Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/593112
30 EXECUTIVE LEADERSHP tions and companies who play such an important role in bringing new discoveries from labs to patients' bedsides; to the advocates, government representatives and donors who pave the way for expanding our knowledge of medicine: ank you for your un- wavering dedication. Your talents, skills and compassion bring hope to our patients and families, and I am truly grateful for your enduring commitment to finding new treatments and cures. It is amazing to see the healing that takes place within our walls thanks to the strong efforts of this global community. Brett D. Lee CEO of Tenet Healthcare's Dallas Market Friends, I was raised by parents who were both practicing clinicians, and they instilled in me at a very early age the virtues of a life in service to others. One of my mother's favorite sayings was, "When you work to meet the needs of those around you, you will satisfy your own needs in the process." She must have said this to me a thousand times while I was growing up, but it was not until I became a caregiver and healthcare leader myself that I truly came to appreciate the meaning behind the words. We have the tremendous privilege as healthcare profession- als to provide support to our neighbors when they are going through some of the most vulnerable times in their lives. It is a frightening prospect to be a patient in a hospital, and it can be a tremendously helpless feeling to put your wellbeing and those of your loved ones in the hands of people you don't know. rough the lending of our expertise, our time or even just our kind smiles, we can turn a potentially traumatic experience for our patients into a warm memory. As a CEO, I have the plea- sure of seeing each of you achieve this tremendous transforma- tion every day with those who come to us for care, and I continue to be awed at the hard work and dedication I see at every level in our organization. Our industry is in the midst of some truly fundamental changes. e care delivery model will undoubtedly look very dif- ferent five years from now, but even in light of this evolution, cer- tain elements remain constant. Healthcare, at its core, will always be a business of building and maintaining trust. Your gis help us earn the trust that our patients place in us, and I am thankful every day that you have chosen to share those gis with our com- munity and our organization. anks so much for all you do. Brett Nancy Schlichting CEO of Henry Ford Health System (Detroit) e celebration of our 100th anniversary is a perfect time to reflect on what has made Henry Ford Health System one of the most highly regarded health systems in the country for a century. And that answer is very simple — our people. I choose to express my deepest gratitude to the 30,000 mem- bers of our Henry Ford team — our employees, physicians and volunteers — because they truly represent the best of the best. I oen say that working in healthcare is one of the toughest jobs there is — and when you add to that the fact that for the last decade we have worked in the state hit hardest by the recession, where corporate and city bankruptcies made this the toughest environment in the country — there is no question that the peo- ple of Henry Ford are extraordinary! I began my career in healthcare directly out of college as a minimum wage worker, and held a number of jobs between nurse's aide and chief executive. e universal lesson I learned from each position is that every individual in an organization matters. I have witnessed this daily for nearly 40 years in the healthcare industry. at is why I can say with great sincerity that this is both a thank-you note and a love letter to the employees, physicians and volunteers of Henry Ford Health System. Gary Kaplan, MD Chairman and CEO of Virginia Mason Health System (Seattle) I am thankful for so much in my personal life and career, it's difficult to acknowledge everyone to whom I owe a debt of gratitude. First and foremost, I am thankful for my wife and family. eir love and support have always been a rock-solid foundation and a wellspring of inspiration for me. Secondly, I am fortunate to have served as chairman and CEO of Virginia Mason Health System since 2000. I have the privilege to work closely with highly skilled and thoughtful individuals who are committed to continuously improving healthcare, providing a remarkable experience for our patients and making a lasting difference in people's lives. I am especially grateful for our team's determination to use their successes to fuel their dedication to accomplishing even more, rather than resting on their laurels. Last, but certainly not least, I am thankful and very proud to have become a physician 35 years ago. Being a medical doctor is truly a privilege. Michael J. Dowling President and CEO of North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System (soon to be known as Northwell Health) (Great Neck, N.Y.) Albert Schweitzer said: "We should all be thankful for those people in our lives who rekindle the inner spirit." For those of us in healthcare, it is essential that this list of people be a long and diverse one. ose who have a positive im- pact on us enable us to achieve our full potential and influence others. I would argue that there is no industry where this is more