pride and satisfaction today is the leader- ship team I'm working with. n The HIT experts who make up S&P Consultants bring decades of perspective to your healthcare information technology challenges. Our consultants have held direct patient care, operational and technical positions at all levels of some of the industry's premier HIT Vendors, Consulting Firms and Health Systems. It's this experience, garnered by sitting on all sides of the table, which has allowed S&P Consultants to enable our clients to effectively manage their challenges for the last two decades. V I S I T O U R W E B S I T E W W W. S P C O N I N C .C O M SPC-046_becker_ad_r2.indd 1 3/9/15 2:38 PM