Financial management is often an area that physician leaders have not yet developed experience prior to assuming their leadership role. The complexity of clinical reimbursements, research funding sources and institutional compensations has greatly increased the management demands for physician leaders. Fortunately, department chairs, and most division chiefs, often have an administrator available to share this responsibility. In this conversation of members of CareerPhysician’s Child Health Advisory Council, experienced leaders reflect on the nature of this relationship and how it might be maximized.
Pediatric Insight: Passing Leadership Wisdom To The Next Generation
Topic: A Partnership of the Department Chair and Department Administrator is Essential for Financial Success
Financial management is often an area that physician leaders have not yet developed experience prior to assuming their leadership role. The complexity of clinical reimbursements, research funding sources and institutional compensations has greatly increased the management demands for physician leaders. Fortunately, department chairs, and most division chiefs, often have an administrator available to share this responsibility. In this conversation of members of CareerPhysician’s Child Health Advisory Council, experienced leaders reflect on the nature of this relationship and how it might be maximized.
Dr. Stapleton is a pediatric nephrologist, Professor Emeritus and Chair Emeritus at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He served as Chair of the Department of Pediatrics from 1996 to 2018, as well as Chief Academic Officer and Associate Dean from 2005 to 2018.
Our panel:
Christine Gleason, MD
Dr. Gleason is a neonatologist and Professor Emerita of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She served as Division Director of Neonatology at Johns Hopkins from 1990 to 1997 and as Division Chief of Neonatology at the University of Washington/Seattle Children’s Hospital from 1997 to 2015.
Craig Hillemeier, MD
Dr. Hillemeier is a pediatric gastroenterologist and Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics at Penn State University. He served most recently as the CEO of Penn State Health 2014 to 2019.
Renée Jenkins, MD, FAAP
Dr. Jenkins is a Professor and Chair Emerita at Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C. Dr. Jenkins served as the inaugural director of the adolescent medicine program from 1976 to 1994 when she was appointed department chair of Pediatrics and Child Health, serving in this capacity until March 2007. Dr. Jenkins served as national president of the American Academy of Pediatrics from 2007 to 2008.
Danielle Laraque-Arena, MD, FAAP
Danielle Laraque-Arena (AKA Danielle Laraque), MD, FAAP is President and Professor Emerita of SUNY Upstate Medical University (UMU) and served as the 7th President of UMU, the first woman and first African American to have done so in that institution’s 182 years. In that role she served as Chief Executive Officer of the health system and was tenured Professor of Pediatrics, Public Health & Preventive Medicine and Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Sciences.
Wesley D. Millican, MBA
Wesley D. Millican, MBA, is CEO and Physician Talent Officer of CareerPhysician, LLC, providers of comprehensive talent solutions for academic children’s hospitals, colleges of medicine and academic medical centers across the nation. Mr. Millican is an acknowledged expert in completing complex faculty and executive leadership initiatives across academic medicine.
Valerie Opipari, MD
Dr. Opipari is a pediatric hematologist/oncologist and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Michigan School of Medicine and C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. Dr. Opipari has held a number of administrative roles at the University of Michigan including Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs, Associate Chair for Research in the Department of Pediatrics and Chair of the University of Michigan Biomedical Research Council.
Robert S. Sawin, MD
Dr. Sawin is a pediatric surgeon, Emeritus Professor and Surgeon in Chief at Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington. Dr. Sawin served as the Vice-Chairman of the Department of Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Senior Vice President and Chief Surgical Officer of the Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Arnold (Arnie) Strauss, MD
Dr. Strauss is a pediatric cardiologist, Emeritus Professor and Chair of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Dr. Strauss served as the Chair of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati, Director of the Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation (CCRF), and Chief Medical Officer of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) from 2007 to 2014.
At the Child Health Advisory Council, we conduct regular roundtable discussions. What topic would you like to see featured in upcoming discussions? Let us know.
Many of our faculty may not recognize the many roles they play that require leadership perspective and skills. It is a tremendously exciting opportunity to help our faculty become the most effective leader they can be. There are many ways that clarity and education can be provided around these leadership opportunities. This discussion will highlight many of the successful modalities that leaders in academic medicine have utilized in developing and mentoring leadership skills in faculty.
The Child Health Advisory Council™ experts offer insight on why philanthropy is a must have, not a nice-to-have in any academic leadership search process. In this discussion, you’ll learn the four types of philanthropy and how this plays into the development process. You’ll also hear about how incorporating philanthropy in the search process better prepares candidates for their role and demonstrates institutional commitment to their success.
In our latest Pediatric Insight Conversation, The Child Health Advisory Council discusses the value of a search-related external review—for the institution, the search leader, the search committee, the candidates and the recruiters. These reviews can help identify opportunities, challenges and resources needed for a successful search and often lead to increased self-awareness by search stakeholders. Taking time and effort to understand the culture and opportunities for a candidate can ensure a more effective search and greatly minimize the chances of a failed search and continued programmatic atrophy.
While there are many challenges in building, maintaining and evaluating pediatric outreach programs, the advantages of a successful outreach program to the community and the pediatric program itself can be considerable.
In this latest discussion, the Child Health Advisory Council™ breaks down how to effectively integrate community engagement as a key strategic component of your faculty leadership, and even general faculty, recruitment processes. Whether as interviewer, dinner host, group participant, the Council discusses how involving outside parties such as community pediatricians, parental advisory groups and mental health professionals, can more effectively assist you in attracting top 1% talent and providing added value in your community engagement and philanthropic missions.
When initiating a search of a departmental leadership position, how can you assure a diverse and comprehensive applicant pool. The Child Health Advisory Council shares their experiences and evolution in thinking about how to reach a sometimes limited pool of pediatric sub-specialists.
What Non-Clinical Positions Do You Need to Support Your Pediatric Department?
Leaders at every level within the academic pediatric department require strong administrative support. The Child Health Advisory Council discuss the importance of the partnership of a senior business administrator and the academic leader, as well as the qualities that they found led to a successful administrative leader.
The first years of academic appointment are often the most critical in the career of a physician-scientist. Frequently, the first external grant during this important period is the K Award from the National Institutes of Health.
In this discussion, the Child Health Advisory Council focuses on what environment and resources are required for success as an emerging researcher obtains a K Award.
Bruder Stapleton, MD
Christine Gleason, MD
Craig Hillemeier, MD
Renée Jenkins, MD, FAAP
Danielle Laraque-Arena, MD, FAAP
Wesley D. Millican, MBA
Valerie Opipari, MD
Robert S. Sawin, MD
Arnold (Arnie) Strauss, MD