A critical conversation by the Child Health Advisory Council, work force shortages are real and solutions that impact the causes and enable programmatic solutions are years in the making. The obvious and obscure issues impacting student and resident decisions, sharper declines in MD student vs DO and FMG graduate subspecialty decisions, and strategies and best practices for leaders to incorporate into their student and trainee experiences are all address in this Insight.
Successful communication is about listening, being open and maintaining confidentiality, according to Dr. Arnie Strauss.
Listen to the Child Health Advisory Council members discuss their experiences and learn how to build trust with your teams using the communication tactics that matter most.
Host: Wesley D. Millican, MBA
Moderator: Craig Hillemeier, MD
Council members in attendance: F. Bruder Stapleton, MD; Valerie Opipari, MD; Bruce Rubin, MD; Arnold Strauss, MD; Robert Sawin, MD
Balancing Clinical Demands in Small Pediatric Divisions
Managing clinical workloads in small divisions requires creative solutions to ensure sustainable coverage, support faculty well-being and maintain high-quality patient care. In this Pediatric Insight episode, members of CareerPhysician’s Child Health Advisory Council share practical approaches to managing call schedules, sharing coverage, leveraging internal and external partnerships and supporting faculty recruitment and retention.
Panelists from our CHAC specialty advisors include Randy Cron, MD; Lewis First, MD; Craig Derkay, MD; Susan Apkon, MD; Jim Moore, MD, PhD, MPH; and Rich Ruddy, MD.
Watch the Conversation.
Meet the Panel.
Wesley D. Millican, MBA
CEO and Physician Talent Officer, CareerPhysician
F. BRUDER STAPLETON, MD
Professor and Chair Emeritus, University of Washington School of Medicine; Chair, Child Health Advisory Council
JOHN FROHNA, MD, MPH
Interim Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine
SUE APKON, MD
Professor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado School of Medicine
RANDY CRON, MD, PhD
Professor, Pediatrics and Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham
CRAIG DERKAY, MD
Vice Chair, Otolaryngology, Eastern Virginia Medical School
LEWIS FIRST, MD
Professor and Chair Emerita, Pediatrics, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine
JIM MOORE, MD, PhD, MPH
Professor, Pediatrics, University of Connecticut
Richard M. Ruddy, MD
Professor, Pediatrics, UC College of Medicine
Learn more about the Child Health Advisory Council. Click here.
Have a question or a topic you’d like us to discuss in a future conversation? Send us an email.
Leaders are increasingly stressed by the amount of work and responsibilities. Time management and the need to develop work-life balance are a common challenge. Today’s conversation, by a group of experienced leaders, reflects on how they utilized time to maximize efficiency. The discussion highlights that one can’t managetime; we can only manage how we usethe 24 hours in a day that is available to us. The importance of developing a strong leadership team and learning to delegate decisions were highlighted. The leaders emphasized the importance of owning your day and prioritizing the most important tasks required for successfully leading and for meeting one’s personal goals. Areas that usurp time include: the volume of emails, interruptions, meetings, emergencies and social media. Practical approaches that were developed during their careers were discussed.
Host: Wesley Millican, MBA
Moderator: F. Bruder Stapleton, MD
Council in attendance: Arnold Strauss, MD; Robert Sawin, MD; Danielle Laraque-Arena, MD; Craig Hillemeier, MD
Transitioning out of a leadership role is a personal decision. In this week’s Pediatric Insight episode, the Child Health Advisory Council members talk about when and how they decided it’s time to transition out of a role. A candid discussion about how age, organization readiness, leadership pipeline and joy for the role come into play when deciding to leave. Also, they answer:
What surprises did they experience during leadership transitions?
What mistakes have they seen in leadership transitions?
Host: Wesley D. Millican, MBA
Moderator: Craig Hillemeier, MD
Council members in attendance:
Christine Gleason, MD
Valerie Opipari, MD
Robert Sawin, MD
F. Bruder Stapleton, MD
Arnold Strauss, MD
Virtual interviews are here to stay. They’re cost-effective and easier to schedule; however, can you gauge if a candidate is a fit virtually? Dive into this week’s Pediatric Insight podcast where the Child Health Advisory Council discusses their experiences and the do’s and don’ts they’ve gleaned from those for both candidates and interviewers. Moderated by Dr. Bruder Stapleton, they discuss:
Best practices for virtual hiring for candidates and interviewers
Common pitfalls to avoid
How to build a strong team from anywhere
Host: Wesley D. Millican, MBA
Moderator: F. Bruder Stapleton, MD
Child Health Advisory members: Valerie Opipari, MD; Craig Hillemeier, MD; Arnold Strauss, MD; Danielle Laraque-Arena, MD; Bruce Rubin, MD; Robert Sawin, MD
During the recruitment process, social events during campus visits are critical in assessing candidate engagement, executive presence and general connectivity with your faculty and leaders. Planned social engagement opportunities allow candidates to better appreciate your culture and to develop the chemistry and sense of belonging that will be key in your efforts to successfully recruit them. In this podcast moderated by Christine Gleason, MD, the Child Health Advisory Council (CHAC) discusses social recruitment strategies that ensure outstanding candidate experiences. They delve into the delicate balance of social issues such as who to invite, having wine at dinner and other appropriate questions that maximize social engagement.
Moderator: Christine Gleason, MD
Child Health Advisory Council members on the panel: Valerie Opipari, MD; Arnold (Arnie) Strauss, MD; F. Bruder Stapleton, MD; Danielle Laraque-Arena, MD; Robert Sawin, MD; Craig Hillemeier, MD
Considering the Global Health Requests of Pediatric Faculty Candidates
Our latest Pediatric Insight is an insightful discussion on global health initiatives with special guest, Amelie von Saint Andre-von Arnim, MD, UW/Seattle Children’s Director, Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Critical Care – Kenya. Dr. von Saint Andre-von Arnim and the Child Health Advisory Council discuss the realities and benefits of supporting candidates’ desires to share knowledge, research and patient care experiences across the globe. Moderated by Dr. Bruce Rubin, who has supported pediatric care delivery in Ukraine during the conflict, the council brings a unique perspective on the ROI of international health exchanges and programs.
Moderator: Bruce Rubin, MEngr, MD, MBA, FRCPC
Guest contributor: Amelie von Saint Andre-von Arnim, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Critical Care, University of Washington/ Seattle Children’s and University of Washington, Director, Pediatric Emergency and Critical Care, Kenya and Seattle, WA, USA
Child Health Advisory Council members on the panel: Valerie Opipari, MD; Arnold (Arnie) Strauss, MD; F. Bruder Stapleton, MD; Danielle Laraque-Arena, MD; Robert Sawin, MD and Craig Hillemeier, MD
Transitioning out of a leadership role is a personal decision. In this week’s Pediatric Insight episode, the Child Health Advisory Council members talk about when and how they decided it’s time to transition out of a role. A candid discussion about how age, organization readiness, leadership pipeline and joy for the role come into play when deciding to leave. Also, they answer:
•What surprises did they experience during leadership transitions?
•What mistakes have they seen in leadership transitions?
Career Physician and the Child Health Advisory Council are firmly committed to capturing the leadership wisdom of current and emeritus pediatric chiefs and chairs and to passing it on to current and future generations. With the current shortages in leadership, many young pediatric leaders are being pressed into service early. We have seen firsthand how the Pediatric Insight positively impacts the legacies of leaders and the faculty and patients they serve.
Episode 62 - Managing Workloads in Small Divisions
Oct 22, 2026 • 00:30:58
In this Pediatric Insight episode, members of CareerPhysician’s Child Health Advisory Specialty Council share practical approaches to managing call schedules, sharing coverage, leveraging internal and external partnerships and supporting faculty recruitment and retention.
Episode 61 - The Intersection of Workforce Shortages and Competitive Leadership Compensation
Sep 18, 2026 • 00:32:58
In this Pediatric Insight conversation, CareerPhysician CEO and Chief Talent Officer, Wesley Millican, is joined by members of the Child Health Advisory Council (CHAC) to discuss why leaders need to understand the market and build the case for competitive compensation before a critical recruitment or retention decision arises.
Episode 60 - Academic Funds Flows and Faculty Compensation
Aug 20, 2026 • 00:32:37
In this episode, the Child Health Advisory Council (CHAC) tackles an important topic for all pediatric leaders, Academic Funds Flows and Faculty Compensation.
Episode 59 - The Final Decision
Jul 30, 2026 • 00:28:48
In this Pediatric Insight, the Child Health Advisory Council (CHAC) members share factors that influence the final decision and how institutions can create the trust and transparency that lead to successful recruitment.
Episode 58 - GME Leadership Qualities
Jul 15, 2026 • 00:32:49
What separates a good program director from a great one? From being present and approachable to understanding clinical realities, their insights spark a candid conversation with the Child Health Advisory Council (CHAC) that's packed with practical advice on recruiting, developing and retaining exceptional GME leaders.
Episode 57 - Candidate Obligations During the Search Process
May 28, 2026 • 00:26:05
In the latest Pediatric Insight, council members discuss the candidate’s obligations during the search process and how professionalism, transparency and protecting relationships all play a role.
Episode 56 - Building a Competitive Recruitment Package Part 2 Pitfalls
May 7, 2026 • 00:17:28
Council members discuss common pitfalls that can derail making a deal with a candidate and how to avoid them.
Episode 55 - Managing Up - The Art of Building a Competitive Recruitment Package
Apr 16, 2026 • 00:19:41
How do you approach negotiations with candidates? Hear from the Child Health Advisory Council (CHAC) on what they prioritized, how they balanced internal needs, and non-traditional ways they put together packages that set the foundation for long-term success.
Episode 54 - Navigating the Finalist Visit
Mar 20, 2026 • 00:24:37
The recruitment process can be long in academic child health but it’s critical to pay even more attention to the final visit as you did for the first one. This is a time of a deep bidirectional conversation, evaluation and understanding of future needs and goals for both candidates and…
Episode 53: Family and Partner Considerations During Recruitment of Academic Faculty - Part 2
Mar 5, 2026 • 00:23:45
The conversation highlights the importance of early communication, collaboration across departments, and recognizing the many factors that influence a candidate's decision to join and stay with an institution.
Have a question or a topic you’d like us to discuss? Send us an email.
